![]() The 9th (NINTH) AF would be the USAAF organization tasked to support Normandy ground action. The priority assignment for Mustangs (a precious commodity) from the end of 1943 until as late as Dec 44 was, simply and irrevocably, BOMBER ESCORT and, at that, as part of the 8th AF. ![]() This time around, no one has noted than, in June 1944, and/or in NORMANDY, there would be very few Mustangs doing any low-level attacks on ground targets. This subject - P-51s as ground attack "tank busters" - has been discussed (circa nauseam if not ad nauseam) before on the Forum.Ģ. I realize that such scale would have been impossible to recreate on a practical scale, but a few ships whipped up with some late-90s CGI technology would have added an extra nice touch to an already impressive opening scene, IMO.ġ. In reality, there were over 5000 ships involved in the invasion fleet. It's like the Higgins boats roared across the Channel all by their lonesome. transports ships, battleships, destroyers, LSTs, etc. You're point about the landing craft relates to one of my major grips from the film - a complete lack of ANY other Channel traffic besides the Higgens Boats, i.e. Great shot of the "Tiger," Ian, and yes, that photo really illustrates how far forward the turret sits thanks to the T-34 chassis. They actually used RN infantry landing craft crewed by RN coxswains. Lots of inaccuracies in that movie, like the opening scene where the Rangers come ashore in Higgins boats. Typhoons or P-47s would have been the "real" tankbusters. I'd say it was done for purely dramatic effect. ![]() Some kid of that era calling them a "tank buster" would probably be very accurate if not common. machine guns and ten 5 inch rockets or 2,000 lbs. can do a lot of damage even to armored vehicles whose roof and deck plating is significantly thinner than the sides. There is a lot of film footage of P-51's strafing. For the record, my opinion is that P-51s did attack German armor in Normandy during this time, by dive bombing I have an opinion on the scene but I don't want my opinion to be the focus here. I ask because I have discussed this with lots of people and almost universally they are unhappy with the idea of P-51s in that role. In the film, Saving Private Ryan, what was your reaction to the scene in which P-51s attack German armor, and the line to the effect of "Look sir! Tank busters" is uttered? Did you think it was inaccurate? Possibly accurate so it wasn't a big deal? Historically accurate? Did you forget the scene entirely and have to go watch it on DVD to know what I was talking about? I know that this question is very narrow and specific, but I am interested in the opinions I may get
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