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I read the possibilty that the Nazis test flew a Junkers Ju 390 from near Bordeaux, France, to New York during 1944. Was it truth? Fiction? I also learned that there are some who consider this nothing more than an urban legend. What do you think? Was it a practice run for a potential drop of an atomic bomb on New York?
I have never heard of that. It would be interesting to find out if it really happened. I was shocked when I learned of all the activity off the west coast during WW2 by the Japenese.
The Junkers Ju 390 was a scaled up Ju 290 with a wingspan of 181 ft 7.25 in (55.35 m) and was powered by six 1,700 hp BMW 8011 engines.Two prototypes were built and tested in 1943. During the evaluation programme the second prototype was flown from an airfield near Bordeaux to within 12 miles (19 km) of the US coast north of New York before returning to France.This proved that the specification for a bomber that could attack New York could be achieved, but the scheme progressed no further.
This proved that the specification for a bomber that could attack New York could be achieved, but the scheme progressed no further.
Why do you think Germany put a hold on the program?
The Junkers Ju 390 was a scaled up Ju 290 with a wingspan of 181 ft 7.25 in (55.35 m) and was powered by six 1,700 hp BMW 8011 engines.Two prototypes were built and tested in 1943. During the evaluation programme the second prototype was flown from an airfield near Bordeaux to within 12 miles (19 km) of the US coast north of New York before returning to France.This proved that the specification for a bomber that could attack New York could be achieved, but the scheme progressed no further.
This is where there is some dispute, though. Among other criticisms of the account, here is what I have read about the uncertainty of the Junkers Ju 390 flight:
Critics have also pointed to the vagueness of the aircraft's alleged position and even the date of what would have been a milestone flight. The best known (and maybe earliest publication) of the claim in English was in William Green's Warplanes of the Third Reich in 1970, where he wrote that the Ju 390 flew to "a point some 12 miles from the US coast, north of New York". Critics say the vagueness of detail and lack of corroborating evidence are hallmarks of an urban legend.
So Holibar, are you saying that this is less of an "urban legend" than some claim it to be?
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