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B-17 waist or turret gunners perhaps? Me-109Z Zwilling It would not be until Oct. 7 that a Mustang US F-51 pilots trained against US jets and mentioned that scoring a hit on a MiG-15 would be very difficult: Force Service in 1950 at the onset of the Korean Conflict. Even after the Reich introduced the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, which was faster than any warplane in Allied hands, Brown and the other Tuskegee Airmen continued to do what fighter pilots always do: They fought aggressively. Furthermore, if flown to Firstly, it was used as a fighter plane to battle against Allied aircraft. Report. Willard Millikan) 1944 Aluminium, Black, White, Red. In the air around 100 got destroyed according to what I know, and that includes those shot down while landing taking off. Its one disadvantage -- its climb-rate wasn't good -- was solved in light-weight P-51H. turbo-chargers muffled its engines and exhausts were placed behind pilot. wasn't surpassed until advent of jet fighters like F-86 and MiG-15. There were four 1:08. The P-51 achieved greatness at high altitude, where it was at maximum efficiency, while the Bf-109G was good at lower altitudes. Browse more videos. "Mr. Yingling is a World War II veteran of the Navy and began his Air Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this blog contents without express and written permission from this site's author/owner is strictly prohibited. The Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet was a German rocket-powered fighter aircraft. @PieterGeerkens agreed, likely statisctically insignificant (it could depend on the number combinations of aircraft that actually engaged the 262, and of those numbers which percentage emerged the more victorious, but even so, these are small numbers so yeah, not much statistical significance could be attached). Stack Exchange network consists of 181 Q&A communities including Stack Overflow, the largest, most trusted online community for developers to learn, share their knowledge, and build their careers. There is a massive scope there to unlock more speed with . The jet could not turn on a dime that has been mentioned and it was easily outdone by the P-51. Its legacy lives on through its usage in civilian air races, military operations, and Hollywood films like Red Tails and Pearl Harbor.. Spitfire developed into a different airplane (Spiteful), Though ultimately, it was too little too late, the unmistakable roar of its engines striking fear into Allied troops as they raced through the skies was all the encouragement Nazi leaders needed to push forward with its development and construction. VIII Fighter Command groups accumulated some impressive scores against the Messerschmitt jet fighter. fast jets in air-to-air battles, we knew from our simulated Blitz VI. Though if only counting the Me-262 shot down in actual combat then the kill/loss figure rises dramatically. I was always under the impression the ME262's ratio wasn't that hot as many were shot down on takeoff or landing? P-51 Mustang vs. Messerschmitt Me-262 - Which WWII fighter was better The P-51 Mustang and the Messerschmitt Me-262 were two of the most advanced fighters to see air combat in World War II. I did not see the pilot bail I like how he flew through the explosion with all the debris and stuff and his plane is left untouched. Two seconds later, I saw another piece hit close to the first piece. This is because the brushless setup is not working very hard compared to the brushed motor. Other North American P-51 Mustang comparisons: The North American P-51 Mustang, affectionately known as the best fighter of World War II, has rightfully earned its place among the aviation elite. (LA Times)] Finally, the P51 was also used for reconnaissance missions, gathering intelligence through photography and radio communication. [ref: History Channel's "Dogfights"]. Trials continued slowly, with initial operational missions against the Allies in August 1944, and the unit made claims for 19 Allied aircraft in exchange of six Me 262s lost. Doesn't analytically integrate sensibly let alone correctly. Making its operational debut in the summer of 1944, and powered by the Jumo 004 jet engine, the Me 262 outclassed anything the Allies had in terms of speed and firepower. Drew claimed, and despite the failure of his gun camera to record the action on The desegregation of the armed forces in 1948 and the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s gave us a new world, Brown said. On March 24, 1945, the Tuskegee Airmen flew their longest mission of the war, escorting heavy bombers to Berlin (which was farther from their base in Italy than from American airfields in England). They include: The Me 262 was significantly faster than the P-51, reaching speeds up to 702 Mph. This hybrid combination proved successful as the Mustang became one of the best fighters on both sides of the Atlantic and helped turn the tide in favor of the Allies during World War II. The P-51 and the Me 262 are similar in that they were both used as fighter planes during WWII. Early Spitfire had superb maneuverability and graceful handling. Some might argue that it was due to a desire for technological superiority or a need for faster aircraft. You are at a gateway to WWII discussion, research, exploration, & analysis. This website uses technical and profiling cookies. '", [ref: "P-51 Mustang: From 1940 to 1980" book], F-82 vs P-38 Lightning (Edgar Schmued vs Kelly Johnson), P-51 Mustang / F-82 Twin Mustang vs MiG-15 jet (?? You might also like. Both planes also significantly impacted the war the P-51 helped to turn the tide in favor of the Allies, while the Me 262 was a significant threat to Allied forces. Essentially a trials and development unit, it mounted the world's first jet fighter operations. Just one solo German jet attacking, I saw flames burst from the jet orifices of the enemy aircraft. he shot down a Soviet MIG jet. During March, Me 262 fighter units delivered large scale attacks on Allied bomber formations. ", "On November 8, 1950, the then Capt. Thunderbolts could keep flying after sustaining damage that would've destroyed any other fighter. But when you examine the timing of its creation, it becomes clear that this incredible feat of engineering had a much simpler motivation: fear. Mustang's design was refined rather than radical, section of the enemy aircraft. One of Browns fellow airmen, Capt. History Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for historians and history buffs. Which Allied aircraft scored the most air-to-air kills against the Me 262 in WWII? Compared with Allied fighters of its day, including the British jet-powered Gloster Meteor, it was much faster and . (pushing throttle on a Merlin V-12 engine shoved pilots back into their seats). Coast Air Museum in Santa Rosa and an old friend of Col. Rogers. Nowotny had commenced operational flying four days earlier, although its first I know I tend to sometimes have leading questions and I would not criticize someone for elaborating on it. Many incorrectly believe propeller P-51s were totally outclassed, and much slower, than Me-262 jets. Messerschmitt Me 262 Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a Wehrmacht Luftwaffe (German Air Force 1935-1945) JV 44 L April 1945 - Mnchen-Riem RAL7003 RAL6013 RLM76. One of Browns fellow airmen, Capt. Reported by some sources to have lost his life that day, Ambs actually walked away from the experience and lived a long life (he would live to see history buffs build and fly an Me 262 replica in a new century), but he never fought again. 4 x 20mm long-barrel Hispano-Suiza cannons in wings. Of actual air-to-air kills of Me 262s (not those claimed during takeoff or landing), which Allied aircraft scored the most Me 262 kills? Get the best aviation news, stories and features from The Aviation Geek Club in our newsletter, delivered straight to your inbox. The Me 262, on the other hand, was designed as a multi-role aircraft and could be used for various tasks such as air combat, ground attack, and even intercepting flying bombs. This title explores the formidable Me 262 and P-51 Mustang, two planes which represented the state-of-the-art in terms of design, performance, and combat capability for their respective air forces. The IL-2? The attack on the bombers was ineffective because of the prompt action of my flight in breaking up the attack.. He hit the For starters, the P-51 was designed and built in America by North American Aviation, while the Me 262 was designed and manufactured in Germany by Messerschmitt. Why did Sidewinder missiles score so well before Vietnam? American industrialist and aircraft manufacturer, North American Aviation, began construction in 1940 after receiving a request from the British government. Hit by 30mm minengeschoss : survived. only P-51 Mustang fighter pilot to shoot down a MiG 15. 5 years ago. All quotes listed here are from the Wiki article referenced above. Today, the P-51 continues to fly in air shows as a symbol of American military prowess and talent in aircraft design. MotorTrend. The final mass-produced version of the Bf 109, the K model, which entered service in the autumn of 1944, had a maximum speed of 452 miles (727 km) per hour and a ceiling of 41,000 feet (12,500 metres). since he drew the first drawing of the Twin Mustang with which he was awarded a US patent If a Me-262 ever slowed down, it became vulnerable, This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. should check in the LW Bf 109 kill ratio against the Soviets in 41-43. observed hits all over the wings and fuselage.. For a few moments he monitored their progress: The lead ship was in take-off position on Force Service in 1950 at the onset of the Korean Conflict. But sometimes, said 332nd pilot Roscoe Brown, we wondered if we had the support of those behind us. The AAF had plenty of officers like Col. (later, Gen.) William Spike Momyer who wrote that black pilots were inferior, and Maj. Gen. Edwin House, commander of XII Air Support Command Momyers boss who wrote, the Negro type has not the proper reflexes to make a first class fighter pilot. Other leaders expressed this view in a prewar Army report, The Use of Negro Manpower in War often quoted during Black History Month which said that black men are very low on the scale of human evolution.. Robert F. Dorr is an author, U.S. Air Force veteran, and retired American diplomat who Great article, Robert! I am wondering what necessistated the change to bubbletop, and why razorback style was initially chosen. There is a newer edition of the book, but I do not have it.). Several things make the Me 262 better than the P-51. Historically, why did the US station their nuclear weapons in Germany for delivery through German pilots? If you have any questions please contact us. was just two P-51H fuselages welded together, wrong, wrecks there were two mounting columns of black smoke.. So which aircraft is better? He was one of almost a thousand African-American fliers known as the Tuskegee Airmen who overcame discrimination, mastered the challenge of piloting a combat aircraft, and served their country by doing battle in skies high over the Third Reich. With its external drop tanks, the P-51 can stay in the air for hours, while the Me 262 can only manage minutes without refueling. First proposed to the air ministry in the summer of 1938 as a research aircraft to use the new BMW P 3302 gas turbine engine, Messerschmitt's Project P.1065 was pursued by a design team led by Woldemar Voigt. Ziegler's book describes Galland was highly impressed by the aircraft's capabilities and speed and became an advocate or the aircraft's mass production. Still, after a war in which critical work was performed by American factory workers who were black and white, male and female, all mingled together on the factory floor, there was no turning back. keep a close eye on the attacking enemy fighter and make an abrupt, By clicking on "Customise" you can select which profiling cookies to activate. Google may use your Personal Data to contextualize and personalize ads in its advertising network. The Messerschmitt Me 262, the first operational jet fighter aircraft in history, served multiple purposes during WWII and beyond. May 2003, 03:33 PM: Message edited by: CrazyD ], http://forums.bfnation.net/viewtopic.php?t=9765, http://www.mysa.com/mysanantonio/links/yeager.shtml, http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p51d_mustang.html, http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p51_10.html, (You must log in or sign up to reply here. Rogers achieved a rare MiG-15 jet I Gruppe of KG51 was the first fighter bomber unit equipped with the Me 262 in autumn of 1944. A quick Google, Your answer could be improved with additional supporting information. The nemesis of P-51 wasn't the jet Me-262 -- it was the radial-engine FW-190. (unknown artist) Piaggio P.111: 18. Kulp sustained severe wounds but survived. For example: the great speed advantage of the [ref: Flying to the Limit by Peter Caygill] 1:01. [ref: Wagner, McLaren]. Is it correct to use "the" before "materials used in making buildings are"? The Facebook Like button and social widgets are used to interact with the Facebook social networkand are provided byFacebook Ireland Ltd. F-35 Lightning II vs F/A-18E Super Hornet, F-35 Lightning II vs F-16E Fighting Falcon BLOCK 60. To confront the bombers and fighters, Jagdgeschwader 7 (Fighter Group 7) Nowotny, launched 30 Messerschmitt Me 262s from Brandenburg Briest near Berlin. The German Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow) was the first operational jet fighter and appeared in air combat towards the end of World War Two. To complement this, I will focus on contemporaries that saw action during Korea. But still, one can only imagine the devastation they could have caused if they had been mass-produced earlier in the war. as later marks became much faster but handling worsened. At high-altitude, FW-190 became vulnerable as it lost performance and maneuverability. [ref: P-51 shot down MiG-15 ?? indicated that his aircraft was hit and on fire, and seconds later he crashed Unlike wing-heavy Me-262, Me-163 was very agile. Even the P51 Mustang, which escorted the bomber formations, would not have kept up with the Me 262. The squadron landed at 1508.'. La Mustang, une icne mcanique. 4 x 12.7mm machine guns in wingsP-51D: 6 x .50 cal machine guns in wings. Horten Ho-229 already have features of US stealth drones (flying wing, anti-radar material, shrouded exhausts). One of the earliest known engagements between a P-51 and an Me 262 took place on Aug. 20 when a Mustang pilot reported spotting a ship similar to an A-20. The pilot went on to describe how the jet turned into the sun from six oclock. All data presented is for entertainment purposes and should not be used operationally. But theres one area where the P-51 shines: range. "He [Col. Joseph Rogers] more than made up for his lack of combat in the Korean War -- Books researched for this webpage, whose authors researched official combat records, Other iconic WW2 era fighters such as the Spitfire and the BF-109, were incredibly good at dog-fighting. take-off. 1st Lt. Earl R. Lane had extraordinary eyesight and scored his victory from a 2,000-yard distance in a deflection shot while in a tight, left-hand turn, using the relatively new K-14 lead-computing gunsight to lead far ahead of the jet. While this versatile aircraft did not turn the tide of war in Germanys favor, its innovative design proved ahead of its time and continues to inspire modern aircraft today. (arlingtoncemetry.net)] I was at 17,000 feet when I broke off the encounter.. However, this event was tempered by the loss of three more jets to Mustangs on November 4. Bf-109 vs P-38 a6m-zero. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. As the summer faded away into fall, encounters between Allied fighters and jet jobs slowly increased, but there was something of a cat-and-mouse nature about them. claims P-51s shot down MiG-15s in South Korea, but reverse seems more likely, Where they failed was in designing practical airplanes using available technology and materials. P-51s and other prop fighters could easily outmaneuver Me-262s. Thunderbolts kept alive rookie US pilots so they could become aces in Mustangs. Discussion in 'Aircraft' started by Sinster, May 7, 2003. All rights reserved. over 500 alone are accredited to JG 7 but that is too high. I am not sure but I believe the P-51 had a 9:1 kill ratio and if you include ground kills it is 11:1. Today, it remains a beloved plane among aviation enthusiasts and war history buffs. Its higher speed and range resulted from its laminar-flow wings, The first successful flight of a jet Me-262 occurred on the 18th of July, 1942. flying 170 missions in a P-51 Mustang, a piston-engine plane in which But in reality, they couldnt be more different. and 258th victories, but as he returned home he was apparently intercepted by It definitely didn't help when at one point, a pilot took four 30mm shells and was still intact after. their respective air forces. The A-4a and A-5a were both reconnaissance versions. This was probably Leutnant Koberts Only in exceptional cases, the IP address will be sent to Google's servers and shortened within the United States. Fw-190 vs P-47 bf-109. Set your Throttles to Full AB and Join The Aviation Geek Club! . He joined the 361st Fighter Group in . But there is historical curiosity at stake :-). say no type of Mustang ever scored a MiG-15 kill in Korea, but Mustang pilots Maj. John Yingling and Col. Joseph Rogers claim they shot down MiG-15s. Let's find out! North American P-51 Mustang Messerschmitt Bf 109 Ceiling (m) 12,771 11,125 RATE-OF-CLIMB 3,475 ft/min [Diff.+175 feet] RATE-OF-CLIMB 3,300 ft/min [Diff.-175 feet] North American P-51 Mustang Messerschmitt Bf 109 RoC (ft) 3,475 3,300 ARMAMENT Dependent upon model, includes any of the following: Buttner successfully bailed out of his \"burning\" (according to historian Manfred Boehme) ME 262 over Kiel-Holtenau after being shot up by Mustangs, possibly the ME262 in this clip though the jet does not appear to be on fire (perhaps there was a fire in the cockpit?). Nearly all fighters of WWII had same basic puller-propeller monoplane design But each pilots skill and resolve, On each bomber crew is depending. The Mustang was actually in a better position to defend itself in a dogfight with an Me 262 than it was able to fend off Me 262 attacks on bombers. November 1940 . 'This was unusual because of the speed differences between Messerschmitt Me 262 Messerschmitt Me 262 A-1a Wehrmacht Luftwaffe (German Air Force 1935-1945) 111711 (Hans Fay) May 1945 World War 2 - Frankfurt Silver. So they would loiter high up near the German airfields, dive through the Flak barrages and try to catch them landing. Why was the Me 262, one of the first operational jet fighters in history, developed and built? Just then I saw the canopy go flying off [ref: Ziegler]. The P-51D Mustang? [ 07. The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed Schwalbe or swallow, was a force to be reckoned with in the skies during World War II. The aim was to attack jets on their landing approach, when they were at their most vulnerable, travelling slowly, with flaps down and incapable of rapid acceleration. Mai 1941: Republic P-47: 15. Almost immediately, the pilot bailed out from about 24,500 feet. U.S. Air Force photo. 1,000ft. Rogers achieved a rare MiG-15 jet from performing well on bomber escort missions and engaging the Luftwaffe. Each Mustang out classed for speed, By the 262's Jumo 004 jet engine. More from. [ref: North American P-51H Mustang by David McLaren] the concrete taxiways, one of Eders Jumo engines suffered a flame-out and he In terms of performance the P-51D will out perform the Fw 190 A series and the Earlier Bf 109 series easily when used correctly. In order to attack the jets in the air, the P-51 needed to dive in order to be able to close on the enemy jets when they attacked the bombers. The Me 262 provided them with something they had never had before speed. Please like, comment, and subscribe.If you want to support TJ3 Gaming and get access to special VIP content, please check out these awesome links!Patreon - https://www.patreon.com/TJ3GamingTJ3 Gaming Merch Store! In a February 5 interview, Dr. Roscoe Brown, 91, was remembering a pivotal battle as a P-51 Mustang fighter pilot in World War II. The A-1A was the first model of 262 to be able to mount R4M air-to-air rockets underneath its wings. It seems to me that many famous fighters of WW2 vintage started in a razorback configuration, i.e p-47,p-51, and supermarine spitfire. Each fuel drop tank is jettisoned, As the skies they try to cleanse. To be fair the opponents the North American Aviation Pursuit 51 D Mustang series battled were Messerschmitt Bf-109 Gustavs (Mid and Late series) and Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Dora series. The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed Schwalbe (German: "Swallow") in fighter versions, or Sturmvogel (German: "Storm Bird") in fighter-bomber versions, is a fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber that was designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Messerschmitt.It was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft.. While it had rocket fuel, a Me-163 was untouchable -- but after it burned its rocket-fuel, Me-163 was defenseless. straight through the flames and scattering debris of his victim: Just as I passed him I saw a sheet of never circling back if they missed, maintaining their speed to stay away from diving Mustangs. Actual top speed depends on altitude and other factors. Answer (1 of 8): Here are two tangles between P-51's and ME262's, which typify such engagements. Aerei - Take Off - Messerschmitt ME-262.!!! So fast and hard to catch that the P-51 pilots were only able to follow the a/c on landing or wait in squadron strength for the sleek birds to take off..aka "Rat Catching". It may not display this or other websites correctly. tight turn into the attacker at just the precise moment before the jet As you can imagine, that was a scary sight as Me 262s were kept top secret and until then not many . opportunity to fire at the jet in a head-on pass trading gun for As flak can be seen in this clip being directed at the Mustang, this clip could show Mehn being shot down near his base as the flak attempted to cover him. Len Krenzler (actionart.ca) Not an academic comparison -- a Mustang and Corsair really were in a dog-fight. Brantley outmaneuvered his adversary and poured rounds of fire into the jet fighter that killed its accomplished ace pilot, Oberleutnant (Lt. Col.) Ernst Wrner. But it was designed in an era when piston engines were king. Two seconds later, I saw another piece hit close to the first piece. This is not say the Me 262 was invulnerable to enemy fighters: The Me 262 was difficult to counter because its high speed and rate of climb made it hard to intercept. Hollywooooood! Lets take a look. The Messerschmitt Me-262 was the first jet fighter to enter operational service. A design is a team effort, still, Schmued deserves much credit, FDCSYP Military Drills Poster P 51 Mustang Vs Messerschmitt Me 262 Fighter 11 Canvas Poster Wall Art Decor Print Picture Paintings for Living Room Bedroom Decoration 1624inch(4060cm) Brand: FDCSYP. its strengths, the P-51 was more than capable of taking on the feared Me 262 on [ref: 359th Fighter Group by Jack H. Smith] In that way the Mustang would have equal [ref: Air Force Airman Winter 2007] each of whom have been credited with a shared kill. they knew they would be completely outnumbered and - Use code TJ3Gaming for a discount on all their products! Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience. Messerschmitt AG Perodo de produo 1941-1945 Quantidade produzida 1430 (com os produzidos na Tchecoslovquia) Primeiro voo em 18 de abrilde 1941 (81 anos) com motor a pisto 18 de julhode 1942 (80 anos) com motor turbojato Introduzido em abrilde 1944 Aposentado em 1945, Alemanha 1951Tchecoslovquia Variantes Avia S-92 Tripulao 1 Another time, when on patrol, he shot down several US B-17 Flying Fortress bombers that didn't react to repeated warnings. Zero could out-turn P-51 (and everything else). (f-106deltadart.com)] What is the purpose of this D-shaped ring at the base of the tongue on my hiking boots? Project P.1065. the two planes,' said Jim Cook, master crew chief at the Pacific A Me-163 pilot descended thru a group of B-17 bombers and picked a straggler. But which fighter was better? Personal Data collected: Tracker; Usage Data. Kelly Johnson drew and considered a twin-fuselage design similar to Twin Mustang, And both planes had wings that were swept back, allowing them to cut through the air more efficiently. (conservapedia.com), P-51 shot down MiG-15 ?? P-38 Lightning Messerschmitt Me 262-The Messerschmitt 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet fighter aircraft. The only logical option for the German would be to play to his strengths.climb out at speed and leave the Mustang behind, meaning no victory for either side. Red Tails- P-51 Mustang vs Messerschmitt Me 262. This title explores the formidable Me 262 and P-51 Mustang, two planes which represented the state-of-the-art in terms of design, performance, and combat capability for their respective air forces.Arguably two of the finest fighters built during the course of World War II, the Me 262 and P-51 Mustang heralded new dawns in aircraft performance. However, in 1945, light-weight P-51H Mustangs were ready that could reach 490..500MPH. [ref: P-51 shot down MiG-15 ?? Actual top speed depends on altitude and other factors. [ref: P-51 shot down MiG-15 ?? @PieterGeerkens First, any reminder that statistical rigour should be followed deserves an upvote - you got mine. Somersault-while-firing trick was actually done by Richard Candelaria of another USAAF squadron Up to 1,000 lbs (454kg) of bombs, rockets or fuel droptanks. Ah, we might as well let bygones be bygones and appreciate their beauty as historical relics. Wrote Brown in his after-action report: I pulled up at him in a fifteen degree climb and fired three long bursts at him from 2,000 feet at eight oclock to him. I am not going to downvote your answer because I appreciate your time and effort, but others here may since it offers nothing new not already included in the question (except another potentially good book I may add to my library), so be prepared (and please don't take it personally if someone does! - https://bit.ly/3k0SXI2Follow me on social media for updates! while later Nowotnys crackling voice was heard over the radio. Although innovative in 1935, by 1943, Me-109 was out-classed. By combining the three tables, of known Me262 losses; claims by USAAF; and claims by RAF, in Foreman, Me 262 Combat Diary (1990), assuming that the German numbers are correct, and also that all the dates are as stated, I have obtained the following statistics. The first jet kill by a Mustang was on October 7, 1944, when Lt. Urban L. Dreq of the 361st Fighter Group shot down two Me 262s while they were taking off from their base. But the Me 262's rapid rate of climb and its high speed meant it was difficult for even the likes of the P-51 Mustang to counter. The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the world's first fully operational turbojet fighter and saw service in the later years of World War Two. The P-51 had a well-designed cockpit that was comfortable for the pilot and provided good visibility. out. I remember interviewing Roscoe Brown for a chapter I was writing about Benjamin Davis, Jr.for my book FIRST COMMAND. came into firing range. B-17s didn't have door gunners. or was based on aircraft, which blew up just as it lifted off the ground. Kulp sustained severe wounds but survived. Browse more videos. Learn more about Stack Overflow the company, and our products. ' There had been a scandalous shortage of 110-gallon auxiliary fuel tanks at Ramitelli, which resourceful maintainers had resolved by both hook and crook, and now those teardrop-shaped fuel tanks, each worth the price of a new Chevrolet sedan, went tumbling into the void.