Bombing of Rabatana

[MakeeLearn]

Captain Hustad, flying B17E, "Monkey Bizz-Nes"

Target: Rabatana Crater (Rabalanakaia Crater) on East New Britain.

"We also had a plan to drop a couple of 2,000-pound bombs with a 45-second delay into the active volcano that was located on a higher level and quite near the town of Rabaul. We had anticipated that we might cause this volcano to become very active again. It had been flowing lava until 1937. Since then, the volcano had only belched smoke. An occasional fire was seen emanating from the crater called Rabatana. Everyone hoped that the bombs could cause the lava to flow again. That, of course, would necessitate the evacuation of the town as well as the runway and aircraft. The plan was excellent."

"Carl Hustad was the pilot with two 2,000-pound bombs, and he dropped those directly into the Rabatana Crater. They waited around the target for over ten minutes, but there was no explosion. The plans to get the lava flowing failed."

[Leandros]

Interesting story but I believe the power that usually gets a volcano started is much more than what two 2.000 lbs bombs can generate.

Fred

[Jorge_Stanbury]

Yes, would make a perfect script for a sci-fi movie (Hollywood loves that kind of thinking), but in real world, it won't happen

[Buckrock]

They dropped the wrong payload. Custom dictates that to activate a dormant volcano would require a virgin rather than a bomb.

[jwolf]

I thought the purpose of the virgin sacrifice was to prevent an eruption, not cause it. [;)] Therefore, to trigger an eruption, you would need ... a different type of person.

[pontiouspilot]

If I'm not mistaken there was a large eruption at Rabaul in the 70s that buried large parts of the old town and base. Google earth has some beautiful shots of the area.

[Yaab]

Was that an AP or GP bomb?

[Buckrock]

ORIGINAL: jwolf

I thought the purpose of the virgin sacrifice was to prevent an eruption, not cause it. [;)] Therefore, to trigger an eruption, you would need ... a different type of person.

Maybe I watched the wrong movies but I was under the impression it was done to gain the favor of the Volcano God, so if the bomber crew gained that favor....

Assuming of course the bomber's payload didn't turn out to be a dud on arrival.

[rustysi]

IIRC the volcano did erupt and caused damage to the facilities during the war. This was unfortunately after all the Allied effort which isolated the place anyway.

[GetAssista]

The game has a number of occasional catastrophic events programmed for ships. But not for bases.
Imagine volcanic eruption wiping out your fortified Rabaul. Or tsunami swiping through eastern coast of Japan Or earthquake
Gamebreaking, I know, yet.

[Grfin Zeppelin]

Thats all nonsense, it only works if you drop your firstborn into the vulcano.

[Dili]

Reminds of Vesuvius eruption that affected 12th Air Force. 340th Bomb group lost 88 B-25...now imagine in game your bombing group without aircraft in one go.

http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html Nice pics.

Memories:
http://57thbombwing.com/340th_History/3 ... ch1944.pdf

[Lowpe]

This is a great thread![:D]

[rustysi]

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

Thats all nonsense, it only works if you drop your firstborn into the vulcano.

[X(]Ms Zeppelin, what are you suggesting?[:-]

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: rustysi

ORIGINAL: Gräfin Zeppelin

Thats all nonsense, it only works if you drop your firstborn into the vulcano.

[X(]Ms Zeppelin, what are you suggesting?[:-]

I suggest nothing, I am just stating some facts.

[MakeeLearn]

There was no explosion of the bombs. Lava? The Goddess?


Pele the Goddess of fire, lightning, wind and volcanoes.

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

Was that an AP or GP bomb?

It didn't say.

[sventhebold]

M great uncle was there and talked about the destruction at the airfield in Italy.

[Sauvequipeut]

If volcanic eruptions make it into the game, will there be a new air mission for diverting the lava flow by bombing?

[MakeeLearn]

ORIGINAL: Sauvequipeut

If volcanic eruptions make it into the game, will there be a new air mission for diverting the lava flow by bombing?

And will we be allowed to drop whatever we want into the volcano?