What’s that saying? Russian blood, British intelligence and American steel?
Meanwhile the Soviets wouldn’t let even damaged B-29s land after bombing Japan, and when they did they imprisoned the crews and confiscated the planes.
Then they took the planes apart and copied them as closely as possible.
Can’t remember which aircraft it was, but there’s a story about how one of their copied models had a mysterious hole drilled in it, which was missing from the originals. A good amount of time was spent speculating on what its purpose was. Was it an improvement of some kind? Some new hardware? A space for a specialized camera?
Nope, turns out the model they copied from had a extra hole drilled there by accident, and not knowing what it was, the soviets just kept it.
Is this true?
there is a reference to it here: https://wwiiafterwwii.wordpress.com/2019/06/29/b-29-to-bull/
Excellent read, thank you very much!
Then they took the planes apart and copied them as closely as possible.
Which was tricky given imperial vs. metric supply chains/production capabilities:
The Soviet Union used the metric system and so sheet aluminium in thicknesses matching the B-29’s U.S. customary measurements was unavailable. The corresponding metric-gauge metal was of different thicknesses. Alloys and other materials new to the Soviet Union had to be brought into production. Extensive re-engineering had to take place to compensate for the differences, and Soviet official strength margins had to be decreased to avoid further redesign.[11] Despite those challenges, the prototype Tu-4 weighed only 340 kg (750 lb) more than the B-29, a difference of less than 1%.[12]
We hear a lot about the Soviets and Chinese copying American hardware. What has the US copied? We have (had) a huge industrial/ design base but surely other countries have invented something good at least once or twice!
…Would the cavity magnetron the UK sent over count?
Fascinating! http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6331897.stm I hadn’t heard of that.
I’m not sure it counts, just because it wasn’t copied secretly as much intentionally shared?
Yes, China has invented important things once or twice.
Well no doubt. I’m curious what was copied the other way like the Flying Fortress in the article.
Wait what, Russian government is selfish and acts like an asshole?
Who would’ve guessed.
Oh right, my ancestors who fell fighting them.
The West only really joined in 1944 after Hitler was defeated by the Soviets at Stalingrad.
Does ‘The West’ not include Britain and France?
France instantly surrendered in return for giving up half their land and becoming Vichy France so hell no.
Most of Britains fighting was defensive. Initially against the Nazi invasion, and very large part was actually defending their British colonies in Africa from the Nazis. Hitler wanted to take control of the oil which Britain defended.
It was not until after the Nazis were defeated at Stalingrad that the Brits actually started ground invasions of Nazi territory.
This certainly helped the Soviets because it weakened Hitler and forced the Nazis to fight multiple fronts. But from another point of view it can be seen as the UK and US pouncing to take half of Europe as the spoils of war, after the Soviets took the heavy losses to defeat the Nazis.
To be fair: some points are more relevant than others.
I get a little bent when people act like America was fucking around before jumping in. Sorry, we were kinda busy turning our enormous country in a fucking war machine, while at the same time supplying our allies.
I do feel we Americans under credit the Soviets and the Chinese for that matter. We don’t even bring up that Mexico committed a squadron in the Pacific.
We do take too much credit! But some don’t give us enough.
