Hard Amerika-Bomber Quiz / Test | World War II

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The Amerika-Bomber project was designed to strike America in anyway possible. The earliest concept was the highly unlikely and fantastic 'Huckepack-Projekt'. What did this entail?

Answer: Releasing a Do-217 over the Artic for a one way bombing run

The Huckepack-Projekt (literally 'Piggy Back Project') envisaged releasing a Do-217 from a He-177 bomber on a one way suicide mission. However, the base intended for use was destroyed and the fuel consumption would have been too great. Late in the war the Luftwaffe realized that their view of most bombers primarily as "flying artillery" for the ground troops was not suitable for strategic bombing. Only a four-engine bomber could damage a country's war-making abilities, and thus, the first (serious) Amerika-Bomber project was born.

2. Another solution to the problem of crossing the Atlantic was solved by conventionial bombers with extremely long-range capabilities. How many bomber types where proposed?

Answer: Four

These bombers were the Messershmitt Me-264, Focke-Wulf Ta 400, Focke-Wulf Fw-300, and Junker Ju-390.

3. The Messerschmitt Me-264 was abandoned as a candidate for the Amerika-Bomber contest. Why?

Answer: So Messerschmitt could focus on the Me-262

The Me-264 was originally considered for the maritime reconnaissance role. Later it was converted to a bomber with the addition of a larger bomb bay. The aircraft had very weak armor and defensive armament. It was equipped with bunks and hot plates for cooking. It was decided that Messershmitt should focus on the Me-262 instead.

4. The Focke-Wulf Fw 300 featured many novel design features. What aircraft was it based on?

Answer: Fw-200

The Fw-300 was based on the Fw-200 but was originally designed as an extremely long-range airliner and costal patrol aircraft. It was the most realistic design. It featured a pressurized cabin and remote controlled turrets but differed little from the Fw-200.

5. The most radical of the four designs was the Ta 400. This was the second design from Focke-Wulf. What design feature that was also shared by an Allied aircraft made it a unique German bomber?

Answer: Pressurized front and tail sections connected by a tunnel

The Ta 400 was a radical design for Focke-Wulf. It had six radial engines with two jet engines. The front and tail compartments where pressurized connected by a pressurized tunnel. Also, it used remote controlled turrets with a tricycle landing gear. The Ta 400 was quite similar to the B-29 Superfortress. It was cancelled when the design became too costly.

6. The final design was the Ju-390, based on the Ju-290. What was the most novel defence feature of the bomber?

Answer: Carrying a Me 328 parasite fighter

The Ju-390 was based off of the Ju-290 maritime patrol aircraft. This aircraft saw very limited service but its "long legs" convince RLM officials that it would be a good canidate for the Amerika-Bomber. It went through modifications including the capability to carry a Me 328 parasite fighter.

7. The next series of ideas were exotic flying wing types. The most feasible of the designs were the bombers made by the Horton brothers. Although they did not realize it at the time, their aircraft were the first what?

Answer: True stealth aircraft

The Horton brothers revolutionary design was based on the flying wing theory. This aircraft was the Ho XVIII. This was built in two models and had the capacity to attack New York. Becuase of the nature of the flying wing, the aircraft was also stealth, but the brothers did not recognize it.

8. What was the main difference between the Ho XVIII "A" and "B" varients?

Answer: Number of engines and landing gear

The Ho XVIII series was based on the already existing design by the Horton brothers, known as the the Ho-229 flying wing fighter. The "A" variant had the six engines buried deep into the trailing edge of the aircraft. The "B" variant had most of the same features as the "A".

The major difference was the placement of the engines and landing gear. They where placed into two underhanging pods. The aircraft where possibly the best chance for the Luftwaffe to strike at America, because of its range, payload, and, as mentioned above, stealth characteristics.

9. Possibly the most advanced and unlikely design was the Silbervogel 'space-plane' bomber. Who designed this advanced aircraft?

Answer: Eugen Sanger

The Silbervogel was the brainchild of Austrian scientist Eugen Sanger. He was the pioneer of ramjet and space-plane technology. The plane was supposed to make short hops in the upper atmosphere. The design was considered for the Amerika-Bomber project but the technology was too advanced.

After the war both the United States and the USSR analyzed Sanger's research and the United States used the research to construct the X-20 DynaSoar experimental space-plane. Modern researchers believed that the Silbervogel would have most likely either burnt up or been shaken apart during re-entry.

10. Although the Amerika-Bomber project ended when Germany lost the war and no bombers where ever developed, what aircraft (or series of aircraft) directly benefitted from the research conducted by Amerika-Bomber scientist?

Answer: B-2

The B-2 Spirit benefitted mostly from the work done by the Horton bombers. America had tried to make a flying wing bomber before (the YB-49) but the aircraft was scrapped. Before the engineers started work on the B-2 they actually saw the remains of the Ho-229 prototype and took notes on it.

In this way the most technologically advanced bomber in the world was influenced by a wartime project to attack America.

Source: Author Barisax14

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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Amerika-Bomber Trivia Quiz

This is a quiz on the Luftwaffe bombers that might have reached the U.S. if the war had lasted another couple of years.

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