Longest duration missions of WWII

[xvii-Dietrich]

While doing some research on something else, I accidentally discovered this note about some really long duration missions done by Italian SM.75 bombers.

 

On 23-May-1943, two SM.75 bombers flew from Rhodes, with a target of Gura, Abyssinia. One made it to target. The other diverted and bombed Port Sudan instead. Both aircraft returned safely. The flight times were 24h15m and 23h00m, respectively.

 

24 hours 15 minutes.

 

 

 

 

Does anyone else know of any long-duration missions from WWII?

 

Reference:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Savoia-Marchetti_SM.75#Bombing_mission_to_Abyssinia

[JtD]

The H8K flying boat was routinely used for recon mission with flight times up to 24hours. A notable, though uneventful mission flown with the type was the 2nd Pearl Harbour attack.

[Retnek]

The He-111 with it's (comparably) huge fuel capacity was used for some very long range raids, most prominent maybe:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando_Blaich

 

German B&V 138 Flying Clog with diesel-engines was able to fly up to 20 h - in the northern summer recon sorties lasted 16 h or more. Next to the Fw-200 the enlarged Ju-88-H models had potentially a very long endurance, but they were build in few numbers and the BMW-engines had a quite high fuel consumption, so I doubt they flew longer sorties than the flying boats.

[xvii-Dietrich]

The H8K flying boat was routinely used for recon mission with flight times up to 24hours. A notable, though uneventful mission flown with the type was the 2nd Pearl Harbour attack.

 

Yep. Looked it up to find it was called Operation K.

 

The first phase was Wotje - French Frigate Shoals = 2987 km (13.5 hrs)

 

The second phase was French Frigate Shoals to Oahu = 875 km

followed by Oahu back to Wotje = 3668 km (15 hrs)

 

The total distance on the second phase was thus 4543 km. I can't find a flight time for it, but one of the references states that both flights clocked in at "nearly 36 hours". That would make the second flight nearly 22.5 hrs.

 

The Italian Raid on Gura is a longer single flight. But the combined flights of Operation K are pretty epic. I had a look for other H8K missions but couldn't find any flight durations of really long flights.

 

 

References:

• http://fly.historicwings.com/2013/03/operation-k/
• https://weaponsandwarfare.com/2016/10/21/operation-k/
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_K

 

 

The He-111 with it's (comparably) huge fuel capacity was used for some very long range raids, most prominent maybe:

 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sonderkommando_Blaich

 

German B&V 138 Flying Clog with diesel-engines was able to fly up to 20 h - in the northern summer recon sorties lasted 16 h or more. Next to the Fw-200 the enlarged Ju-88-H models had potentially a very long endurance, but they were build in few numbers and the BMW-engines had a quite high fuel consumption, so I doubt they flew longer sorties than the flying boats.

 

Wow. I was not aware of this one at all. Interesting story. Thanks!

[Lusekofte]

REad about Norwegian Sunderland Pilots talking about 26 hours recon flights in Norwegian sea and atlantic

[xvii-Dietrich]

REad about Norwegian Sunderland Pilots talking about 26 hours recon flights in Norwegian sea and atlantic

 

 

Good idea.  Do you have any references?

 

 

 

 

Meanwhile, I've found a different example.

 

The "Double-Sunrise" service was part of the England-Australia air service. After the capture of Singapore by the Japanese, the service operated from Perth (Australia) and Koggala (Ceylon) and back, ferrying diplomats, officers and post. The service used unarmed PBY Catalinas and a total of 271 flights were made between the first flight on 29 June 1943 and the final one on 18 July 1945. Flight time was between 28 and 32 hours, depending on the winds. Not exactly a military flight, but it did technically pass through enemy-held territory.

 

References

• http://www.qantas.com/travel/airlines/history-catalinas/global/en
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Double_Sunrise

[Heliopause]

-Prior to "Double Sunrise" a Catalina flight was executed in december 1942 by 321 Sqn (Dutch) from Ceylon to Austr and back  ;- )

 

-During the Japanese advance in early '42 Dornier Do 24 "X-19" crew flew 15 to 18 hours a day for 10 or more days at a time" (T. Womack).