Does anyone have any information about the ground attack versions of WW2 bombers. I think Germany and the USA had them but I do not have much info on them. Any info or pics would be nice.

Us had its "Invader" medium bomber turned to ground attack plane (8x0.50cal forward firing MG:s) , and Germany had at least Ju-88 (medium) and He-177 (heavy) bombers modified to tank busting duties.. armed with 7,5cm PAK 40 at-cannon.

There was a ground attack version of the B-25 Mitchell, with 8 M2 .50 machine guns fixed forward firing, placed in the bombardier compartment. This was combined with the other 4 pod mounted .50 machine guns and an internally mounted autoloading 75mm cannon (same as on the Sherman Tank).

I understand this version was widely used for anti-shipping duties as the cannon was far more accurate than dropping bombs, and one well placed shell could easily sink most ships.

Dragonrider, at leat one 75mm cannon version of the B-25 was not autoloading, the bombadier sat on a set next to the breech and loaded it by hand. They hated this version since they were sitting right next to the breach when the weapon was fired. Pilot's didn't like this version either since the plane had to be flown very straight to be able to aim and fire the weapon. After a few months of operation, most of the 75mm armed B-25's had the 75mm removed and replaced with 4 50 cal machine guns. Reference Green's "Famous Bombers of World War II". Also there were versions of the J-88 with a solid nose and armed with several 7.65 mm machines for ground attack. The Germans painted the nose of these ground attack J-88's to simulate the transparency of a normal bomber. This was believed to be a means of enticing Russian fighter pilots to make head on attacks.

I'm only familiar with the Invader. The bomber version was the B-26 and the attack version was the A-26.

Tim