PickyNipples t1_jcry1ax wrote on March 19, 2023 at 2:23 AM

Reply to comment by yesgirlsusereddit in TIL that in WW2, a Marine Corps Corsair pilot used his propeller to chew off the tail of an enemy aircraft after his guns jammed, while under fire from the enemy plane's tailgunner. The enemy plane crashed but the Corsair pilot made it back to base, receiving the Navy Cross for his actions. by hipster_deckard

Same. I’m no engineer but I would have imagined a prop would take too much damage way before it chopped through another plane. And I definitely would not expect the whole plane to survive. Though tbf im not even sure what these planes looked like. Obviously I’m not saying it isn’t possible, just that it sounds too crazy to believe!

Shinrinn t1_jcs0odh wrote on March 19, 2023 at 2:45 AM

Mythbusters did an episode on a prop chewing through another plane. Money shot is at about 3:35. https://youtu.be/3y1a2f5anZ4

HarioDinio t1_jcs2igr wrote on March 19, 2023 at 3:00 AM

Jesus it just rended through that thing like butter.

davesoverhere t1_jcs2dk7 wrote on March 19, 2023 at 2:59 AM

The plane was reconnaissance, so it could have used stretched canvas to skin much of the plane instead of metal.

PickyNipples t1_jcsig4q wrote on March 19, 2023 at 5:40 AM

Oh I see. TIL. Thanks for the info!