Hi, what did harnett and affleck drop from the airplane in pearl harbor to lose weight??

Question

It is in the part while the japanese were attacking them, and they try to attack back and go to the airport the japanese didnt damage til that point, they get some airplanes but they need the airplanes to be lighter so they start droping things out it... sorry 4 my english...

Answer 1

it was probably external full tanks

Answer 2

I don't recall that scene in the movie, but fighter aircraft typically carry extra fuel tanks during flight to give them longer range for bomber escort or long over-water flights.  The pilots have the option of releasing these tanks in the event they make contact with enemy aircraft, or they need their aircraft to loose weight.  The extra fuel tanks are known as drop-tanks.

Answer 3

I think they were machine guns

Answer 4

I think you got it confused with the removal of tail guns of the Mitchells prior to carrier takeoff. In the movie, tail guns are replaced with broom sticks (a historical inaccuracy)

Answer 5

.I don't remember that either. The field you are talking about was Hickem field, (sorry for the spelling) and the planes were P-40s. The P-40 did not have drop tanks.

I have the video, so I think I'll watch it tomorrow and see.

The other planes that you see being bombed are PBYs. That's the twin engine amphibian.

Edit: I stand corrected. The P-40C was the first Warhawk variant with the capability to carry a fifty two gallon external fuel tank on a bomb rack  mounted on the centerline of the fuselage

If you would be interested in seeing my almost quarter scale P-40E as it is almost completed, go to my flickr. Ironic that that model will be powered by a Fuji BT-64 gasoline engine.

5.7 HP @ 9000 rpm, swinging a 22x10 carbon prop.

Answer 6

After the attack at Pearl Harbor, James Doolittle planned and led a raid on the Japanese mainland. The came to be called the "Doolittle Raids". These raids were flown with bombers from an aircraft carrier. Before they could perform these flights, they had to lighten the aircraft substantially, as bombers normally could not take off in a short enough distance. The lowered the weight by removing everything from the planes that they could. Also, when flying the raids, they carried extra fuel in cans to extend their range. These cans were thrown out when empty. During the attack at Pearl Harbor, they didn't need to lighten the aircraft. The P-40s they flew were ready to fly as they were.