Theres no poll in case someone mentions something not on the list. This isnt a simple "Click and go", its a discussion.
Theres no poll in case someone mentions something not on the list. This isnt a simple "Click and go", its a discussion.
K1052
Elite Member
- Aug 21, 2003
- 51,943
- 44,805
- 136
Originally posted by: Jzero
The P38 wasn't "technically" the best, but it sure was the coolest
This guy liked the P38 too.
Major Richard Ira Bong
NesuD
Diamond Member
- Oct 9, 1999
- 4,999
- 106
- 106
I call tossup between
P-51 Mustang
P-47 Thunderbolt
Supermarine Spitfire
F4U Corsair
P-38 Lightning
All of them were outstanding aircraft and excelled in their individual designed missions.
P-51... Longest ranged single seat fighter of WW2 allowing it to escort the B-17s all the way to Germany and back again, Firepower, speed an maneuverablity were also excellent.
P-47 Thunderbolt... A tank with wings that mounted the most powerful aircraft engine of all ww2 fighters with an 8 .50 cal gun array that was devastating plus fantastic capabilities as a ground support fighter bomber also decent interceptor abilities. Without doubt the most rugged fighter of the war. The stories of the incredible damage that plane could sustain yet still fly are amazing.
Supermarine Spitfire... Probably one of the finest plane to plane interceptors/dogfighters of the war, excellent manueverability and speed. Lacking range for long distance escort duties though.
Corsair... Excellent dual role fighter capable of both ground based missions as well as carrier based. excelled as both a ground support fighter bomber and as a interceptor fighter. Excellent speed and firepower Aircooled engine that made it excellent for south pacific service. remained in service as a carrier based aircraft until I believe 1964 in the French navy.
P-38 Lightning... One of the most unusual fighters to see widespread service it is a personal favorite of mine mostly because it is just a damn cool looking aircraft. Also was the aircraft flown by Richard Bong the highest scoring american Ace of WW2(40 confirmed kills) excellent speed ruggedness and awesome firepower.
If i had to absolutely pick one I would have to take the P-47. The stories of those planes getting their pilots home even after horriffic battle damage like 2 or 4 engine cylingers shot off the engine yet is still ran all the way back to base or loosing 5 feet off the end of a wing but still remained flyable are just to impressive to ignore.
P-51 Mustang
P-47 Thunderbolt
Supermarine Spitfire
F4U Corsair
P-38 Lightning
All of them were outstanding aircraft and excelled in their individual designed missions.
P-51... Longest ranged single seat fighter of WW2 allowing it to escort the B-17s all the way to Germany and back again, Firepower, speed an maneuverablity were also excellent.
P-47 Thunderbolt... A tank with wings that mounted the most powerful aircraft engine of all ww2 fighters with an 8 .50 cal gun array that was devastating plus fantastic capabilities as a ground support fighter bomber also decent interceptor abilities. Without doubt the most rugged fighter of the war. The stories of the incredible damage that plane could sustain yet still fly are amazing.
Supermarine Spitfire... Probably one of the finest plane to plane interceptors/dogfighters of the war, excellent manueverability and speed. Lacking range for long distance escort duties though.
Corsair... Excellent dual role fighter capable of both ground based missions as well as carrier based. excelled as both a ground support fighter bomber and as a interceptor fighter. Excellent speed and firepower Aircooled engine that made it excellent for south pacific service. remained in service as a carrier based aircraft until I believe 1964 in the French navy.
P-38 Lightning... One of the most unusual fighters to see widespread service it is a personal favorite of mine mostly because it is just a damn cool looking aircraft. Also was the aircraft flown by Richard Bong the highest scoring american Ace of WW2(40 confirmed kills) excellent speed ruggedness and awesome firepower.
If i had to absolutely pick one I would have to take the P-47. The stories of those planes getting their pilots home even after horriffic battle damage like 2 or 4 engine cylingers shot off the engine yet is still ran all the way back to base or loosing 5 feet off the end of a wing but still remained flyable are just to impressive to ignore.
a little off topic, but how many ppl lived in the axis countries? I still find it amazing that they were able to do so well against so many countries.
Yeah, I guess seeing as they started the war, they would be more prepared. It is still quite amazing that they came as close to conquering Europe as they did, in my opinion. If they hadn't gone east, they might have pulled it off too. Scary thought.
Or if they hadn't hit Pearl Harbor
They really shouldnt have gone East, or hit Pearl Harbor... but they probably could have done one or the other, and still won the war.
-Max
If Hitler hadn't invaded Russia they probably would have been able to invade Britain. The Germans never developed effective landing craft, though. Who knows, England may have been forced to sign a very unfavorable armistice. Then the US would have entered the war and it would be curtains for the Nazi's anyway
I think the most Hitler could have retained for his Lebensraum was the territory he defeated minus France and Russia. I'm OT in OT though now so I'll shut up
- Oct 9, 1999
- 46,791
- 10,428
- 147
I love the P-51 Mustang, not least for it's lean visual beauty. First , it played for the home team. Second, it never even would have existed had not the Brits been desperate for aircraft and commissioned it from North American. It was designed and built from scratch in something like three months, IIRC. The real Mustangs only came later when they got Rolls-Royce Merlin engines.
But, WOW, I'm surprised that this late in the thread none of you internationally recognized WWll prop driven fighter plane experts has mentioned the Focke Wulf FW 190!
It's an almost impossible task to pick "the best" fighter -- too many variables in the mix and a constant stream of upgrades on all sides making the choice a moving tartget -- but, for a time, at least, the FW-190 ruled the skies:
But, WOW, I'm surprised that this late in the thread none of you internationally recognized WWll prop driven fighter plane experts has mentioned the Focke Wulf FW 190!
It's an almost impossible task to pick "the best" fighter -- too many variables in the mix and a constant stream of upgrades on all sides making the choice a moving tartget -- but, for a time, at least, the FW-190 ruled the skies:
Excerpts from another site:
I'm not saying the FW 190 was THE best prop driven fighter of the war, I'd have to go with the most advanced versions of the Mustang or possibly the Spitfire -- just surprised no one has even mentioned the "Butcher Bird" here, the best piston powered German fighter of WWll.
P-51D Ended up becoming the most advanced and best overall fighter in WW2, though the spitfire had a larger role in defending england, the P5-D had a huge role in germany.
Im quite partial to the P51
It helped win the war for the Allies. It made long range bombing more effective.
It helped win the war for the Allies. It made long range bombing more effective.
Thanks, that post about summs it up. The Spitfire needed to go to version 9 to be even competetive!
As you go down in time you will find newer and faster planes, but I doubt any plane had more victories and was so highly respected then the 109 over the span of WWII!
Schadenfroh
Elite Member
- Mar 8, 2003
- 38,416
- 4
- 0
the best fighter, many were waisted by being turned into bombers. this is the best, but came too late in the war to really affect it.
NesuD
Diamond Member
- Oct 9, 1999
- 4,999
- 106
- 106
Your right perknose! shame on me for forgetting it. The FW 190 was one of the best fighters of the war. The D series with it Jumo inlike liquid cooled engine actually made it the superior fighter at 20,000+ altitudes with a 40,000 ft service ceiling. Fast highly manueverable well armed it was definately one of the top 2 or 4 in the war. As far as those who mentioned the 109 as having the most kills. The 109 gained most of those kills against the WW2 equivalent of a crop duster. Also the German methodology for counting confirmed kills was extremely liberal. I would think that under the allies rules for confirmed kills that a very large percentage of those kills would have been disallowed.
FW 190D
FW 190D
The Me262 was fast enough to zoom in a fight, unleash a holy amount of ordnance and then dash out quickly. They attacked the allied bombers this way, and only the destruction of the only the destruction of the ONLY refinery that provided its fuel grounded them.
And by the way, the P38 was ready to fly at the start of the Pacific war. Just the fact that that war was decided by aicraft carriers kept them out of the great glory reserved to carrier planes
Calin
And by the way, the P38 was ready to fly at the start of the Pacific war. Just the fact that that war was decided by aicraft carriers kept them out of the great glory reserved to carrier planes
Calin
TRENDING THREADS
-
Discussion Zen 5 Speculation (EPYC Turin and Strix Point/Granite Ridge - Ryzen 9000)- Started by DisEnchantment
- Replies: 25K
-
Discussion Intel Meteor, Arrow, Lunar & Panther Lakes Discussion Threads
- Started by Tigerick
- Replies: 21K
-
Discussion Intel current and future Lakes & Rapids thread- Started by TheF34RChannel
- Replies: 23K
-
-
Facebook
Twitter