All-rounders.

[Lightning Guy]

The only single marks of the Mossie that were truly multi-role were the fighter-bomber marks (specifically the FB.VI). They could function as low-level attackers (good fire power and bombload) and to an extent as air-to-air fighters. Any single version of the Lighting could (and was) used as an interceptor, and escort-fighter, skip-bomber, dive-bomber, tank buster, etc. And just about any mark of Lightning (and especially the definitive Js and Ls) had the advantage over the Mossie in just about any category (roll, turn, speed, climb, ceiling). Ergo, the Lightning was better.

 

[plan_D]

The Mosquito was better than the P-38 at all the bombing duties, and it had anti-shipping to its name.

 

[cheddar cheese]

im edging toward the lightning....

 

[Lightning Guy]

P-38's were modified to carry the Norden sight (considerably better than anything the British developed) or "Mickey" BTO radar and were used on several level-bombing missions. It was well loved as a dive-bomber and sank lots of shipping in the MTO both dive and skip bombing. One guy actually managed to destroy two transports with the same bomb!

 

[plan_D]

That's a skillful pilot but the Mosquito was still better at bombing than the P-38. A few Mosquitos freed a load of prisoners from Amiens Prison, 'what was that? West Wall, Garrison Building, Cafertia..ok..shall we drop one in the Prison commanders cup of tea for good luck?'

 

[Lightning Guy]

I didn't mean to imply that the Lightning was the better bomber, but it was very good in its own respect. And the Mosquito can't begin to approach the Lightning's air-to-air record.

 

[plan_D]

And the P-38 can't compare to the Mosquito in bombing.

 

[Lightning Guy]

Maybe, but the Lightning made a better bomber that the Mosquito made fighter.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i'm not sure the mossie was the better bomber, and some marks were faster than the P-38....................

 

[plan_D]

The record of the Mosquito shows a better bomber, it could carry more as well. The Lightning could drop bombs, anything could do that. The Mosquito was precise.

 

[Lightning Guy]

A P-38 with a Norden or Mickey radar could drop bombs very accurately. And their dive-bombing was extremely accurate. The P-38L had a topspeed of 443mph at altitude. I've not seen a speed for a Mossie posted that high.

 

[plan_D]

Seriously, are you trying to say that the P-38 was better a bomber than the Mosquito?

 

[Lightning Guy]

No, but the P-38 was very capable of precision. And alot of the Mosquito's precision came from the nature of its missions, low-altitude, rather than any particular aspect of the plane.

 

[plan_D]

The plane has to be able to do it though.

 

[Lightning Guy]

And many planes could fly well at low-altitude. The P-38 was (in Europe) generally considered more effective at low-altitude than high.

 

[plan_D]

There's low, and there's Mosquito low. It was one of, if not, the most precise bomber.

 

[Lightning Guy]

It definitely was precise. But several planes flew that low. B-25s in the Pacific came back with bits of foilage stuck in their engines and bomb bays.

 

[plan_D]

Yes, and I love the B-25. People were looking down on the Mosquitos in the Amiens raid.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

German Sentry:"Are those ficken Britanien gonna ram the wall?!"

 

[plan_D]

Exactly....