Lighthunmust
Banned
Cockpit roominess might be somewhat exaggerated when it comes to one over the other.
The P-47N was the more roomy one, but from a strategic point of view, I'd use the P-51H for escort and use the range and tonnage capability of the P-47N to run medium to low level attack runs.
Out of the three the P-47N was better suited for that than an escort.
I read they ran 24 hour raids with the N, still requiring a 10 hour flight, still requiring the range.
Why does the P-38 always get the back seat on these types of comparisons?
It was an effective escort and proved to be a handful for Japanese aircraft.
The Japanese airmen, when surveyed, said it was their most competitive adversary at high altitude.
If it wasn't the H but instead the D model P-51, I might instead choose the P-38 for escort.
I don't think anyone is thinking the P-38 deserves the back seat for any combat performance reasons. I think it really is about pilot fatigue as much as any other factor. The P-38 being a twin and ergonomic issues created a greater work load for the pilot than the P-47N. P-38s could certainly have done the job, it is just that the job would have be more difficult for the pilots to endure.
Good point. It does seem next to the Corsair, the 38 was one that won the war in the Pacific.
I hope you are ready to put on your body armor. You may be in for some serious incoming fire from Hellcat pilots and fans. There is also the "Fighter pilots make movies, bomber pilots make history" guys that may want to drop a few eggs on you.
Speaking of the Corsair, couldn't they do the job? Launch from carriers and rendezvous with the B-29s en route, and then return to the carriers?
Even it this were a practical option, do you think HAP Arnold would ever admit to the Navy he needed their help to protect his bombers on a routine basis? Sure the Corsair could do the job, so could the Hellcat but neither would for a variety of reasons.