Best all-round fighter of WWII

[Oskar the Pilot]

This is a pretty open question, I guess, but I'm asking what the supreme, best all-round dogfighter of World war II was. On this poll, I listed what have been said to be some of the best fighters.

Let the voting begin! IF YOU REPLY PLEASE VOTE ASWELL

EDIT, PLEASE READ: I know this is a bit troublesome, but I'm changing it to the best overall FIGHTER, instead of dogfighter. Thank you!

 

[Thorlifter]

When I see polls like this, I usually focus in on my beloved Corsair. But before I voted, I thought it through. Considering firepower, range, versatility, bomb capacity, ground attack, carrier capable (that narrows it down), survivability, manuverability, rate of climb, etc, etc, etc., I just have to stick with the Corsair.

 

[FalkeEins]

..what it is 'dogfighter' or best 'all round' - and hasn't this poll been done before ?

....FWIW my own choice as "Dogfighter" has to be the Spitfire or possibly the Yak 3 but I don't usually participate in these types of threads ..so many variables that the discussion usually ends going up round and round...having said that, you probably left the best one out ! I've just read Roland Beamont's 'Tempest over Europe'. In his book Beamont describes the comparative testing he undertook at the end of the war. He was a huge fan of the later marks of (Griffon-engined) Spitfire of course, although he describes the P-51 as a true fighter pilots aeroplane, although not quite as handy in the dogfight....but surpassing all of these in Beamont's view - and able to take on the Luftwaffe's Ta 152 and beat it low down- was the Hawker TEMPEST V.

 

[cimmex]

What is a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIVE, never heard before?
cimmex

 

[Oskar the Pilot]

What is a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIVE, never heard before?
cimmex

E is my personal favourite wing fitting for the XIV, and possibly the best.

 

[jim]

Best all around fighter and best all around dog fighter is two diferent things
With Me 262 out of the competition I vote for P38 L because of the safety of two engines, the central placed armament, the turbosuperchargers,the range, the ydraylicaly boosted ailerons , the combat flaps, the opposite turning propellers, the tricycle landing gear,the 360 canopy. Of caurse it was the most expensive as well, only America could have built it , and in a low level, low speed turning fight it would be in trouble

 

[cimmex]

thks

 

[Oskar the Pilot]

At the moment my vote is going to either the Spit or the Wulf, but I'll see what you guys have to say...

 

[T Bolt]

P-47
Good fighter, could take a tremendous beating and terrific firepower with those 8 fifties. My father was in a column of P.O.W.s when 2 mistakingly made a strafing run on them. He said he never wanted to go through something as terrible at that again.

 

[wuzak]

If it is best "dogfighter" then I vote for the Spitfire FXIVE.

If it was best all around I would think the P-51 and maybe the T-Bolt.

 

[wuzak]

What is a Supermarine Spitfire Mk XIVE, never heard before?
cimmex

The E wing has 0.50" mgs in the inner gun ports and 20mm cannon in the outer gun ports of the inner wing, giving a total of 2 0.50s and 2 20s.

 

[johnbr]

For me it is the K-84 good speed and firepower.It to bad the Japanese did not have 130 octane fuel.

 

[MikeGazdik]

Well my vote was the P-38L, because I was thinking best "overall" fighter. A myriad of uses. Then I read "dogfighter".......guess I should read and then vote. Of the choices listed, as listed, I would go with the Bf 109. And I would complete that selection by making it the Bf 109F. I think that particular model would have the best chance overall in air combats versus the others on the list.

And now that it this topic is "overall" and not "dogfighter" only, I will stay with my orginal choice of the P-38L. I should be a politician.

 

[oldcrowcv63]

I weighed generic best P-47 and F4U and flipped a coin but then turned the coin over and finally just voted my bias: USN of course...

 

[Oskar the Pilot]

For some reason I'm rooting for the Focke Wulf 190D-9, could someone explain to me why? Is the Wulf a good fighter?

 

[Gixxerman]

So difficult to decide, there are so many great aircraft and all very useful highly competent in their own way.

Spit, Mustand, Wulf 109 for me in that order.

Just don't ask me why. lol

 

[wuzak]

I'm a little confused....

The OP clearly states the best all-around dogfighter of WW2. Yet the P-47 is winning. Am I missing something?

 

[marshall]

I'm a little confused....

The OP clearly states the best all-around dogfighter of WW2. Yet the P-47 is winning. Am I missing something?

Maybe because the thread title says "best all-round fighter" and in the poll question "best all-round dogfighter" so that can make some confusion.

 

[NiceShotAustin]

I'd agree with Mike in the fact that if this was "best over all fighter" I'd choose the P-38 in a heartbeat. But in terms of sheer dogfighting, I'll vote for the Yak-3

Edit: didn't read re-read Oskars post. Argh!

 

[tomo pauk]

Yak-3 could be easily the winner under 15000 ft, but maybe Spitfire is the best above 20000 ft? And then the P-47 above 30000 ft?