Hey guys…finally felt like posting fer 'real' again!
Some personal catching up (briefly), then on to the 109 (which to some my post will be as long winded as usual; hehe.)
Started a website of my own; I have a bit more insight as to the work time it takes… Hats off to all WW2 aircraft.net staff… One day I may be as good…
To anyone interested, visit me…
The CFS2 Flight Deck
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http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/cfs-i-ii-iii/line-action-cfs-2-flight-deck-4316.html
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Most any kite is ok…
The Me-109… Yeah; 'cept during its introduction, when it dominated its opponents, say through the battle of France, she represents an aviation enigma to me. For most of her career she seemed 'the number two' choice… I believe she was under utilized due to her unfortunate 2nd choice position.
(Theory) For example: If she were favored to the Bf-110, the Germans might have stumbled across two important 'tactics' long before the 8th air force; the relaying of escort fighters, the hunt of any enemy fighter using as bait the bombers possibly their 110 escorts as well.
Regardless of my own personal thoughts… fact is this 109 was a victim of underutilization, to being restrained to tactics ill suited to its strengths, in a manner, to me repetitive of Napoleon's mistake… When Napoleon saw the British's Line Abreast, his decision to charge up the middle was, in the safety of history's hindsight, an impetuous mistake, much like the Germans attaching 'slash' fighters to the confinement of the bombers. Maybe the discovery of the advantages of using the appearance of unescorted bombers as 'bait' was destined to be American… As the Bayonet Box formation completely castrated Napoleon's numerically overwhelming Calvary charge a Line Abreast formation was a tactical stroke of genius as it neatly exposed French field regiment's waste of man firepower. The Germans remained 'blind' of their abuses. Nope…for all intent for all to see they neatly allowed themselves to be 'radar-vectored' once again the Brits saw a column or consolidation; once again the British (masters at this I believe) developed a 'counter-formation' that gave England her 1st 'credited' victory. Shame if you are the Me-109, for if allowed the exploitation of her strengths, during her height, during the BOB; well she clearly would have been the single greatest fighter of WW2.
Stand alone as a weapon, the ME-109 was outstanding, and 'competitive' throughout the war; no easy nor small accomplishment, however as accomplished as she was, as a package, again, she was the finest 2nd choice fighter in the field, a 2nd choice that bested some adversaries 'front line fighters'... But Germany offers another platform clearly superior to the 109, when viewed by specification or 'empirical' performance; around since nearly the beginning of the war as well… The Fw-190. Actual historical contribution, to me defined as 'if missing/or allowed to mature the war would be different'. The Fw-190; historically, if she were not produced…wow! What a hole… Germany would have lost much much sooner. We could talk more of 190s the derivatives or offshoots; but IMHO Germany also was the only country to field jets (Yes, the Meteor was in service… big woop on the V-1 kills –not in any way meant to minimize their their pilots actual contribution, just meant to properly 'weight' them within this discussion-). This 'Contribution' transcends WW2, as does the A-bomb. The Me-262, engine problems all I believe wins the 'historical' category as clearly as the performance and firepower categories. As a weapon, the Me-109 was neither held back from maturing as a design, nor IMHO would it have been greatly missed if never produced; if missing would it have significantly changed the war's outcome? IMHO Germany's losing entries to the position awarded the 109, were not bad 'runners-up' would have matured into fine combatants. Me-109s were historically 'replaceable'. But, IMHO, historically, as the 262 was fielded in number, feared above any other 'fighter' of it's time by every Allied ETO bomber pilot... Targeted by every fighter jock in the European Theater… Relentlessly hunted by every victorious 'power', it was, without doubt the soul contribution of the Me-262 that most 'know of' weather expert, or novice; what we all 'bring to mind' 1st, when told of the introduction of the 'Jet Fighter'. Sure, you may argue that another aircraft, say the Meteor, or P-80, would have held that crown if not the 262. …But then the jet would therefore then not be a weapon of WW2 at all, it was under test, or in 'pre-deployment' duds, they represented technological possibilities undergoing final 'tweaking', all except the 262
