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It (whatever your pick) has to have been operational before end of World War II.
What about Ta 152H with the Jumo213J or DB 603N or at the very least the Jumo 213EB ? Why it is not in the list. Clearly overall better that Dora
Let me define Operational - Delivered into a Fighter Squadron, said Fighter Squadron fully constituted and ready for combat deployment if so called.
The D/TA 152 series, the d13 being 455 mph at 300000 ft, boosted ailerons, heated wind screen, auto control and auto pilot, FUG 125 navigational equipment, advanced throttle system etc etc, 3x20 mm cannons..so if you need an all weather fighter, general air superiority fighter, or fighter bomber, the D13 was your fighter. Ive read its your typical German over engineering job, but, what ever, if you could only have one fighter, this would be a pretty good choice. The F4U, it could take on fighters or bombers with its 4x 20 mm cannons, or if you need to do some ground pounding, the F4U4 could if im not mistaken carry 4000 pounds of bombs, Another would be the Tempest for the same reason as the F4U. My fav fighter, the me 262 was the wars premier air superiority/interceptor, and even though on one mission a small group of jets, devastated a Russian transport convoy and still had enough ammo to shoot down 6x or more IL2 sturmoviks it didnt have the loitering time for ground attack and battle field recon and so on.
The DO 335 might have actually seen combat at the end of the war in the form on night interdiction...this is bit of a tangent, but if jets completely taking over from piston engine AC, then the Do 335 is the only piston engine fighter that should be produced, the 190, 109. P51, Spitfire, Bearcat etc should all be scraped because the 335 is a very, very unique fighter, offering endurance/loitering time for battle field recon and ground support, its speed of 477 mph isnt any slower than many jet fighters of the time, plus it has an inclosed bombay, so speed isnt lost as much as on jet fighters of the time, the two center line engines add an amazing battle field Survivability , since not only do you have two engines but there would be no asymmetrical effects if one engine is shot out, it could fly at 350 mph on one engine, you also have an ejector seat...3 x mk 103 plus 2 x mg 151 20 mm cannons, amazing battle field capability and survivability, Im curious if people agree with this or not, ive been thinking about this for awhile now.