That was really well put, LG, about rationale etc. - As I said earlier, this topic really doesn't include the Mosquito, but I suppose the P-38 being a s/seater, it WAS more a Fighter. - As for the Mustang, I believe that it DID play a very definitive role in the War, the 'D' series was really it's 'icing on the cake' model...While May 1942 may have been the Mustang's entry date into action with the RAF, it's replacement of the P-40 heralded the arrival of an aircraft whose ultimate contribution to eventual Allied victory was inestimable ! The early model was good for 375 mph initally [ the Spit was good for 340 mph then], and while these models weren't the bee's knee's over 15,000 ft, it partnered-up to Allied requirements admirably, on all Fronts...The P-38's best theatre was the Pacific, no doubt about that...the P-51's earlier models contribution to low-level combat, attacks and recce, was huge in Europe and the Far East and also the Med. For those who flew them, they were the gloves that fitted all pilots, and overall had very few vices. - Although the P-51 didn't have a vast line of variants, that was a testament perhaps of it's success, something they realised right back at it's prototypes...'It's a winner !', being essentially an aircraft specifically designed for purchase by Britain. - I find it very hard to make a choice between the Spitfires and the Mustangs, they were both superb aircraft of noble lineage, created under the pressure of War, against a formidable enemy. The P-38 never really totally achieved the fame the Mustang did, but I still think they were Exceptional Fighters...Often in combat, it's the pilot that makes the plane...
While I loved the Fw-190's, both them and Bf-109's cannot achieve 'Best Fighter' or else we'd all be talking German, wouldn't we ?
- The 'Best Fighter' would be an overall winner. - I think one serious contender would be the Corsair, an aircraft our Kiwi pilots had alot to do with in the Pacific...Our guys used to dogfight with the Aussies, who had P-51D's...the F4U's could outmanoevre the P-51's, turning inside them, due to their higher lift wing section; - both had extremely long-range, bordering on 8 hrs, but due to the power [2250 hp against 1,590 hp in the P-51], the Corsairs used and carried about 50% more fuel... but they were also roomier and cooler, and there was the 'radial vs inline bullet-damage factor' too...but then, the P-51 could pull away in a high-speed dive....The Corsair, Lightning and Hellcat were big fighters, the Spitfire and Mustang were smaller, and they could really perform for such compact aircraft....[/u]