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A6M2 Zeke for me. The Fw-190 was a rare bird by 1942 and still plagued from lots of engine overheating issues, which made it mechanically unreliable. The A6M was aviable in large numbers, mechanically reliable and made a significant impact in aerial warfare over the Pacific theatre.
Not technically better than a Fw-190 but quantity had it´s own quality.
A6M2 Zeke for me. The Fw-190 was a rare bird by 1942 and still plagued from lots of engine overheating issues, which made it mechanically unreliable. The A6M was aviable in large numbers, mechanically reliable and made a significant impact in aerial warfare over the Pacific theatre.
Not technically better than a Fw-190 but quantity had it´s own quality.
There were better or equal 'radial' fighters then early Fw-190s, but those appeared in 1943
So, the 190 wins the 1942 by a large margin; the La-5 lacked power and Shoki lacked weapons and power to compete. Other are nice for 1940, but not for 1942.