Best (single engined) fighters of WWII

[Vincenzo]

Some explain: fighter it's indeed for the plane that shoot down enemy fighters.
Normal thread on this focus on 1945 fighters, but this is for all war best fighters (from september 1939 to septemebr 1945). Oldest fighters keep the position, bit best aren't count. Ready for combat fighter only.

my choice:

Spitfire I -> Bf 109 F -> Fw 190 A -> Bf 109 F-4 (after cleared full power) -> P-51B -> P-47M (or Ta 152 H the first that was ready for combat)

 

[Marcel]

B239 for having the best kill/loss ratio

 

[MikeGazdik]

Rather than one particular model, I would say the Messerschmitt Bf 109. From the E to the K, it was always at or near the top of the list. It was present from beginning to end.

 

[Venganza]

Rather than one particular model, I would say the Messerschmitt Bf 109. From the E to the K, it was always at or near the top of the list. It was present from beginning to end.

For the same reason, I would pick the Spitfire. The Spitfire had the unusual distinction of being one of the first modern monoplane fighters (first flown in 1936) and one of the last piston-engined fighters (production of the Seafire ended in 1949).

Venganza

 

[seesul]

P-51D,Bf109K,F4U,Ta152H,Spit IX would be my choice...

 

[Vincenzo]

i'm sorry that some people don't understand me,
Marcel sure you can't use the buffalo from 39 to 45
Seesul your choice Spit IX, F4U, P-51D, Bf 109 K, Ta 152 H (put in just time line) left uncovered from september 1939 to summer 42

 

[Marcel]

i'm sorry that some people don't understand me,
Marcel sure you can't use the buffalo from 39 to 45

So you mean a fighter that has been used from '39 to 45? Sorry I didn't get that. That leaves only a very limited choice: Bf109 and Spitfire. AFAIK there are no other single engined fighters that were still effectively competing in 1945. Either of the two would be a good choice.

 

[Vincenzo]

my english it's so bad, i thinked that my choice can help to understand me, need choice the best fighters for all war not the best fighter, you can choice more fighters i try to explain my example
semptember 1939 best fighter Spitfire I (for true the emil it's even but i apply the rule of older) in october 1940 the new 109 F-1 go over the Spit I, the year after the Fw 190 A-1 go over the 109 F-4 but this with the cleared ful power retake the position in february 42, and so...

 

[Marcel]

Ah, but this choice-per-year would highly depend on the mission that has to be flown and thus on the situation you are in. For example, you cannot compare a Bf109 to a P51 as one is an interceptor, while the other is an escort fighter. Neither could do the other one's job as well.

But for inteceptor in ETO I would choose:
1939-1940 Bf109E (for it's canon armament vs light machineguns in the Spit
1940-1941 Bf109F
1941-1942 FW190 (at low to mid altitude)
1942-1943 Spitfire MK.VIII
1943-1944 Hawker Tempest
1944-1945 Me262

 

[parsifal]

For the Pacific

1939- F2A
1940-42-A6M
1943 Hellcat
1944 Corsair
1945: Ki-100

 

[drgondog]

Ah, but this choice-per-year would highly depend on the mission that has to be flown and thus on the situation you are in. For example, you cannot compare a Bf109 to a P51 as one is an interceptor, while the other is an escort fighter. Neither could do the other one's job as well.

But for inteceptor in ETO I would choose:
1939-1940 Bf109E (for it's canon armament vs light machineguns in the Spit
1940-1941 Bf109F
1941-1942 FW190 (at low to mid altitude)
1942-1943 Spitfire MK.VIII
1943-1944 Hawker Tempest
1944-1945 Me262

On the other hand the Mustang could perform the interceptor/fighter bomber role (not as well as some) but do the long range escort role far better than any other fighter in the late 1943 through 1945.

Your point is well taken.

However, if the Allies could only pick one day fighter in 1944 and 1945, what would be the probable choice? Stopping long range bombing campaign not being an option. F4U and P-51 come to mind as high choices

 

[MikeGazdik]

On the other hand the Mustang could perform the interceptor/fighter bomber role (not as well as some) but do the long range escort role far better than any other fighter in the late 1943 through 1945.

Your point is well taken.

However, if the Allies could only pick one day fighter in 1944 and 1945, what would be the probable choice? Stopping long range bombing campaign not being an option. F4U and P-51 come to mind as high choices

I agree, from late 43 on, the P-51 is the cream of the crop. In my mind, the only argument is prior to the Merlin Mustang. The Mustang could do any of the jobs the earlier aircraft could, but the Mustang really opened up the offensive side of the "game". I picked the Messerschmitt because it was available from beginning to the end.

 

[seesul]

If you meant the whole period from '39 till '45, there´s no other choice than Bf and Spit as they were produced all this time in different variants...as Marcel said.
If you wanna speak about year by year, that´s something else....

 

[Vincenzo]

the mission i've indicated in first topic: shoot down enemy fighters, air superiority. the choice it's in continuos time you can choice a fighter for the timeline december-february '41-'42 and an other for march-november '42 and so, it's not need choice a same name fighter for all war like spitfire and 109s.

 

[Juha]

Hello Vincenzo
almost as yours
39-June 40 Bf 109E -> Bf 109E/Spitfire I -> Bf 109 F -> Fw 190 A -> Bf 109 F-4 -> Spitfire VIII/P-51B -> Spitfire XIV/P-51D/Fw 190D/La-7/P-47M

Juha

 

[parsifal]

Doesnt the Me 262 actually have two engines. isnt this the best Single engined Fighters of WWII?

 

[Juha]

Uups!
Hello Parsifal
I stayed up too long last night, I corrected my mistake.

Juha

 

[lesofprimus]

Maybe if someone would post up the options for each year that were competeing against each other...

 

[drgondog]

It also briefly occurred to me that from late 1943 to EOW that the F4U may be the best single fighter because it could perform basically all he fighter roles very well - except very high altitude interception.

Escort, carrier/land based fleet defense and attack, fighter bomber, recon, night fighter.

 

[drgondog]

Maybe if someone would post up the options for each year that were competeing against each other...

Dan - your new avatar looks suspiciously like an A-10 or AC-130 victim who felt safe taking a midnight stroll? in a 'no stroll' zone?