Best World War II Aircraft?

[evangilder]

Spiti, of course. It was used from 1939 to 1945, in almost all of roles (interceptor,fighter-bomber, carrier fighter, reconnaissance, trainer, escort fighter, seaplane fighter, long-range escort fighter), in all of the theater of II WW. The Spiti shot down last german, the Seafire shot down the last japanese aircraft. 8)

The last aerial engagement in the war in Europe did not involve fighter aircraft actually. The last aerial battle was fought between a Fiesler Storch and a Piper L-4.

The pinnacle of the Grasshopper's career as a warplane came on April 12, 1945, when pilot Duane Francies and observer William Martin, flying an L-4 named Miss Me downed a low-flying German Fieseler Storch observation aircraft with their .45-caliber pistols. Author Cornelius Ryan describes the action:

By radio Martin reported that they had spotted a German plane and announced calmly "we are about to give combat." On the ground, astounded 5th Armored tankers, hearing Martin's call, craned their necks skyward searching out the impending dogfight.

Martin got the side doors open as Francies dived. Swinging the Cub into a tight circle over the German plane, both men blasted away with their .45's. … Violently sideslipping, the Storch began circling wildly. Above it, Francies and Martin, like frontier stagecoach guards, were leaning out of their own plane emptying their automatics as fast as they could pull the triggers. ... They were so close that Francies saw the pilot "staring at us, his eyeballs as big as eggs." Then suddenly the German maneuvered wildly and spun in. ... Francies set the Miss Me down in the next field and ran across to the downed plane. The German pilot and his observer were already out. … As Martin covered the pilot with his gun, Francies examined the [superficially] wounded observer.

Later that day, Francies and Martin posed happily beside their captured prize. They had fought what was probably the last World War II dogfight in the European theater and they were undoubtedly the only airmen in this war to bring down a German plane with a pistol. For Francies "it was a day of pure joy."

--Cornelius Ryan, The Last Battle, 310-12

 

[grumman-cats]

I have to agree with you c-47 guys. the airplane is really adaptable to just about any mission, wheather that's carring troops, towing gliders, flying the hump to deliver crucial supplies or being turned into a gunship later in its career. It's an amazing, tough, and versatile aircraft. You would think that it was designed by grumman aerospace.

 

[Aggie08]

haha, can you now imagine ten drunk soldiers onboard said spit?

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I have to agree with you c-47 guys. the airplane is really adaptable to just about any mission, wheather that's carring troops, towing gliders, flying the hump to deliver crucial supplies or being turned into a gunship later in its career. It's an amazing, tough, and versatile aircraft. You would think that it was designed by grumman aerospace.

A DC-2 wing was placed on a DC-3 and it even dropped bombs....

 

[evangilder]

And remember that there were a couple of bombers born out of the C-47 program, The B-18/Digby and the B-23 Dragon were all based from the DC-2/DC-3 development.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

OK its true so the good old C-47 won the war. But I can imagine a new Spiti, with a box for 10 soldiers and the beer.....

No the C-47 was just a small part of the puzzle.

 

[SpitTrop]

This is really simple; without the Spitfire, Hurricane and radar combo in 1940, there would have been no role for the C-47! The war in the west would have been lost!
The UK would have been under German rule (seems to be now with the number of BMW's and Mercs about!) so where would the allies have liberated Europe from - New York? No, so why do you need the C-47?
Before you can start using transport planes you have to clear the sky of the enemy first!
A transport plane is just a luxury you can use when you are winning via air supremacy, ask the Germans about using transport planes to supply Stalingrad........

 

[FLYBOYJ]

This is really simple; without the Spitfire, Hurricane and radar combo in 1940, there would have been no role for the C-47! The war in the west would have been lost!
The UK would have been under German rule (seems to be now with the number of BMW's and Mercs about!) so where would the allies have liberated Europe from - New York? No, so why do you need the C-47?
Before you can start using transport planes you have to clear the sky of the enemy first!
A transport plane is just a luxury you can use when you are winning via air supremacy, ask the Germans about using transport planes to supply Stalingrad........

I don't think you were ever in the military to understand the value of a transport aircraft let alone the C-47. Yes ,the Spits and Hurricanes fought off the Luftwaffe, that was one major battle. To invade Europe and WIN THE WAR things had to be moved logistically - the C-47 accomplished that role magnificently as well as moving troops and gliders - Without the movement of troops and supplies the war would of been over!!!!

Other transport aircraft did not have the ability to carry the equipment the required distances and offload it like the C-47..

In the Pacific, bases had to be continually supplied - without this there would of been no fuel parts, material and people to make it happen and again it was the C-47 that made it happen.....

The C-47 is still used today by 3rd world nations and small operators, a tribute to its longevity...

 

[pbfoot]

A transport plane is just a luxury you can use when you are winning via air supremacy, ask the Germans about using transport planes to supply Stalingrad........

I guess if the germans had the Dak or C47 maybe they wouldn't have lost Stalingrad the Berlin Airlift kept the whole city of Berlin supplied and used a whole whack of C47s the Germans had nothing even close to the C47 and if you can't get that spare part right away your combat a/c is now just a ground target

 

[FLYBOYJ]

The Stalingrad airlift was attempted with improper planning, accomplished during horrible weather with aircraft that were not capable of doing the job. If Germany had C-47s 2 out of the 3 would of still doomed the mission...

Transport aircraft are far from a "luxury." they are a vital piece of military equipment to keep all forces supplied and a ground army moving.

The Douglas DC-3/ C-47 was an easy flying aircraft, had features which enabled it to be quickly loaded and unloaded by minimal amounts of "Loadmasters," had the ability to carry more troops SAFELY than any other WW2 transport, and lastly was one of the most advanced "instrument" aircraft of WW2 - In my opinion only the Lancaster was a better inclement weather aircraft.

Eisenhower said it himself - the C-47 as one of the four machines that won World War II, along with the bulldozer, 6x6 truck, and the landing craft.

 

[Henk]

The Junkers 52 were a great airlift aircraft and it were great when it came to freight. Like Flyboyj said it were bad planning and the improper use of the equipment.

Remember also how many C-47 there were in WW2 and how many the US could produce. I agree with you when you say that the C-47 is a great aircraft.

Henk

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Ju-52 in all actuallity is a marvelous aircraft. Very robust and very reliable. There are several Tante Ju's still flying in Germany. One is owned by Lufthansa, I actually saw it at the Frankfurt Airport when I flew out of there last week. I wish I had my camara available. Unfortunatly I packed it in my suit case.

The C-47 in my opinion though is the best aircraft of WW2, just for what it accomplished. Hell the damn things still fly today. That says something.

 

[Aggie08]

I'm not a big fan three engine designs, but i'll give you that it's a good plane.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

She was just a good robust design.

 

[Gnomey]

But ideally that is what you want from a good aircraft, the more hardship it can take combined with its performance (in real life) should be what defines it. In these respects the C-47 is top (in my opinion).

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I agree the C-47 as I said in my opinion is the best aircraft from WW2.

 

[J. W. MILLER]

How about the Japanese Arny Air Force Nakajima Ki84, with a 1860 hp power plant. The "Hayate" for best in a dog fight!
It Compared very favorably with the P-51H and P-47N according to AAF tests after WWII.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

How about the Japanese Arny Air Force Nakajima Ki84, with a 1860 hp power plant. The "Hayate" for best in a dog fight!
It Compared very favorably with the P-51H and P-47N according to AAF tests after WWII.

Welcome Mr. Miller.....

The Hayate was an excellent fighter and did compare favorably with allied fighters. It did not have the supreme maneuverability like the Oscar or Zero and the controls stiffened up at high speeds. In the hands of a good pilot it was formadable.

But the best "Over-all" plane of WW2 (that's what this thread is showing) in my opinion - the C-47.

The Hayete deserves its place in history but was still swatted out of the skies, mainly because of pilot skill....

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Im with FBJ. For fighter I go with the Fw-190D.

 

[davparlr]

The C-47 is certainly a milestone aircraft and the most significant in terms of affecting world transportation. Being an old airlifter myself, I would have to vote for the C-47 and an honorable mention for the C-54 (I got to fly in an R5D when the Navy flew me to New Orleans for a flight physical), which took the C-47 a step up into the modern aircraft era and won the first cold war confrontation, the Berlin Airlift.

I was playing golf yesterday at Skylinks in Long Beach Ca., which is right beside the airport. A DC3 flew right overhead while landing. It must have been less that 200 feet above us. What a magnificent sight and sound. That plane has been around for 70+ years of the 103 years of heavier than air flight.