GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The Germans actually did have a long range fighter (fighter/bomber) with the Fw190G.
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(my bold)My point really being that there are other solutions to the problem than a British designed P-51.
With the British doing a lot of strategic bombing a night, the NF Mosquito infiltration of the bomber stream, especially those aircraft equipped to home in on the enemy night-fighter radar emanations, must have provided some psychological benefit to RAF bomber crews, if the NF Mosquitos only obtaining spotty results.I know that there'll be some variables here, namely time period and such, but what if the British had their own long range escort fighter? Naturally, it can't really be a Spitfire or a Hurricane since they're too short legged early war (and Spitfire for most of the war). But, from say 39-42, 42-45, what would a single seat, long range high performance escort fighter be like? The biggest thing as far as spec is enough fuel internally to have a 700-800 mile range, and the ability to use drop tanks. It also has to be heavily armed for the period (which from 42-45 basically means 4x20mm cannons), and be a great dogfighter per tactics of the period. This will address one of the few shortcomings of the P-51, given that it was a bit heavy due to being built to outdated USAAF load requirements (largely resolved with the H variant, but that doesn't really count here).
So I'll open the floor to the forum members to discuss.
That seemed to be where the thread went - all that was needed was a British designed P-51 - which there wasn't...(my bold)
What was that one?
That seemed to be where the thread went - all that was needed was a British designed P-51 - which there wasn't...
We don't need a P51, we just need a 400 mile radius Spitfire from the end of 1942.That seemed to be where the thread went - all that was needed was a British designed P-51 - which there wasn't...
We don't need a P51, we just need a 400 mile radius Spitfire from the end of 1942.
With the British doing a lot of strategic bombing a night, the NF Mosquito infiltration of the bomber stream, especially those aircraft equipped to home in on the enemy night-fighter radar emanations, must have provided some psychological benefit to RAF bomber crews, if the NF Mosquitos only obtaining spotty results.
From 1944–45, the Mosquitos of 100 Group claimed 258 Luftwaffe aircraft shot down for 70 losses. The gradually increasing threat from the RAF fighters also created what the Luftwaffe crews nicknamed Moskito Panik as the night fighter crews were never sure when or where they may come under attack from the marauding 100 Group fighters.
Fine, as it went.Let me know how that worked out.
But the P-51 was also a viable fighter bomber, whereas the Spit was none too good at that task. In fact in the ETO the RAF pretty much lacked a decent fighter bomber until the Tempest showed up late in the war. The Typhoon was so dangerous to ditch that RAF pilots had to seriously consider if they would rather be an involuntary guest of the Germans rather than risk going down with the ship if that none too reliable Sabre engine started acting up over France.We don't need a P51, we just need a 400 mile radius Spitfire from the end of 1942.
Let me know how that worked out.
In fact in the ETO the RAF pretty much lacked a decent fighter bomber until the Tempest showed up late in the war. The Typhoon was so dangerous to ditch that RAF pilots had to seriously consider if they would rather be an involuntary guest of the Germans rather than risk going down with the ship if that none too reliable Sabre engine started acting up over France.
All the ingredients were available from 1940 onwards.Let me know how that worked out.
With its radiator scoop I don't think the P51 would have been much fun to ditch either mate just saying.The Typhoon was so dangerous to ditch that RAF pilots had to seriously consider if they would rather be an involuntary guest of the Germans rather than risk going down with the ship if that none too reliable Sabre engine started acting up over France.
But the P-51 was also a viable fighter bomber, whereas the Spit was none too good at that task. In fact in the ETO the RAF pretty much lacked a decent fighter bomber until the Tempest showed up late in the war.
But the P-51 was also a viable fighter bomber, whereas the Spit was none too good at that task. In fact in the ETO the RAF pretty much lacked a decent fighter bomber until the Tempest showed up late in the war. The Typhoon was so dangerous to ditch that RAF pilots had to seriously consider if they would rather be an involuntary guest of the Germans rather than risk going down with the ship if that none too reliable Sabre engine started acting up over France.
Can you cite a source for that? I don't doubt an aircraft with a nose mounted radiator scoop might not be ideal - but then again, as previously pointed out, how is it any worse for a water ditching than the belly radiator of a P51? USAF P51s were flying over the same pieces of water as the Typhoons.The Typhoon was so dangerous to ditch that RAF pilots had to seriously consider if they would rather be an involuntary guest of the Germans rather than risk going down with the ship if that none too reliable Sabre engine started acting up over France.
Compared to whom? And compared to what and when?In fact in the ETO the RAF pretty much lacked a decent fighter bomber until the Tempest showed up late in the war
All the ingredients were available from 1940 onwards.
I'm struggling to think of 400+-mile-radius missions escorted by Spits in 1940 or even later.
How far could the unarmed recon Spitfires go?