Choose your Weapon!

[MikeGazdik]

Since this is all fantasy... You can pick one airplane. You will be a pilot and group commander. Your group will perform just about any mission we can think of that "fighters" performed in WWII. Fighter sweeps, bomber escort, bomber / fighter intercept, straffing, low level bombing, a little night intercept if needed, photo recon, attack on shipping, whatever. Rules: Piston engine fighter, that saw combat in WWII. For example; no F8f Bearcat, no Me 262. Your missions will be land based, you do not need to have arresting gear for carrier ops. You can choose a carrier based fighter though. It is 1945, so you can pick any late design of the war if you wish. Please keep this to production aircraft, not test planes.

Choose your weapon, tell us why and how you will beat the snot out of your opponent. Let us all judge the battles. Have fun!!!! I will throw my pick in after a few people jump in to he discussion.

 

[Watanbe]

Hawker Tempest!

Would cause some serious havoc flying fighter sweeps, low level bombing and strafing! Can hold its own against any of the other late war fighter designs with its speed and firepower! Could make a very effective Photo Recon with enough speed to get it out of trouble!

It has enough range to escort the bombers on missions and its range could be improved if drop tanks were fitted! It could also do some serious damage to enemy bomber formations with its firepower!

 

[drgondog]

Hawker Tempest!

Would cause some serious havoc flying fighter sweeps, low level bombing and strafing! Can hold its own against any of the other late war fighter designs with its speed and firepower! Could make a very effective Photo Recon with enough speed to get it out of trouble!

It has enough range to escort the bombers on missions and its range could be improved if drop tanks were fitted! It could also do some serious damage to enemy bomber formations with its firepower!

I would have to narrow down to three depending on actual long range escort (not ferry) of the Ta 152 as well as any demonstrated night fighter capacity. It never demonstrated any combat range capability because it didn't have that mission nor am I aware of a night fighter version.

The P-51B-15 with all the kits (wheel uplock, Malcolm hood, etc) would be there also, but no night fighter variant either,

So I pick the F4U-4 and all its variants including E and N versions with night fighter capability.

Carrier qual, night fighter/night intruder, fighter bomber, good enough interceptor, great escort and dogfighter - even recon capability

The F4U-5 is better but didn't make it until late 1945

 

[fly boy]

p-51d good at everything but large bomb load

 

[drgondog]

p-51d good at everything but large bomb load

51d 'not so good' at night interception because it never had that capability but it could carry two 1000 pound bombs (not aware that it did much if any 1000 pound missions in WWII) or 10 5" rockets or two 110 gal napalm so that is more than adequate for ground support - even if lower than some of the others.

 

[fly boy]

well maybe a f6f or f4u they both had radar

 

[SoD Stitch]

The only fighter produced during WWII that could do all of those jobs and do them well was the P-38 Lightning, preferably a later model like the J or the L. It had the range to perform strategic bomber escort, the ability to carry a decent bombload a fair distance (in theory, it could carry as much as a B-17!), the firepower to strafe ground targets effectively, and with the F-5 version probably the best photo-recon a/c of the War. It also experimented with carrying torpedo(es), so it could also effectively execute anti-shipping missions.

 

[MikeGazdik]

Maybe I should remove night interception. It is a mission that requires a specialized airplane, same as a carrier aircraft. I don't want people making thier pick soley on having radar. If you want that fine, but not a necessity.

Night interception not a requirement.

And remember, you will be flying one as you lead your group.

 

[SoD Stitch]

Maybe I should remove night interception. It is a mission that requires a specialized airplane, same as a carrier aircraft. I don't want people making thier pick soley on having radar. If you want that fine, but not a necessity.

Night interception not a requirement.

And remember, you will be flying one as you lead your group.

Too bad; the P-38 made a decent night fighter, also, in the shape of the P-38M. Not as good as a Widow, but good enough.

 

[davebender]

There are lots of good fighter aircraft to chose from in 1945. I would pick the Ta-152. However the F4U-4 Corsair, P-51D Mustang and Ki-84 would also be fine choices.

 

[TheMustangRider]

Since the rules have changed my choice would be the Mustang, a superb escort fighter (that's the kind of mission that I would had executed) and also it was a decent ground attack airplane.

 

[Watanbe]

A close runner-up for me was the P47N! The P38 is a good answer but I have never been a huge fan! The Mosquito I also considered but it lost out on the basis that it could not handle the late war single engine fighters!

 

[Catch22]

F4U-4, easily. Superb fighter, had excellent range, very large payload, the F4U-4P recon variant, which was also a fully functioning combat aircraft, F4U-4N, while only one was made, it was only cancelled because it wasn't needed. The F4U-4B with its 20mm cannons was great for strafing, and by then the guns were reliable. The new engine allowed it to fight effectively at high altitudes as well. The F4U was basically the pinnacle of all-around single engined fighters, and it didn't give up any of its pure fighter ability in the process.

 

[Bill G.]

My vote is for the P-38L Lightning. It was the most versatile aircraft. It might not be the best at any one mission, but it could do any mission you wanted! It was torqueless and has a "spare" engine to get you home! It could fly higher than most. Granted my toes might get a bit chilled up there! It was fast enough and with maneuver flap setting, it could turn with most. I would have good all around vision. I would have a very deadly cone of fire at all ranges.

Again, not perfect at any one mission, but very good at any mission. Change the nose to a droop snoot and I can even level bomb. Change the nose again and I can take your picture. Smile, your on candid Lightning!

The others chosen are very good, don't get me wrong. The only thing a Lightning hasn't done is land on a carrier. And the Navy has something against "wet engines". Maybe that is because they have "dry" (no alcohol) ships. Something to ponder?!?

The best story I have heard goes something like this.

A P-38 group was mixing it up with the Japanese in 1944. Over the radio was heard, "My engine is hit, I'm going down!"

A P-38 driver radioed back, "Feather it and get out of here!"

The original pilot radioed back, "Feather it HE))! I'm flying a Mustang!"

Bill G.

 

[TheMustangRider]

If we talk about deadly photo reconnaissance aircraft the F-6 offered a long distance photo reconnaissance capability while maintaning all the lethal qualities of the P-51 Mustang. Clyde B. East, a pilot of the 10th photo reconnaissance group became an ace with 13 kills while flying an F-6, nothing bad for a photo reconnaissance pilot.

 

[MikeGazdik]

I too would pick the P-38L. As stated, it can do all of the missions. I like so many WWII aircraft, it is in fact very hard for me to pick just one. The reason I tried to emphasize "you are flying too", is because at least for me, it changes my decision. A Spit Mk IX or Mk XIV or P-51 comes to mind. In those planes, I think in a dogfight I could take on anyone, but if I should get some rounds put into my aircraft, my chances of survival is low. So then I go opposite of those, and think P-47N or Fw 190 A8. Radials, tough, and in the Jug you likely can come home after damage. But in both of those aircraft there are some planes I may not want to face.

So that leads me to the P-38L. In that I would fear no other aircraft. I know several single engine fighters may out manuever me, but only by a little. If flown correctly, I think the Lightning can out-weigh some of its negatives with its positives. Deadly firepower, I would never want to face one head on! If you get on target, the target is finished! Climb. Can operate at high altitude, and may be better than anything at low altitudes. No worry of a dive with the dive flaps. Twin engine to get home if one is damaged. Range and payload are great.

Out of all the other aircraft selected so far, the most interesting to me is the Tempest. I think that plane could give any of the aircraft picked so far some serious problems, including the Lightning.

 

[Clay_Allison]

P-47Ds one fighter group and one bomber group of B-25Js, operating against the Japanese Army on mainland Asia (India, China, Burma).

Missions:

- heavy escort of a small group of bombers as a diversionary tactic to draw fighter reaction away from the main strike,

- large-scale fighter sweeps through areas of fighter reaction, to provoke an engagement,

- using B-25 formations as "bait" to draw fighters to medium altitude with P-47s at high altitude to "bounce" them from above.

- strafing and interdiction of enemy supply lines, air bases, ammo dumps, etc.

- support of U.S. Army offensives by providing and escorting close air support.

 

[ksilber11]

The P-38 and P-47 were some pretty good all around aircraft.

 

[Amsel]

Focke-Wulfe 190 A8 for my Squadron. Good flight characteristics. Simple and easy to control and maintain. Vicious armament. Strong firing capacity. Multifunctional. Good field of vision from the cockpit. Reliable. Good armor for the crew and power plant.

 

[drgondog]

The only fighter produced during WWII that could do all of those jobs and do them well was the P-38 Lightning, preferably a later model like the J or the L. It had the range to perform strategic bomber escort, the ability to carry a decent bombload a fair distance (in theory, it could carry as much as a B-17!), the firepower to strafe ground targets effectively, and with the F-5 version probably the best photo-recon a/c of the War. It also experimented with carrying torpedo(es), so it could also effectively execute anti-shipping missions.

The way this 'fantasy' started is pick a plane for any mission and all missions, then it stripped carrier capability, then night fighting .. what next?

The F4U-4 was the single fighter and variant of the line that could do all the missions anywhere and well.

After you strip carrier and night fighter out - that leaves about five that you would like to choose from depending on the mission.