If you were a pilot in ww2 which plane would you want to fly

Peter Gunn · Oct 6, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
The Brits were a pretty good judge of 'horseflesh' IMHO -- I'd like to know the impressions of RAF pilots and crew who transitioned to the P-47 late in the war and operated in Burma and thereabouts.
View attachment 597279
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in RAF Service

I'd wager it would depend on what they transitioned from.

If Spitfires, well...

I think a Tiffy pilot would be more interesting considering it's more of a contemporary/compatible aircraft.

Acheron · Oct 6, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
The Brits were a pretty good judge of 'horseflesh' IMHO -- I'd like to know the impressions of RAF pilots and crew who transitioned to the P-47 late in the war and operated in Burma and thereabouts.
View attachment 597279
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt in RAF Service

Wow, I read that the Thunderbolt was larger than other aircraft, but I never visualized it.

fastmongrel · Oct 6, 2020

Acheron said:
Wow, I read that the Thunderbolt was larger than other aircraft, but I never visualized it.

If you were being shot at you just ran around the cockpit dodging the bullets.

Acheron · Oct 6, 2020

"Give me your lunch money!"

Snautzer01 · Oct 6, 2020

P-47: Give me a real fight. Puny war god.

michaelmaltby · Oct 6, 2020

".... it would depend on what they transitioned from."
Blenhiems >> Hurricanes
No. 30 Squadron (RAF) during the Second World War

michaelmaltby · Oct 7, 2020

".... I think a Tiffy pilot would be more interesting considering it's more of a contemporary/compatible aircraft."
now there's a question worth examining ...
"If you were a fighter-bomber pilot during WW2 would you rather fly a Jug or a Typhoon? European theater.

Peter Gunn · Oct 7, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
".... I think a Tiffy pilot would be more interesting considering it's more of a contemporary/compatible aircraft."
now there's a question worth examining ...
"If you were a fighter-bomber pilot during WW2 would you rather fly a Jug or a Typhoon? European theater.

"Tough" question...

See what I did there?

fastmongrel · Oct 7, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
".... I think a Tiffy pilot would be more interesting considering it's more of a contemporary/compatible aircraft."
now there's a question worth examining ...
"If you were a fighter-bomber pilot during WW2 would you rather fly a Jug or a Typhoon? European theater.

Going from fading memory you were more likely to make it home safely flying a Typhoon than a P47, though the difference was pretty small. I believe it was something to do with the Typhoon had all its radiator, oil and engine in a small compact block giving a smaller more easily armoured target. The P47 had a bit more plumbing spread out along the fuselage possibly making a bigger target.

GrauGeist · Oct 7, 2020

fastmongrel said:
Going from fading memory you were more likely to make it home safely flying a Typhoon than a P47, though the difference was pretty small. I believe it was something to do with the Typhoon had all its radiator, oil and engine in a small compact block giving a smaller more easily armoured target. The P47 had a bit more plumbing spread out along the fuselage possibly making a bigger target.

There's several cases where the P-47 had portions of it's engine shot away and they still flew back across the channel.
There was even one P-47 that flew through an Olive orchard after strafing German positions in Italy. The pilot managed to keep it under control and flew over 100 miles back to base - with damaged wings, engine cowling and all four props bent back.

fastmongrel · Oct 7, 2020

I am sure there's lots of anecdotes of P47s returning with bits missing but it's like a boxer better not to be hit in the first place. I don't know the exact figures but more pilots made it back intact per sortie flying a Typhoon which is the important bit.

SaparotRob · Oct 7, 2020

Both planes are pretty awesome.

michaelmaltby · Oct 7, 2020

Does anyone have a deep longing to fly a Sturmovik?

Husky · Oct 7, 2020

I may have chosen the Bristol Beaufighter as well but wasn't on the list.

GrauGeist · Oct 7, 2020

fastmongrel said:
I am sure there's lots of anecdotes of P47s returning with bits missing but it's like a boxer better not to be hit in the first place. I don't know the exact figures but more pilots made it back intact per sortie flying a Typhoon which is the important bit.

From the forum's "Tree Trimming" thread.

This particular P-47 struck a chimney and still made it safely back to base.
Granted, it's not flak or 30mm cannon-fire, but still pretty impressive.

Peter Gunn · Oct 8, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
Does anyone have a deep longing to fly a Sturmovik?

No.

rob23 · Oct 18, 2020

I have to go with the F4U. Good solid airplane, tough, fast, fairly agile and good armament. But please let it be a shore based squadron!

DBII · Oct 18, 2020

Looks like I am the only one to choose the B25. It is the family's favorite. For all arounf fighter, I would grab the P47. I met a man that flew P47s and then A36s. He shot down 2 planes but many close air support missions. He perfered the flying characterists of the A36 to the firepower od the P47.

swampyankee · Oct 18, 2020

michaelmaltby said:
Does anyone have a deep longing to fly a Sturmovik?

I certainly don't. Neglecting the general downsides of flying for the Soviet Union, there's the problem that the Il-2 was also performing extremely risky flying in general.

Maachi · Feb 6, 2021

Mine aren't on the list... Reggiane Re.2005 or Bristol Beaufighter.

If you were a pilot in ww2 which plane would you want to fly

What plane woul you want to use going into combat

P 47 thunderbolt

P 51 mustang

SuperMarine spitfire

P 40 war hawk

P 51 mustang

B 25 mitchell medium bomber

B 17 flying fortress

B 24 liberator

Fock wulf 190

messerschmitt bf 109

messerschmitt me 262

Grumman F6F hellcat

Grumman F4F wildcat

Grumman F8F bearcat

f4u corsair

P 38 lockhead

A6M zero

de Havilland Mosquito

B29

Aichi D3A

PBY Catalina

Master Sergeant

Airman 1st Class

1st Sergeant

Airman 1st Class

Marshal

Colonel

Colonel

Master Sergeant

1st Sergeant

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

1st Sergeant

Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII

Colonel

Airman 1st Class

Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung

Master Sergeant

Airman 1st Class

Senior Master Sergeant

Chief Master Sergeant

Recruit

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