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

[Outta Leftfield]

And you have flown it?

Unfortunately not. I'm just going by reputation.

 

[hurricane55]

If I were to choose one of the above aircraft to use in combat in WWII I would chose the F4U Corsair. True, it was difficult to fly, but it was the most agile fighter the Allies had in the Pacific.

 

[zoomar]

I went with the Mustang. Not because it's my favorite plane (the Spit is) or the best (although it might be), but because it's American and as an AAF pilot I'd get rotated home after a while with a better chance of surving that if I was German, Russian, or Japanese. Also, by the time the Mustang was "over there" the Allies were well on their way to acheiving aerial supremacy this would also increase my chances of survival. The problem with my favorite Spit models, is I'd be up against the cream of the Luftwaffe when the LW still could muster air superiority.

 

[Merlin Power]

I voted for the Spitfire. I like that most Spitfire pilots suggest that you dont sit on a Spitfire but that you sit IN a Spitfire, shrinks around you if you will.

Not to mention the agility of the Spitfire which it was well known for in Europe. Also, the shorter range that it has I see as an advantage as you would not have to endure the very long missions pilots of other planes would have to endure (like 8 hours in a P-51).

The only thing that I wonder is whether I could fit my 6 foot 4, 110kg frame in a Spitfire and be able to fly it in combat effectively. If not, then I would have to take the Mossie.

 

[R Pope]

I always liked the Westland Whirlwind. Second, the Hornet, though it was too late for WWII. Of the choices given, it would be the Mosquito or the Spit.

 

[vinnye]

I avoided going down the Nationalistic route and voted for the Corsair - lots of performance, firepower, range and rugged.
My second fighter would be P57 because it could take a lot of hammer!
For looks it would have to be a Spitfire IX or XIV - followed by P51D - late models have advantage of your oponent is less likely to be well seasoned veterans and more likely Rookies.
For a bomber - B29 and the Mossie.

 

[T Bolt]

P-47. Massive firepower with the 8 .50s, could hold its own in a fight and could tale a lot of punishment.

 

[Jerry W. Loper]

If I was in a B-29 Superfortress, I'd know that (1) the war was almost over and I'd be unlikely to see enemy fighters, and (2) if enemy fighters did show up, my escort would be P-51 Mustangs.

 

[Jack_Hill]

Most of them.

Why no LaGG or Yak on your list ?
Voted Me-262 for high speed margin, advanced technology and firepower.

 

[Aozora]

P-47N: Radial engine which could take a beating and still get you home, overall one tough machine, cockpit big enough to run around in and dodge bullets, long range, high speed.

 

[nuuumannn]

Oooh, tough one, the're some real beaut aircraft listed there, lots of greats not listed too. If I was pilot material in WW2 (and after) I would have hoped to have gotten a job as a test pilot and would have worked evaluating foreign/enemy designs, rather like Eric 'Winkle' Brown, or US pilots flying Watson's Whizzers.

Knowing my luck I would have ended up as an airframe fitter changing DC-3 wheels on some godforsaken mosquito ridden Pacific Island...

 

[Matt308]

Beech Staggerwing. Art deco at it's best and the stories from the people you would have ferried around would fill a library.

 

[J dog]

Well I am one for speed and I like speed a lot. I like the speed and advancements of the Me262 jet and how it adapted the swept wing and the new jet engine. so I pick that if I was to choose a second fighter I would choose the Mosquito. for Bomber I would choose the Arado 234 because it had so much more growing room and was at times at certain altitudes faster than the Me 262. The Piston bomber I would choose the Super-fortress.

The next fighter is The Jug because I saw on Dogfights that this young man in WW2 (he's not so young now) was shot over 200 times on one side and stopped counting after that. That fact and the 8 50's and the fact that he made it back with a burning engine which was not a smart idea but I like a great reliable and hell sustaining plane that could take a punch and still return home.

 

[aurora-7]

My favorite quote was one from a Thunderbolt pilot.

"If you want to send a picture back to your girl, you sat in a P-51. If you're going into combat, you sit in a P-47"

A P-47D (bubbletop) for me.

 

[J dog]

Yes I love bubble tops. there's a certain quality that makes them seem safer, cooler, and adds less drag in my opinion.

 

[Boa]

F8F, its just something about that bird that makes me tilt my head to the side and smile...

 

[Njaco]

Oooh, tough one, the're some real beaut aircraft listed there, lots of greats not listed too. If I was pilot material in WW2 (and after) I would have hoped to have gotten a job as a test pilot and would have worked evaluating foreign/enemy designs, rather like Eric 'Winkle' Brown, or US pilots flying Watson's Whizzers.

Knowing my luck I would have ended up as an airframe fitter changing DC-3 wheels on some godforsaken mosquito ridden Pacific Island...

Nope, close....you get to test fly the Bachem Natter.

 

[Marcel]

Beech Staggerwing. Art deco at it's best and the stories from the people you would have ferried around would fill a library.

Totally agree. Imo one of the best looking aircraft ever build. And chances are you'll be much safer flying this one than any of the other aircraft.

 

[tengu1979]

I chose 109 by few reasons.
1. The place i was born in Poland today WAS a part of Germany in the 30s so I would not have much choice. (I am 1/8th German anyway).
2. Well playing IL-2 (know it is not much reference but anyway) it siuts my style of flying better than spits or yaks.......
3. Love the shape (more than FW190)

 

[Junglerot]

SBD Queen of the Pacific--
How do I love thee,
Let me count the ways:
Shoho,
Akagi,
Soryu,
Kaga,
Hiryu,
Mikuma,
Ryujo,
and many more.