Is Spitfire really the BEST British fighter???

[Gemhorse]

Udet made one point I'd forgotten, the Bf-109E had the advantage of fuel injection over the Spitfire's more conventional carburettor, which did make a difference; I recall reading RAF pilots commenting on that during the BoB...

Also, one other point that wasn't really about combat, was the Bf's shocking undercarriage set-up, which was responsible for many landing accidents...Willi never really got that sorted-out....- In the same context, the Spit's wasn't that great either, both the Hurricane and Fw-190 had a distinct advantage with their wider-track undercarts. These factors did played a part in the various theatres these aircraft flew in, in terms of 'hardiness' and Sqn. readiness......Finally, the Seafires' biggest problem was also the undercart, many were lost because of failed landings....When you add-up the extra work that went into these repairs, it did effect Sqn./Geschwader aircraft readiness figures....[Just thought I'd mention that.........]

Gemhorse

 

[Gemhorse]

Oh, and one other point;..... Sqn.Ldr. Pete Brothers commented on the Fw-190, late 1942 when flying Spit VB's....
''The controls of the Fw-190 were roller bearing, and we saw just how effective this was when Arnim Faber's captured aircraft was demonstrated to us at Tangmere several months after the Dieppe raid. I clearly remember that you could put a penny on the aileron and it would push it down, and it's opposite surface on the other wing up, until the coin finally slid off !''..........

Gemhorse

 

[Anonymous]

Well, when the 109's outnumbered the Spitfires in the BoB, the 109's scored more kills - though really not that many more. What does that prove, other than that superior numbers is an advantage?

"But offense is harder than defense", isnt that what you used to say ?

How are these two contentions in conflict with one another smarty pants? LOL - they arn't! Offense is harder than defense, and all other things being approximately equal, numeric advantage must be sufficient to overcome this if the agressor is to win.

Also, the distances involved for the Luftwaffe' in the BoB were quite minimal compared to those faced by BC and the USAAF. Much less superiority was required.

During August 1940 the RAF lost about 75% more planes than the Luftwaffe', but the Luftwaffe' lost more than twice as many pilots. Planes could be replaced, pilots could not!

Besides, if I recall correctly (maybe I'm wrong on this?), when all was said and done, didn't the Luftwaffe' loose more planes than the RAF in the whole of the BoB?

=S=

Lunatic

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well yes i think they did as they also lost bombers as well as fighters, something we didn't have to face............

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I will not heat up discussing whether the Spitfire outturned the Bf109...
Unlike RG, for instance, i do not claim any plane to be a flawless marvel.

Where did I say this? My point in this thread all along has been that the Spitfire and the Bf109 were well matched, with the advantage going slightly to the 109 through the first half of the war, and slightly to the Spitfire through the last half of the war.

And this is what I completely agree with.

 

[cheddar cheese]

I agree too.

 

[Maestro]

I agree. Even if I'm a great fan of the Spitfire...

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The 109 is my favorite aircraft of WW2 but I never claim that it was outright better then the Spitfire. They both had there advantages and disadvantages but were well matched.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

which i think does make things more interesting...........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

What that they were well matched?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yeah............

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Oh okay! I see.

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

well i think it's interesting how they both "played" off each other, like if one development was introduced annother development was made to the opposing aircraft and both aircraft saw huge development through the war..........

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That is true, and they were both developed right up till the end of the war.

 

[mosquitoman]

Yep, they were still used against each other well after WWII aswell, with Israel and Palestine. Occasionally they were on the same squadron aswell

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

That is true. The Isrealis used them both for quite some time.

 

[Maestro]

Hmmm... A Nazi Germany plane with a Jewish symbol on it... Does it looks weird to any one else ?

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

but try not to call german planes "nazi Germany" planes, it keeps politics out, and besides the plane had little to do with the actually nazi party save for the fact that the nazis let it be developed...............

and aint those 109s the spainish built ones??

 

[Nonskimmer]

Hmmm... A Nazi Germany plane with a Jewish symbol on it... Does it looks weird to any one else ?

I was thinking the same thing. For so many years it bore a swastika, and now a Star of David. Ironic.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

and aint those 109s the spainish built ones??

Actually they were Czech built Avia S-199's

The Isrealis also used P-51's, Mossies, and B-17's.

The 109's were also used by the Spanish, Switzerland, Czechoslovakia, and Finland after the war into the 1950's.