Clayton Magnet
Staff Sergeant
- 903
- Feb 16, 2013
So was a Sopwith Camel, and it was only slightly more outdated than the P-26 in 1940
March until October of 1940: fighters' ranking (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter tomo pauk
- Start date
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SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
The P-26 had WAY cooler paint jobs.
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
P-26 was still operational in 1941. So must have been good in 1940.
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
Was it ever proved/disproved that a P-26 scored a Zero?
Clayton Magnet
Staff Sergeant
- 903
- Feb 16, 2013
It was still in service because the Philippine Army Air Corps had nothing else, not because it was in any way competitive. They fought valiantly, but were hopelessly outclassed against even second tier Japanese fighters like the A5M.
The Gloster Gamecock was technically still in service in 1940, even though it was obsolete a decade earlier
Hi
The Gloster Gamecock was declared obsolete by the RAF in March 1933, how was it 'technically' still in service in 1940?
Mike
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
Alex, "What is a Peashooter?" for 200...
Clayton Magnet
Staff Sergeant
- 903
- Feb 16, 2013
The Finns used the Gamecock during the Winter War in 1940, albeit in very limited numbers
cherry blossom
Senior Airman
- 516
- Apr 23, 2007
The Brewster Buffalo should be at least mentioned as the Finnish order would be delivered by this time. I am not sure when the first F2A-2 was delivered. The early Buffalos, without armour or self-sealing tanks, might have been able to turn with a Zero but were obviously much slower than Spitfires or 109s.
It could be said, but not in the time frame of the OP question. Part of the BoB was tactical and about quality of machines. A bigger part was about production, intel (what you think or know about your opponent) and psychology. During the BoB the British were massively out producing Germany in fighters at a rate of around 500 to 250 per month, the British were also returning damaged aircraft to service much more quickly because the LW hadnt set up anything to do it in France. At the crux of the Battle in September Goering and his staff believed the RAF were down to the last 50 fighters while in fact the British numerically were as strong as ever and the Duxford wing itself contained 50 Hurricanes. Much has been lost in the sands of time but the appearance of the Duxford wing over London, despite not achieving what they claimed in aerial "victories" had a massive effect on the bomber crews, talk of being down to "the last 50" was fantasy, they are as strong as ever.
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
The P-26 is far better than any Spitfire or 109 when it came to having trousered undercarriage.
That to me is the most important thing in a fighter.
Trousered undercarriage.
Best fighter to serve in the Philippines made by Boeing and the paint job was off the charts. I do like yellow on an object and some of them P-26 the yellow is just lavished on.
Sweet lordy lordy.
Of course the Spitfire is the greatest of all. Just ask me. But the P-26 has far superior paint job. And that could be more important.
That to me is the most important thing in a fighter.
Trousered undercarriage.
Best fighter to serve in the Philippines made by Boeing and the paint job was off the charts. I do like yellow on an object and some of them P-26 the yellow is just lavished on.
Sweet lordy lordy.
Of course the Spitfire is the greatest of all. Just ask me. But the P-26 has far superior paint job. And that could be more important.
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
special ed
2nd Lieutenant
- 5,721
- May 13, 2018
The P-26 was still operational at Pearl Harbor. Some can be seen in the wreckage.
Howard Gibson
Senior Airman
Spitfire was a 14th century term for "fat legs"
GrauGeist
Generalfeldmarschall zur Luftschiff Abteilung
The Philippine's 6th Pursuit Sqd. did down IJN aircraft on 10 December (1 G3M, 3 A6M) and saw a great deal of action ober the next few days.
By 14 December, a sole P-26 remained servicable and it, piloted by Lt. Gozar, went up to challenge an IJN attacking force. He managed to damage several before his plane was severely damaged in a fight with three A6Ms, one of which was claimed to have been shot down.
Lt. Gozar managed to safely land his P-26, but it was not salvageable.
And with that last action, the P-26s ceased to exist in the Pacific.
For the record, the IJN aircraft claimed to have been downed by the 6th PS were witnessed by people on the ground. It was through their accounts that Capt. Villamore and Lt. Gozar were awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by MacArther and Lt. Juliano (Gozar's wingman) received the Gold Cross.
I believe I've heard it said that the Finns also used the Wright Flier and a couple of Chanute gliders during the Winter War. I mean, they used everything else they could find
wuzak
Captain
Which US aircraft were actually available in quantity in the period of March to October 1940?
P-40 - just started deliveries
Martlet I - but not yet F4F-3, those would be delivered from December.
P-36
P-35
P-26
Anything else as modern as those?
The first YP-39 flew for the first time mid September 1940.
The first YP-38 flew for the first time mid September 1940.
There were 13 YP-37s undergoing service testing around that time.
The first YP-43 was delivered to the USAAF in September 1940.
For the RAF the Spitfire I/II and Hurricane I were the only two that could really be considered in this time frame.
And for the Luftwaffe it was the Bf 109E, maybe the Bf 109F sneaks in at the end. The Fw 190 would not appear until nearly a year later.
I am not certain about how an A6M that appeared at that time compares with the ones that would attack Pearl Harbor a year later.
So, my list:
1. Spitfire I/II
1. Bf 109 E
3. Hurricane I
4. A6M
5. P-40
Wow, I found enough planes to make a list of 5 without resorting to the XP-39B!
P-40 - just started deliveries
Martlet I - but not yet F4F-3, those would be delivered from December.
P-36
P-35
P-26
Anything else as modern as those?
The first YP-39 flew for the first time mid September 1940.
The first YP-38 flew for the first time mid September 1940.
There were 13 YP-37s undergoing service testing around that time.
The first YP-43 was delivered to the USAAF in September 1940.
For the RAF the Spitfire I/II and Hurricane I were the only two that could really be considered in this time frame.
And for the Luftwaffe it was the Bf 109E, maybe the Bf 109F sneaks in at the end. The Fw 190 would not appear until nearly a year later.
I am not certain about how an A6M that appeared at that time compares with the ones that would attack Pearl Harbor a year later.
So, my list:
1. Spitfire I/II
1. Bf 109 E
3. Hurricane I
4. A6M
5. P-40
Wow, I found enough planes to make a list of 5 without resorting to the XP-39B!
The Basket
Senior Master Sergeant
- 3,712
- Jun 27, 2007
Here is my idea.
Let's not play top trumps as it is simply top speed of summat. War is not like that.
The true question is which fighter in a particular time frame achieved its war goals.
So Hurricane achieved its war goals in 1940 better than a Spitfire.
And the P-26 achieved its war goals better than a P-51 cos the P-51 ain't there!
Let's not play top trumps as it is simply top speed of summat. War is not like that.
The true question is which fighter in a particular time frame achieved its war goals.
So Hurricane achieved its war goals in 1940 better than a Spitfire.
And the P-26 achieved its war goals better than a P-51 cos the P-51 ain't there!
