I think Oreo meant (as mentioned in the underrated thread) which, in terms of current oppinion (now, not durring the war), is the most overrated.
Yes, that is what I meant. Over rated in current popular opinion. Opinions changed frequently and quickly during wartime, with the great "flywheel affect" of the rumor mill adding weight to every tale of gloom or gladness. When all was said and done, opinions began to cement themselves on the face of popular awareness, often influenced by widespread knowledge of statistics, anecdotes, or more often, the popular writings of historians, and misled, more often than not, by word of mouth from old "eye-witness" first-hand rumor hearers and spreaders, who were unaware of the truth of the matter when they first heard about it, and have since heard others repeat the lie until facts and true memories are glossed over with oft-heard repetitions of falsehoods. Thus we have read, repeatedly, that the P-39 had a maximum speed of 330 miles per hour, could not function above 16,000 feet, was not safe to do basic aerobatics in, was likely to be fatal to its pilot in a crash landing, was very difficult to control in all flying situations, and was extremely vulnerable to enemy fire.
We are told that the P-38 had poor performance below 30,000 feet and was not reliable to fly above 30,000 feet. We are told it was a deathtrap when flown against the Luftwaffe, much like the Bf 110 in 1940 against Spitfires. And we are led to believe that the PBY catalina was the greatest thing on the water, and could hold its own against all comers, regardless. We are led to believe that the fw 190 was no good as a dogfighter but had to be used against bomber streams with constant supervision by Me 109 pilots. we are told that the AVG in China fought the Japanese on a regular basis before Pearl Harbor, when in reality they did not contact the Japanese in combat until some two weeks after Pearl Harbor.
Well, let's try to set the rumors straight!
