parsifal
Colonel
How much would the drop tank degrade the performance of the 109? My understanding was that drop tanks were introduced towards the end of october, with no appreciable change in the loss rates (admittedly the LW Jagd were already just about on their knees by then with reportedly less than 200 fighters on average left in an operational state).
It is a VERY big stretch to argue that the 109 had sufficient range to be classified an effective offensive fighter IMO, even with LR tanks. And if it was such a simple excercise, why wasnt something done earlier?????
Neither was the Spitfire etc, but then only the germans were planning an aggressive war, so one would expect them to incorporate some adequate planning in their preparations, so as to provide LR tanks earlier, or make modifications to the aircraft itself so as to increase its range
It is a VERY big stretch to argue that the 109 had sufficient range to be classified an effective offensive fighter IMO, even with LR tanks. And if it was such a simple excercise, why wasnt something done earlier?????
Neither was the Spitfire etc, but then only the germans were planning an aggressive war, so one would expect them to incorporate some adequate planning in their preparations, so as to provide LR tanks earlier, or make modifications to the aircraft itself so as to increase its range