kool kitty89
Senior Master Sergeant
And the top table is from Kurfurst's site:
Kurfurst - Your resource on Messerschmitt Bf 109 performance
Kurfurst - Your resource on Messerschmitt Bf 109 performance
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Interesting. Wish I had access to all this stuff! Where do you get it? Who would have thought a K could go 1,250 miles?
According to my sources, P38 had 438 kills in ETO and 1431 kills in the Med. Don't know if those figures include ground AC destroyed.
Considering the P38's reputation and it's actual results and the number produced, 9538, and their original cost and their cost to maintain and the amount of gasoline they used and the length of time for a pilot to become proficient, maybe the P38 was the most overated fighter of WW2.
I believe the P-38 and P-47, not just late models, but most models, were holding their own over Germany.
But my vote would be P-51, just because it doesn't deserve the "legend" it has. I believe on one of these many many posts, someone pointed out that the Corsair was superior to the Mustang in almost every category.[/QUOThat is totally true, both the P-38 and the P-47 could hold their own against the best German fighters but the issue here is that when the bombers desperatly needed a long range capable fighter to escort them neither of the two could fill this necesity and the P-51 while it had the range it also could mix very well with its German counterparts giving it the place it deserves as one of WWII's most succesful fighters.
Mustang seems to defeat himself God, as the fellows talk about this hunk-of-junk nowadays. Lot of aircraft were better than that,it was only a fighter what could reach Berlin, and was affordable for Uncle Sam at the same time.
No, there was no other plane that was affordable, with long range and as fast, in the same time. Just what was needed for USAAC in Europe.
I would not trust my ass for a single engined escort fighter deep inside the enemy territory, which is vulnerable for gunfire, too. And it was tricky, slugish and tiring to fly for long hours. Pathetic...
I reckon it you were flying a lot of planes over enemy territory. Care to describe
a few combat missions of yours?
Mustang seems to defeat himself God, as the fellows talk about this hunk-of-junk nowadays. Lot of aircraft were better than that, it was only a fighter what could reach Berlin, and was affordable for Uncle Sam at the same time. I would not trust my ass for a single engined escort fighter deep inside the enemy territory, which is vulnerable for gunfire, too. And it was tricky, slugish and tiring to fly for long hours. Pathetic...
Mustang seems to defeat himself God, as the fellows talk about this hunk-of-junk nowadays. Lot of aircraft were better than that, it was only a fighter what could reach Berlin, and was affordable for Uncle Sam at the same time. I would not trust my ass for a single engined escort fighter deep inside the enemy territory, which is vulnerable for gunfire, too. And it was tricky, slugish and tiring to fly for long hours. Pathetic...
The Zero. Early success was as much down to the allies being taken by surprise and their inferior equipment and tactics as anything else. It didn't take long for it to be equaled then mastered and proving that maneuverability is not the be all and end all of combat
If you're speaking in terms of shear performance when compared with some of its contemporaries, you have a point valid for debate, but in the greater picture it brought the fight to its opponents with just enough performance and numbers that enabled it to clearly gain aerial superiority, and with regards to the ETO, broke the back of the Luftwaffe and there is where its reputation is instilled.The P-51 is way over rated. Doesn't even deserve the reputation.
Don't get me wrong, its a good plane, but not as good as everyone thinks it is.
The P-51 is way over rated. Doesn't even deserve the reputation.
Don't get me wrong, its a good plane, but not as good as everyone thinks it is.
And why is that? The P51 was great or good in so many aspects, it has to be considered among the best planes of all time.
The P-51 is way over rated. Doesn't even deserve the reputation.