It is semantics based on the Spitfire not being used in combat until Dunkerque, it ignores the fact that the Spitfire was still in use when the war actually ended, in the far east.
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It is semantics based on the Spitfire not being used in combat until Dunkerque, it ignores the fact that the Spitfire was still in use when the war actually ended, in the far east.Huh? The Spitfire Mk.I entered service with 19 Sqn at RAF Duxford in August 1938, a full year before war was declared. Am I missing something in your logic?
It is semantics based on the Spitfire not being used in combat until Dunkerque, it ignores the fact that the Spitfire was still in use when the war actually ended, in the far east.
Huh? The Spitfire Mk.I entered service with 19 Sqn at RAF Duxford in August 1938, a full year before war was declared. Am I missing something in your logic?
The Wellington was in use from 1938-53.I'd also expect the Bf 110 to be along for the full ride. I'm as dumbfounded as you are.
Like is said its semantics, you dont have to be at war to operate an aircraft, I dont know when the last operation of a Bf 109 in combat was either.I believe he was referring to the fact that the Bf 109 was involved with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, but the Spitfire wasn't "at war" until September 3, when France and Britain declared war on Germany.
Probably 1948 Avia S-199 - WikipediaLike is said its semantics, you dont have to be at war to operate an aircraft, I dont know when the last operation of a Bf 109 in combat was either.
I believe he was referring to the fact that the Bf 109 was involved with Germany's invasion of Poland on September 1, but the Spitfire wasn't "at war" until September 3, when France and Britain declared war on Germany.
Probably the last combat operations of the Bf.109 were those of the spanish Ala 7 (Wing 7) Hispano Buchón in the colonial war of Sidi Ifni in 1957-1958.Like is said its semantics, you dont have to be at war to operate an aircraft, I dont know when the last operation of a Bf 109 in combat was either.
Truth be told, the Moraine-Saulnier MS.406 first clashed with the Bf109 in September during the "Phoney War" on the Western Front (France's half-hearted attempt to rescue Poland) and was still in service with the Finns by May 1945 - so for the European theater, it would be a dead heat between the Bf109 and MS.406 for longevity.Where did I say that the fact that the Bf 109 saw 2 days' more combat than the Spitfire was of any great import or significance?
If you look back to my post no. 2,148 I was replying to a poster's obviously semantic-pedantic-irrelevant point that the Mitsubishi Zero did not serve throughout the entire 6-year war – so it's pretty clear what I think about the 2-day difference.
Why I selected the Spitfire as most "overrated aircraft" is due to the fact the almost no Spitfires were posted or served outside of the UK until the middle of 1942 – almost halfway through the war – the Spit was a UK based fighter only for the first 3 years.
The Spitfire played little to no role in the invasion of Poland, the invasion of Norway, nor did it play any substantial role in the Battle of France either. It was the Hawker Hurricane which fought and destroyed aircraft of the Luftwaffe in most of these places. Very, very few of the Luftwaffe's losses in aerial combat were due to the guns of the Spitfire up to the French armistice at the end of June 1940.
Similar story in the Battle of Britain, I think we all know which aircraft shot down the majority of Luftwaffe over the UK in 1940 – just as Hawkers would also lead the kill rate in the the second Battle of Britain in 1944 against thousands of incoming V-1 missiles.
BTW, the Heinkel 111 was in combat action from 1937 to 1958 (on this date in the CASA 2111 form), also in the Sidi Ifni war, with Ala de Bombardeo Ligero 27 (27th Light Bombing Wing) in CAS/COIN role, along with the T-6 Texan.The Wellington was in use from 1938-53.
Yes, I will put myself in timeout.
The P-39 first saw combat in WW1, most notably downing Manfred Von Richthofen. It's still at war today.
Yes, I will put myself in timeout.
he P-39 first saw combat in WW1, most notably downing Manfred Von Richthofen. It's still at war today.