MOST OVERRATED AIRCRAFT OF WWII
- Thread starter DAVIDICUS
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GermansRGeniuses
Tech Sergeant
I'll start the mud throwing.
Spitfire.
Good, but many planes were better in most categories, such as the La-7.
Spitfire.
Good, but many planes were better in most categories, such as the La-7.
- Thread starter
- #3
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
A
Anonymous
Guest
Well of course his 1947 F4U-5 totally outclassed the P-51D he was facing. Just because the F4U Corsair was a truely great plane does not make the P-51 "over-rated".
I'd probably have to say the Zero was the most over-rated plane of WWII. It had a few strengths but once it was a known quantity it was defeated even by early war contemporaries such as the F4F Wildcat.
I'd probably have to say the Zero was the most over-rated plane of WWII. It had a few strengths but once it was a known quantity it was defeated even by early war contemporaries such as the F4F Wildcat.
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
Either the Zero or the Stuka, both had reputations of "invincibility" which were dispersed when they came up against serious opposition
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
I'd say Spitfire. From the BoB onwards, popular history treats it like the ONLY RAF fighter. This of course, totally discounts the contributions made by planes like the Hurricane, Typhoon and Mossie, which all served in the same thetres and roles as the Spit, but hardly seem to get a mention, despite all having thier own advantages over the Spit.
mosquitoman
Master Sergeant
I'll agree with that, but the Spit was active in all theatres in large numbers
FLYBOYJ
"THE GREAT GAZOO"
RG_Lunatic said:
I think the earlier F4U were superior as well, but I do agree the Zero has gotten a lot of attention for no real reason!
evangilder
"Shooter"
I would say the Zero as well. Because of misconceptions about Japanese capabilities, it had an air of invincibility early in the war. It didn't take long to figure out that it was pretty vulnerable. The only armor on the Zero was a small plate behind the pilot. And that armor was pretty weak. I once heard Steve Barber say that the glass directly ahead of the pilot (which by the way is bullet-proof on the Hellcat) wouldn't stop a mosquito (the bug, not the airplan, guys!) at high speed.
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
mosquitoman said:
Granted, but it was outnumbered 2 to 1 in the BoB by Hurris alone. I'll dig up some stats, but I get the feeling it wasnt the pricipal type in the MTO or NW Europe in terms of numbers deployed, or percentage of squdrons equipped with the type.
cheddar cheese
Major General
Ill have to say the Spitfire too.
the lancaster kicks ass
Major General
- 19,937
- Dec 20, 2003
B-17 
sorry, had to say it...........
sorry, had to say it...........
BombTaxi
Tech Sergeant
I dont think the B17 was overrated. Its limitations were known, and the continual upgrades managed to keep it servicable. I'll grant it is now treated like the only bomber the 8th AF flew, but you could say that about Bomber Command and a certain Avro design... (based, I believe on one of the worst a/c ever to serve with the Command?) 
***Lights blue touch paper and retires***
***Lights blue touch paper and retires***
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
I'll throw my two pence worth into the ring HE 262 unreliable engines prone to flame out, slow throttle up
Stoppage problems with the MK 108 cannons and I believe only 300 saw active service as most where destroyed on the ground.
Stoppage problems with the MK 108 cannons and I believe only 300 saw active service as most where destroyed on the ground.
cheddar cheese
Major General
You mean the Me-262? I tend to disagree...
trackend
Chief Master Sergeant
I did CC I also thought that would upset one or two 
Matt308
Glock Perfection
Bf 110 or Ju 200
Matt
Matt
DaveB.inVa
Airman 1st Class
- 225
- Dec 20, 2004
FLYBOYJ said:
He also shot down a couple Corsairs as well.
delcyros
Tech Sergeant
I will go for the Me-262, too. A damn good (pioneering) plane, yes. But hey, it could never, never, never win the war for the axis or even turn the tide as it can be read in nearly every second book. That´s what I call a overrated plane...
