Ad: This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. More information in Terms and rules
Pinsog, I'd have to throw that off on the aircraft. The F4Fs had trouble, too. Everything else being equal, they were outclassed. Of course, disclaimer, everything else is never equal.The P39 had an unspectacular record against Japanese fighters. Was it an issue of pilot training against an unfamilier enemy aircraft? Or was the performance of the Zero the P39's undoing? The P39 had a 30 or 40 mph speed advantage over the Zero, about the same as a Spitfire, so why couldn't the P39 use this speed and dive advantage to beat the Zero like the Hellcat did?
Pinsog, I'd have to throw that off on the aircraft. The F4Fs had trouble, too. Everything else being equal, they were outclassed. Of course, disclaimer, everything else is never equal.
"You don't dig a hole with a rake."
I think the biggest problem with the P-39 was its misuse by the USAAF. It was pretty obvious that about 15,000 feet the aircraft would be useless, but given its handicap it performed well. Go look at the Air Force Historical Research site and check out the claims/ losses during early and mid 1942. The P-39 (and P-40) were scoring about a 1:1/ 1:2 against the Japanese through out the Pacific. There was only one P-39 ace, Lt. William Fiedler Jr., but look how many P-39 aces achieved their first kills in the P-39.
Yes - and in many cases the F4F as well.Would you be suggesting that the reputation of the P39 vs the Zero has been unfairly maligned over the years?
How many US or other pilots had good things to say about the P39 vs the Zero?
There have been several discussions in this forum on how to build a 'better' P-39.
The P-39C had two 50 cal and two 30 cal machine guns firing syncronized thru the propeller, but in the P-39D and later models the nose 30 cals were removed to make room for additional 37mm cannon ammo. Hindsight says keeping the P-39C armament but replacing the 37 mm with a hub mounted 50 cal would have been a better arrangement against the Japanese. Even better, trade the two syncronized 30 cals for another syncronized 50caliber (one thru thru the prop hub and a new total of three syncronized). Then use the space in the wing formerly devoted to ammunition storage for additional internal fuel capacity.
Yes - and in many cases the F4F as well.
AFAIK not many, but then again, many P-39 drivers wound up in the P-38, so of course the P-39 is going to be scorned.
Agree - providing this match up was under 10/ 15,000'. Then the F4F would take all.I would like to see a head to head comparison of the F4F vs the P39 and see how they matched up with each other. My guess is the P39 would win everything but turning. Your thoughts?
Agree - providing this match up was under 10/ 15,000'. Then the F4F would take all.
Or go with 2 50's, a 20mm through the hub, wet wings with no guns and hopefully a bit of weight savings.