The Best Propeller Aircraft of WW2

[Spacefire]

In your opinion, the best performing aircraft of WW2. Not the most iconic, or your favorite, but the best PERFORMING WW2 prop aircraft.
I define a WW2 aircraft by seeing a decent amount of service. So an aircraft such as the Spitfire Mk. 21, won't be included, despite scoring a submarine kill.


Sorry if any are missing. I'll add them if you ask.

EDIT: Forgot to specify, best propeller FIGHTER aircraft. Sorry.

 

[pbehn]

The B29 ended the war, OK that may be said to be down to a bomb others could carry, but as a prop driven aircraft its performance was formidable.

Possibly in terms of effect the DC3 /C 47 had no peer in air transport/parachute deployment.

Not on the list but I go for the old mosquito, it made the theory of fast bomber work, and combined fantastic accuracy when needed with exceptional payload in other circumstances (yes I know not in the same plane) It was all that is required of a night fighter, photo recon, maritime/ long range strike aircraft. No way could it out perform a single engined fighter but it could evade by speed and high speed control even the Me262. Biggest plus it was made of wood just to cheer up Mr Goering and his supply ministry. Last point it looked great and gave rise to the Hornet one of the top performing and beautiful twin prop fighters ever.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

DC-3/ C-47

Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?

 

[pbehn]

DC-3/ C-47

Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?

I tried to be polite, a fighter only ever enables someone else to do something, or stops them.

 

[Spacefire]

The B29 ended the war, OK that may be said to be down to a bomb others could carry, but as a prop driven aircraft its performance was formidable.

Possibly in terms of effect the DC3 /C 47 had no peer in air transport/parachute deployment.

Not on the list but I go for the old mosquito, it made the theory of fast bomber work, and combined fantastic accuracy when needed with exceptional payload in other circumstances (yes I know not in the same plane) It was all that is required of a night fighter, photo recon, maritime/ long range strike aircraft. No way could it out perform a single engined fighter but it could evade by speed and high speed control even the Me262. Biggest plus it was made of wood just to cheer up Mr Goering and his supply ministry. Last point it looked great and gave rise to the Hornet one of the top performing and beautiful twin prop fighters ever.

DC-3/ C-47

Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?

I tried to be polite, a fighter only ever enables someone else to do something, or stops them.

Oh sorry guys. I knew I was missing something. I meant the best prop fighter. Again, sorry. I don't think there's much dispute over the best bombers of transport aircraft.

Sorry again.

 

[pbehn]

Oh sorry guys. I knew I was missing something. I meant the best prop fighter. Again, sorry. I don't think there's much dispute over the best bombers of transport aircraft.

Sorry again.

There is a lot of dispute about bombers and many threads to prove it.

Fighter, being British I use British parameters..... The spitfire....there at the start and there at the finish, at times out performed by others but was at the end, the same as the start, a point defence interceptor to be feared, at wars end Tempest squadrons switched to Spitfires.

A grudging nod to the Bf109 which had a similar record on the other side.

 

[Spacefire]

There is a lot of dispute about bombers and many threads to prove it.

Fighter, being British I use British parameters..... The spitfire....there at the start and there at the finish, at times out performed by others but was at the end, the same as the start, a point defence interceptor to be feared, at wars end Tempest squadrons switched to Spitfires.

A grudging nod to the Bf109 which had a similar record on the other side.

Alright maybe there is. Sorry. But fighters this thread is.

Can you add your vote to the poll?

Thanks.

 

[mikewint]

Not that I hold much in the way of aircraft credentials but:

The Do 335 Pfeil - Too late and too few to make any difference but 765 km/Hr(474mph) at 11,400m(37,400ft) armed with a 30mm MK103 cannon and two (2) 20mm autocannons

Only one Do 335 survives today. It was captured by Allied forces at the plant on 22 April 1945. The aircraft was test flown from a grass runway at Oberwiesenfeld, near Munich, to Cherbourg, France while escorted by two P-51s. The Do 335 was easily able to out distance the escorting Mustangs and arrived at Cherbourg 45 minutes before the P-51s.

 

[Spacefire]

Not that I hold much in the way of aircraft credentials but:

The Do 335 Pfeil - Too late and too few to make any difference but 765 km/Hr(474mph) at 11,400m(37,400ft) armed with a 30mm MK103 cannon and two (2) 20mm autocannons

Only one Do 335 survives today. It was captured by Allied forces at the plant on 22 April 1945. The aircraft was test flown from a grass runway at Oberwiesenfeld, near Munich, to Cherbourg, France while escorted by two P-51s. The Do 335 was easily able to out distance the escorting Mustangs and arrived at Cherbourg 45 minutes before the P-51s.

An interesting plane, yes. I would add it but unfortunately (or fortunately) it didn't see service, so a no go for the poll. Speaking of which, still only one vote.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Space, I know you're new and I'm not trying to give you a hard time but have you browsed this site and read some of the threads that have polls such as this?

 

[GrauGeist]

This has a propeller!

 

[Spacefire]

Space, I know you're new and I'm not trying to give you a hard time but have you browsed this site and read some of the threads that have polls such as this?

I've done Google searches but didn't find anything.

Sorry if there already are threads like this. Feel free to lock this thread.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

DC-3/ C-47

Space - why only fighters? Testosterone?

This, I gotta go with the goonie bird. For Christ's sakes it is still commercially used today.

Best piston engined aircraft ever built. That is ever built, regardless of type of aircraft

 

[Spacefire]

This, I gotta go with the goonie bird. Gor Christ's sakes it is still commercially used today.

Best piston engined aircraft ever built.

Agreed. But again, should have specified fighter. Though, I know what you'd say anyways.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Now if we want to discuss fighters (which we have done a dozen times on the forum), how can you argue against the P-51D. Sure I think it was overrated simply because people always overlook other aircraft (Spit, 109, 190, LA...) and just get all smitten over the 51. Fact remains though it was not best at everything, it was damn good at everything and was the fighter that was able to take the fight to the heart of Germany.

So while I love my favorite 109 (and even the Spitfire) more than the 51, I got to say the 51 was the historical winner in this topic of "fighters".

 

[Spacefire]

Now if we want to discuss fighters (which we have done a dozen times on the forum), how can you argue against the P-51D. Sure I think it was overrated simply because people always overlook other aircraft (Spit, 109, 190, LA...) and just get all smitten over the 51. Fact remains though it was not best at everything, it was damn good at everything and was the fighter that was able to take the fight to the heart of Germany.

So while I love my favorite 109 (and even the Spitfire) more than the 51, I got to say the 51 was the historical winner in this topic of "fighters".

Yeah that'd probably be it. I guess it's hard to define a real "best"

Say, best dogfighter? Spit XIV, in my opinion.
Best bomber killer? 190D, maybe K4
Best high altitude fighter? 152...
Best multirole? Probably the Tempest...

And it goes on


I still love me my Spitfire XIV though. Can't wait for it in DCS.

 

[stona]

Not sure the Ta 152 falls within your parameters. Less than 50 production aircraft? It's an irrelevance and can't possibly be included, anymore than the Do335 or Hawker Fury/Sea Fury.

The term 'best' is far too vague to make any meaningful ranking, however, without the P-51 the European war would not have ended in early 1945. Without the Spitfire it might have been over in 1940.

Cheers

Steve

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Yeah that'd probably be it. I guess it's hard to define a real "best"

Say, best dogfighter? Spit XIV, in my opinion.
Best bomber killer? 190D, maybe K4
Best high altitude fighter? 152...
Best multirole? Probably the Tempest...

And it goes on


I still love me my Spitfire XIV though. Can't wait for it in DCS.

Well what are your perimeters? Every acft has its advantages and weaknesses. What altitude for instance!

When it comes to these "top" fighters, I think you are neglecting to take the biggest factor into account. Pilot skill.

 

[Spacefire]

Well what are your perimeters? Every acft has its advantages and weaknesses. What altitude for instance!

When it comes to these "top" fighters, I think you are neglecting to take the biggest factor into account. Pilot skill.

Of course pilot skill is a factor but the idea is to compare the pure performance of the planes.

And yeah, each aircraft does better at different altitudes, but I'm considering the ones that perform well at most altitudes.

Anyways this thread is pretty pointless. Feel free to lock it.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Of course pilot skill is a factor but the idea is to compare the pure performance of the planes.

And yeah, each aircraft does better at different altitudes, but I'm considering the ones that perform well at most altitudes.

Anyways this thread is pretty pointless. Feel free to lock it.

The thing is pilot skill directly relates to aircraft performance. A good pilot can get the most out of their aircrafts performance and utilizes the advantages over the other aircraft.

No need to lock a discussion. That is what forums are for.