What if you only had two aircraft to fight WWII with?

[jmcalli2]

Of course.

You could if you were taking the German side and attacking England, but if you're taking the Allied side and attacking Germany it would leave your bombers unprotected over hostile airspace, unless I'm missing something.

 

[tomo pauk]

You could if you were taking the German side and attacking England, but if you're taking the Allied side and attacking Germany it would leave your bombers unprotected over hostile airspace, unless I'm missing something.

My Spitfires will be outfitted with drop tanks and rear fuel tank.

But then you're relegating yourself to mid 1930s tech; a few long range bombers and all short range fighters.

That some fighters, conceived in second half of 1930's, were short ranged was a function of institutional rigidness and shortsightedness, not a function of limits of then-current technology.
Among bomber designs of late 1930's, B-17 was standing out.

 

[GrauGeist]

You get to pick ANY aircraft from ANY nation in service by the 'first flight date,' keeping in mind what your military objectives are; intercepting high altitude bombers, or carrying out a strategic bombing campaign?
But remember, you two types have to also serve as your only cargo planes, your only trainers, your only fighters, bombers, etc.

The P-36 was a contemporary of world fighters of the late 30's, it had speed, range and a service ceiling that matched that of bombers of the day. Using it as a trainer would be no different than any other fighter of that (or any other) point in time, one the student pilot had advanced from primary to advanced flight skills.
The Ju88 wore many hats from it's inception to it's retirement:
Bomber, mine-layer, dive-bomber, torpedo-bomber, heavy fighter, night fighter, high-speed recon, ground attack gunship and during the Stalingrad airlift: transport.

 

[jmcalli2]

My reasoning for picking the F4U: Land and carrier-based, good range, speed, and climb, able to be used for ground support and carry a torpedo. Maybe a stretch to use as a trainer.
The B-24: strategic bomber, patrol bomber, cargo plane.

This exercise is to find the versatile, adaptable aircraft.

 

[SaparotRob]

My reasoning for picking the F4U: Land and carrier-based, good range, speed, and climb, able to be used for ground support and carry a torpedo. Maybe a stretch to use as a trainer.
The B-24: strategic bomber, patrol bomber, cargo plane.

This exercise is to find the versatile, adaptable aircraft.

All the boxes ticked off. The Corsair could operate from carriers as well as ground bases. That's a big deal in the Pacific. If I could cheat I'd swap the B-24 for the B-29 (when did the B-36 first fly?).

 

[tomo pauk]

But - can Corsair escort the bombers from England to Berlin (or whatever German target USAAF will attack)?

 

[SaparotRob]

Doesn't the F4U have better range than the Spitfire and the BF-109?

 

[GrauGeist]

The F4U would have been able to carry a torpedo, as the Mk.13 was no heavier than it's bomb carrying ability, but historically never did.

 

[SaparotRob]

I didn't think the F4U could carry a torpedo but if we're economizing, it could be the SBD/SB2C replacement.

 

[Admiral Beez]

I'm giving the Poles a shot...

PZL.50 Jastrząb
PZL.37 Łoś

Give Poland five hundred of each with no other combat aircraft and the Luftwaffe is in trouble.

 

[SaparotRob]

I'm giving the Poles a shot...

PZL.50 Jastrząb
PZL.37 Łoś

Give Poland five hundred of each with no other combat aircraft and the Luftwaffe is in trouble.

Off to Wikipedia!

 

[tomo pauk]

Doesn't the F4U have better range than the Spitfire and the BF-109?

Better than Bf 109 - probably it has. Better than Spitfire - depends on what is carried both internally and externally?

 

[wuzak]

B-25 & F6F

First flight of F6F was in 1942.

 

[SaparotRob]

Now I have to look it up. I've read comments on other threads that the Seafire was a short range interceptor. I never read anything that the Corsair was short legged. With drop tanks on both I'm thinking the Corsair is still longer ranged.

 

[tomo pauk]

Now I have to look it up. I've read comments on other threads that the Seafire was a short range interceptor. I never read anything that the Corsair was short legged. With drop tanks on both I'm thinking the Corsair is still longer ranged.

This is why I've stated that my Spitfires will be also outfitted with rear fuselage tanks. Table courtesy G Glider ; (note that Spitfire VIII is an even better starting point since it already has 120 imp gals of internal fuel); table from Autumn 1944 :

 

[SaparotRob]

Does that Spitfire mkVIII have roundels or balkenkreuz? Sorry.
Seeing as how we're limited to only two different airplanes, I'm going for the closest I can get to the "all singing all dancing" airplane. The Corsair was a fighter-bomber into the 1950's. The Spitfire, not so much.

 

[Glider]

OK
Spitfire - fighter, PR,
Halifax - Bomber, Transport, Maritime Patrol,

Personally I rate the Halifax over the B17 for the variety of roles it undertook.

 

[pbehn]

If you don't have the Hurricane then you can do nothing in the Battle of France and lose the Battle of Britain.

 

[tomo pauk]

Does that Spitfire mkVIII have roundels or balkenkreuz? Sorry.
Seeing as how we're limited to only two different airplanes, I'm going for the closest I can get to the "all singing all dancing" airplane. The Corsair was a fighter-bomber into the 1950's. The Spitfire, not so much.

There is no doubt that Corsair was a very good combat aircraft. Thing might be that Corsair is too late to do anything in 1939-40 anyway we cut it.
Spitfire was also used as a fighter-bomber into 1950s.

 

[PAT303]

But - can Corsair escort the bombers from England to Berlin (or whatever German target USAAF will attack)?

It wouldn't matter if it could, a 1940 Corsair has no armor, self sealing tanks and is armed with two cowl mounted .30's and two M1 .50 browning's with no specialised ammunition, it actually has nothing that's makes it a warbird. If you want to go to war in 1939/40 your enemy will be Bf109's, for those you need Spitfires, forget what comes later, without Spits from day one your war will be a short one.