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The reason there was so few of them is because only 300 were ordered, the Spit was the interim fighter until I believe Hawker got the Tornado flying. Someone with more knowledge can correct me on this.
The Poles are uniquely suited to using just two combat aircraft. They don't need a strategic bomber, nor a long range fighter. They need small, well armed and fast aircraft. Put the intended Taurus in the fighter and the early Jumo-powered Bf 109 will be in trouble.Off to Wikipedia!
Great info! Thanks! I must wonder how the Cat kept up with the others.
My understanding was that many escort missions into Germany were 6+ hours. From Bodney to Berlin is over 520 miles one way. And, if you're taking the part of the Allies, from Iwo Jima to Japan was about 670+ miles. Tough for a Spit, unless you change your war strategy.
I agree with you. The point of this thread is we get only two. That makes it very tricky. It's unrealistic but what the heck, I want to play too.Which rules out the Corsair, it killed so many pilots that already had their wings that the first operational squadron was made up of the pilots that survived out of the squadrons that first got them, so bad were the loses that it was called the Ensign killer.
The order was very quickly doubled but that was academic because they had not made anywhere near the original 300 when war was declared.The reason there was so few of them is because only 300 were ordered, the Spit was the interim fighter until I believe Hawker got the Tornado flying. Someone with more knowledge can correct me on this.
P-47 first flight was in May 41.
If I thought it would be possible, I'd swap the F4U for the P-38, but I just can't see Lightning landing on a carrier. LOL
If you have to use just two airplanes and use them as trainers the whole thing falls apart. Operational losses in training let alone combat will be so high that the opposition doesn't have to shoot down anything.
" Never flown before cadet Jones? No Problem, just climb in the right seat of that B-17 and instructor Bob will have you sorted in no time!"
"Oh Smith, you have 10 hours in Gliders as a civilian ? Great, just climb in that F4U (the ensign eliminator) and off you go!"
Planes like this were never going to replace the AT-6 let alone the primary trainers without a horrendous accident rate.
Most bombers being used as transports are just going to lead to more shipbuilding, railroad cars and truck factories.
Yes many countries did use (or tried to) old bombers as transports, they just weren't very good at it. Tons of cargo or passengers miles moved per gallon of gasoline.
The B-24 was one of the best but they only built 287 C-87s, They built 1170 C-54s.
How are any of your pre 1942 American fighters going to tackle the FW190 below 20,000 and Bf 109's above it?.
No, just can't see it operating from a carrier!No love for the P-38 Lightning? First flight Jan 1939.
There's almost nothing it can't do [2.0] Lightning Modifications & Derivatives / Postwar
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Because it's a "what if" you get some leeway. Think of all the 4 engined bombers and transports built and make them all B-24s.
As for the trainers, there WAS a study for a two seat training version, but post-war budget cuts doomed it: use a smaller engine and put a second cockpit in place of the fuselage fuel tank on an F4U without armor or self-sealing tanks to make it a lighter aircraft and you have a trainer.
As long as it wasn't an F3AThe Corsair trainer was to be a converted F4U fighter from depots using the original engine, it was pitched as being a transition trainer after training in low and medium powered trainers, not a replacement for the lower powered trainers.
Some pairs.
FW 190 and B-17.
P-38 and Do 217.
P-47 and Pe-8 (engines, fuel and instruments are lend leased).
Spitfire and Ju 88.