What was the most versatile plane of ww2?

[Bizrock]

The plane that could do almost everything and deal with almost any situation

 

[swampyankee]

I'd vote Mosquito.

Night fighter, intruder, pathfinder, bombing, maritime strike, even cargo and transport

 

[herman1rg]

No argument from me on that one, from the Luftwaffe side maybe the JU-88

 

[Bizrock]

On the american side, P-38? Fighter, interceptor, escort, dive bomber, level bomber, attacker, night fighter, photo reconnaissance, pathfinder, agile, fast, long range, cannon, machine guns, what more?

 

[pbehn]

I'd vote Mosquito.

Night fighter, intruder, pathfinder, bombing, maritime strike, even cargo and transport

And Airliner lol

 

[buffnut453]

I'd vote Mosquito.

Night fighter, intruder, pathfinder, bombing, maritime strike, even cargo and transport

Entirely agree...but add photo recce to the list, too.

 

[herman1rg]

Most people have heard of the 'ball-bearing airline' - Mosquitos flying from Scotland to Sweden, bringing back vital supplies of high quality Swedish steel ball-bearings and the occasional passenger tucked in the bomb-bay. To preserve Sweden's neutrality the crews were BOAC civilians. What is less well known is that the early flights, starting in August 1942, were flown by the humble Whitley, by then withdrawn from bombing operations. Also used were four Lockheed 14s (the civilian Hudson) and two Lockheed 18s (Lodestars). The first of six Mosquitos took over in February 1943 and were occasionally joined by DC-3s, Liberators and Yorks and even, for one flight only, the prototype Curtis Commando, then owned by BOAC.

Most, though not all, journeys were flown at night. Some flights crossed the mountainous part of central Norway but the shortest route was across the Skagerrak between Norway and Denmark. There was a gap in the German radar coverage and, provided the aircraft kept below 1000 ft, it would be invisible to the radar. Even if detected, a cruising Mosquito could outrun the Ju 88 night fighters at their maximum speed. To help this, the Merlins' exhaust stub baffles were removed, adding 16 mph to the speed. It was only by employing standing patrols and later, a small number of Fw 190s, that the Germans could hope to catch the flying couriers. In over 1000 flights, four Mosquitos were lost, with eight crew and two passengers. The Mosquitos operated from December 1942 to November 1944, although there was an irregular resumption of service in the last six months of the war.

The passengers enjoyed a makeshift seat in the bomb-bay which was lined with felt to give a semblance of warmth. There was oxygen, intercom and a reading lamp. One of the exclusive passengers was Niels Bohr, the atomic physicist. He was very quiet and didn't respond to the pilot's calls. Guessing that he was suffering from oxygen failure and might even have died the pilot descended to a lower level. After landing, Bohr emerged, totally unaware of the crew's concern and said he'd 'slept like a baby'. Other passengers included Malcolm Sargent, the conductor, and Peter Middleton, grandfather of Catherine, now Duchess of Cambridge'.

 

[michael rauls]

For the most versatile plane the two that come to mind immediately are the p38 and the mosquito. There were other planes that could perform multiple tasks but these two could do just about everything and do it well.
I would have to give the edge to the p38 though as I believe it was the better of the two as a fighter.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The Mossie and Ju 88. I think you can argue those two were hands above the rest when it comes to versatility.

We had a good debate on this one for years, many years ago if someone wants to dig it up.

 

[jmcalli2]

I'd vote Mosquito.

Night fighter, intruder, pathfinder, bombing, maritime strike, even cargo and transport

P-61 had that potential to fill many rolls as well, but was not employed for them.
However, the P-38 did fly as interceptor, escort, ground attack, photo recon, night fighter, level bomber, torpedo carrier/anti-shipping, cargo carrier (under wing cargo carriers made from drop tanks), and air ambulance (with under-wing liter carriers; google "P-38 cargo pods").

 

[GrauGeist]

The Ju88 wore many hats.
Fast bomber
Dive bomber
Torpedo bomber
Ground attack
Tank buster
Heavy fighter
Night fighter
Anti-shipping
Anti-submarine
Target tug
Glider tug
Flying bomb (mistel component)
High-speed recon
Pathfinder
Supply drops
Transport
Trainer
Equipment testing platform

I know I'm forgetting some...

 

[Clayton Magnet]

I would have to give the edge to the p38 though as I believe it was the better of the two as a fighter.

And the Mossie was better at everything else

 

[Clayton Magnet]

As far as American aircraft go, I would argue that the B-25 was more versatile than the P-38. The Mosquito and Ju-88 being the head of the class

 

[wuzak]

the P-38 did fly as interceptor, escort, ground attack, photo recon, night fighter, level bomber, torpedo carrier/anti-shipping, cargo carrier (under wing cargo carriers made from drop tanks), and air ambulance (with under-wing liter carriers; google "P-38 cargo pods").

interceptor, escort
P-38 >> Mosquito
Interceptor was the original role of the P-38

ground attack
P-38 = Mosquito
Mosquito may have the slight edge on firepower ( 4 x 20mm + 4 x 0.303" vs 1 x 20mm + 4 x 0.50"), the P-38 better in agility.

photo recon
Mosquito > P-38
The P-38 served as a PR aircraft with distinction, but I believe the Mosquito was superior overall.

night fighter
Mosquito >> P-38
P-38 night fighter was late in the war and used a smaller (lesser?) radar. Radar operator's station was very small and cramped.
Mosquito night fighters were active from 1942/43 over Britain, and gradually released to fly over Germany in the later years of the war, culminating in a period that Luftwaffe night fighters described as the Moskito Panik.

level bomber
Mosquito >> P-38
The Mosquito was designed as a level bomber, so it is no surprise that it should be better. The internal bomb bay gives the advantage.

torpedo carrier/anti-shipping
Mosquito > P-38
Sea Mosquitoes were fitted with torpedoes after the war, but neither they or the P-38 used torpedoes in combat.
I give this one to the Mosquito because they were used extensively in the anti-shipping role, with bombs, rockets, 20mm cannon or 57mm cannon.

cargo carrier (under wing cargo carriers made from drop tanks)
Mosquito > P-38
The internal bomb bay was a bonus for this role.

and air ambulance (with under-wing liter carriers; google "P-38 cargo pods")
P-38 > Mosquito
Don't know if the Mosquito was ever used as an air ambulance, but it was used to transport passengers.
But it is your choice - lie down inside a drop tank (basically) or curl up in the bomb bay underneath the fuel tanks.

 

[Bizrock]

Did soviets had any plane that had that versatility?

 

[Clayton Magnet]

Pe-2 perhaps?

 

[GrauGeist]

Don't forget the Martin B-26

Pe-2 perhaps?

The Petlyakov was a good aircraft, but the Tu-2 saw far more versatility:
Bomber
Torpedo bomber
Ground attack
Anti-armor
Balloon cutter
High-speed recon
Night-fighter
Transport
Interceptor
Trainer
Equipment testing platform

 

[michael rauls]

And the Mossie was better at everything else

Let me expand on my reasoning. At least my impression is that the p38 and mossie were more or less peers in most tasks( yes im sure in some the mosquito held an edge) but that both because the only task where there is a large gap being in performance as a fighter/escort and because of the comparative importance of that role, that is to say air suppirriority makes all the other jobs posible or at least substantially less risky i would give the edge to the p38.
At least by a bit.
And what was I thinking when I left the ju88 out of my top contenders to start. Famous for versatility. Definitely an oversight on my part.
However I still think I would go with the p38 because of its comparative effectiveness at what seems to me to be the task that makes all the others work alot better and it could still do most of those other tasks well with obvious exception of transport.
My take on it anyway.

 

[wuzak]

Let me expand on my reasoning. At least my impression is that the p38 and mossie were more or less peers in most tasks( yes im sure in some the mosquito held an edge) but that both because the only task where there is a large gap being in performance as a fighter/escort and because of the comparative importance of that role, that is to say air suppirriority makes all the other jobs posible or at least substantially less risky i would give the edge to the p38.

The P-38 is better in one of the roles, which you judge to be the most important, therefore it is more versatile?

btw the Mosquito (and Spitfire) photo reconnaissance variants performed their work without escort and definitely without air superiority. And, as often as not, completely on their won.

The Mosquito bombers performed many missions, day and night, without escort or air superiority.

Mosquito fighter-bombers often had escorts, but not air superiority. And their missions were among the most difficult air raids of the war.

And I'm not sure that Mosquitoes engaged in anti-shipping strikes were escorted or were operating in an area where the Allies had air superiority.

And while the P-38 provided escort, it is a stretch to claim that they provided air superiority.

 

[michael rauls]

The P-38 is better in one of the roles, which you judge to be the most important, therefore it is more versatile?

btw the Mosquito (and Spitfire) photo reconnaissance variants performed their work without escort and definitely without air superiority. And, as often as not, completely on their won.

The Mosquito bombers performed many missions, day and night, without escort or air superiority.

Mosquito fighter-bombers often had escorts, but not air superiority. And their missions were among the most difficult air raids of the war.

And I'm not sure that Mosquitoes engaged in anti-shipping strikes were escorted or were operating in an area where the Allies had air superiority.

And while the P-38 provided escort, it is a stretch to claim that they provided air superiority.

No that's not what i said. What I said was that my impression at least is that the two types were fairly evenly matched in most tasks but in one key area, fighter performance, i thought the p38 was better. If you have two aircraft that are closely matched in multiple areas but one is better in a key area it seems to me quality of performance comes into play at some point also as an aircraft has to be able to do a job effectively to to have that job included in a list of things it could do otherwise any plane could be said to do any job to some degree and then every plane would then be the most versatile.
Also i don't think its a stretch to say the p38 provided air superiority. It wasn't outstanding in western Europe ( but wasn't exactly terable either. Still had a positive kill ratio against mostly fighters)due to a variety of causes some design related but many not but in every other theater I would think its fair to say it did quite well. Dont think anyone would argue it didn't provide air superiority in the pacific and make at least a healthy contribution to it in the med.