"Why the P-47 Thunderbolt, a World War II Beast of the Airways, Ruled the Skies" Smithsonian Magazine

[FLYBOYJ]

Is the comparison of the Mosquito v. B-17 a separate thread or part of a thread derailment? I was about to look it up but, again, I hit the reply button.
There's a lot of good information there about why the Mosquito couldn't replace the B-17. Some of that information is probably applicable to the P-47.

100% correct! Folks tend to read aircraft specs gained from second hand sources and assume the aircraft can deliver best speed, altitude, range and payload all the time.

 

[SaparotRob]

Found it.
"What if America built DeHaviland Mosquitoes instead of B-17 Flying Fortresses?"

 

[Snautzer01]

I didnt realise it could carry a B-17, that's quite a payload.

and could land and take off again with full battle load. All in a jiffy. Yes the b-17 was worthless. ohhh wait.. stupid facts.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Found it.
"What if America built DeHaviland Mosquitoes instead of B-17 Flying Fortresses?"

Yeah, that one was beat to death almost as bad at the Groundhog thread!

 

[SaparotRob]

I sense a disturbance in the Force.

 

[pbehn]

100% correct! Folks tend to read aircraft specs gained from second hand sources and assume the aircraft can deliver best speed, altitude, range and payload all the time.

And with regards to time, specs are always quoted for the later versions. The first P-47s to arrive in UK werent going to drop bombs anywhere in Germany, they could just to say escort B-17s to the German border.

 

[Snautzer01]

Yeah, that one was beat to death almost as bad at the Groundhog thread!

Cant. Fact. The expert said so.

 

[pbehn]

and could land and take off again with full battle load. All in a jiffy. Yes the b-17 was worthless. ohhh wait.. stupid facts.

A mosquito could do all that from a carrier, then send you a stereoscopic photo. FACT!

 

[GrauGeist]

Yeah, I remember that guy in the Mossie versus B-17 thread - aparently the Allies wasted all that money and time on B-17s and Lancs when a Mossie could pack a 4,000 pound load all the way to Berlin and put it in the Reichs Chancellery's mailbox...

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

What if we had B-29s dropping Mosquitoes, which dropped P-47s, which dropped parafrags?

Asking for a friend.

 

[pbehn]

Yeah, I remember that guy in the Mossie versus B-17 thread - aparently the Allies wasted all that money and time on B-17s and Lancs when a Mossie could pack a 4,000 pound load all the way to Berlin and put it in the Reichs Chancellery's mailbox...

However if you change the discussion to ... "Why didnt the British make lots of Mosquitos instead of Short Stirlings" it would be a short discussion, because they did. The Stirling was useless and so phased out before it was phased in. The reason is simple, the B-17 was a good aircraft and those in charge werent fools, the Stirling was a heavy bomber, it was just heavy, no other redeeming feature and that was quickly noted by those in charge.

 

[Shortround6]

the Stirling was a heavy bomber, it was just heavy, no other redeeming feature and that was quickly noted by those in charge.

Not true.............................As a redeeming feature in had more internal volume than any other bomber before the B-29

Oh,,,,,, You meant redeeming feature as a bomber..........................

Nevermind

 

[SaparotRob]

...it was just heavy,

 

[Snautzer01]

What if we had B-29s dropping Mosquitoes, which dropped P-47s, which dropped parafrags?

Asking for a friend.

You have some weird friends but ok.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Rube Goldberg approves!

 

[SaparotRob]

I'm sure Superfire would approve. It's what the U.S. should have been doing in early 1942.

 

[GrauGeist]

Wait - where's the P-39 "that airplane" in all of this?

 

[Snautzer01]

From a long time ago when i fiddled around with drawing

A bit of fire power right there. Eat your heart out twin Mustang.....

 

[AMCKen]

The 17,600 max load of a B-17 includes fuel, crew, ammunition, and all that kind of stuff. Not just bombs.

 

[DrumBob]

Comparing a B-17 to a P-47? Apples and oranges, of course.

In any event, if I'd had my choice of what plane to fly in WWII, I would still pick the Jug, pretty much because it could take punishment and fly you home. .