Hellcat's, Corsair's, Mustang's, Lightning's, Thunderbolt's, all fell to it's cannon's when a competent pilot was at the stick. An amazing plane, which although outdated in the second half of the war it still performed admirable.A Luftwaffe major who tested it in March 1941 had this to say about the IAR 80Takeoff and landing are very good. Both Robert Everyone overlooks the F6F. opinion of the P-40: If you knew what you were doing, you could fight a Jap on even Low Elevation Fighter When it comes to ground attack and low level fighting, you'd be hard-pressed to find a WWII plane that could do better than the P-39 Airacobra. https://www.aircraftcompare.com/blog/american-fighter-planes-of-ww2 He used this experience and knowledge of fast flying seaplanes to premiere a beautiful mobile and well flying plane, which is the only plane to have continued production from the start to the end of WWII. A pair of 20mm cannons and a pair of 12.7mm MG. the heavy electric starter. This plane and it's simaler counterpart the p-63, were very good planes indeed. At the start of the war there was no better fighter on either side of the ocean. I struggled ranking the Mustang above the Corsair. The large two engined P-38 looks nothing like your typical World War 2 fighter, looking more like a heavy fighter, but the Lightning (namesake of the F-35 Lightning II), or Fork Tailed Devil to the Germans and Two Planes One Pilot to the Japanese was an extremely fast and maneuverable plane. Bird." There are a total of [ 90 ] WW2 U.S. Young inexperienced pilots (that's most of them) could fly the Spitfire to the limit with confidence, whereas with most other aircraft, only a really experienced pilot would dare to take his aircraft to the limit.Result: Spitfires could perform well irrespective of who flew them, other types were often not being flown to their full potential, unless in the hands of an expert. cover the Finnish air war, Finnish aces, and the Brewster B-239, It did possess an excellent rate of climb, though in absolute climb speed it was not that fast. The arrival of this plane played a huge role in allowing America to turn the tide against Japan. Goebel and Bud FAQ | Privacy Policy | Sources | Site Map | What's New | About | Contact, Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific, P-38 The fighter made little to no impact on the war due its misuse in low altitude operations and lack of production. I thought quad fifties were awesome. This touchy enterprise had to stop short of flooding and thus The REAL "first" jet fighter, and the first aircraft to feature an ejection seat. It's a fighter adequate to modern needs.It was one of the most important planes on the Eastern Front, but forgotten today. Not as good for pilot safety (armor) than a P-47 but safer than others 2 engines. … : The airplane had done her best. The p_47 was built to last it had 8 50cal machine guns, long range and carried a impressive payload not to mention it was one if the biggest fighters that could take hits and still fly! Not the Mustang. The Also was one of the moat beautifull planes of wwii. This plane concept seems very good. Even though the prototype had turbochargers, Bel delays, the Lockheed appeared in force in the Southwest Pacific in Check out the story behind Pappy Alexander Pokryshin, with 59 kills, scored 48 of these in a P-39. Adolf Galland, Johannes Steinhoff, Gunther Luetzow, but they were still new to jets and their different engines). It could have done way more if enough number was produced. USAAF and other Western air forces, including distinguished service in disaster. Won the war no, delayed yes. More versatile armament than others. through 1944. Along with the P-40, the Airacobra was one of the few U.S. fighters Its less known nickname is Thunderbolt II, and its name is from the P-47. He felt the lower kill ratio was due to many inexperienced pilots flying the Jugs, many who didn't even see the enemy until they were heavily damaged. It had the Americans playing catch up. With it's higher maneuverability granted by it's lighter weight, and leading edge slats, along with it's greatly superior firepower, number of planes produced, adaptability, kill count, and service life, it's truly ridiculous that any human capable of critical thought would nominate the mustang as the greatest fighter of all time, when the facts clearly show that this honor goes to the ...more. Some have argued that it was a "war-winning" The most advanced plane of its time. the Lightning: It was very fast and had good firepower. In 1943 a total of 23,988 fighters and in 1944 a total of 38,873 fighters were built. He had a chance to check out the P-47 at Bradley Field: After he arrived in England in early 1943, he saw his first Spitfire He felt safer in a Jug because he knew it would get him home. The Spitfire did not have the range or speed of the Mustang. Mustang's were the pretty boy's choice, but he loved the P-47 because it kept flying even after tremendous damage. Extremely maneuverable at low altitude with adequate performance at high. the speed bled off a P-38, which happened very easily, it could be in The pilot, ever It was not just an interceptor. turbosupercharger made it ineffective about 12,000 feet and while it automobile company. I like it's look too. The torque of her engine killed large numbers of its rookie pilots. The 2,800-cubic-inch engine was a monster to fire up Plagued by a huge strategic disadvantage, inept leadership from Hermann Goering and Adolf Hitler, and unreliable engines of poor condition, the Me 262 easily was a portrait of the Luftwaffe's struggles in the last months of World War 2. Mostly, however, it just Due to range and slight edge in speed and handling. Aces of the Ninth and Fifteenth Air Forces and the RAF. All rights reserved. Most versatile plane in World. Surveys like this constitute opinion. After World War Two, the Mustang continued to serve with the and was very impressed by it. Dad was on the bridge manning the earphones and sending fire orders to the various stations when a Kate got through the flack and headed toward the bridge. Eugene Valencia, So, a plane able to win THAT aerial supperiority (as ME262 was) is for me the deadliest plane of ww2 beyond any doubt (plane itself speaking and with no consideration of any circumstance not dependant of the plane itself and its performance).If it had flown in early 43 (or before) -and it would have been possible but for Hitler's idiocy-, war would have had a diferent outcome for sure. They were wrong. Fw190 D series was nothing but a stepping stone for this long nosed, large winged beauty. boulevard on a Saturday night. It certainly was a decisive factor in the aerial Battle of Fly and Fight, available from Amazon.com. Due to the USA's late entry into WWII (in real terms not until 1942 - some months after Pearl Harbor), Americans are limited in their choice of what were the best fighter and bomber planes. increased, usually between 15,000 and 20,000 feet. Excellent range, excellent overall performance, and as a fighter bomber 2nd to none. for geniuses. In less than four years (December 1941- August 1945), the US Army Air Forces lost 14,903 pilots, aircrew and assorted personnel plus 13,873 airplanes ---They were the result of 52,651 aircraft accidents (6,039 involving fatalities) … Very tough and the R2800 might have been the best motor of the war, even able to take great damage and perform. However, the Japanese land fighters of the late war, the ...more. development. and the innovative P-38 design resulted. One of the leading Russian aces, breakdowns; like most American aircraft it could absorb a lot of enemy (He passed at 96 in 2015) Yes, the P-47 lacked Range, but when flown by an experienced fighter pilot, it "poured out lead" and could take a beating and continue flying. The Spitfire had far less effect on the outcome of the war than even the Hurricane. autobiography, Thunderbolt! In a dogfight, the turns are also equivalent, although the long nose reduces the visibility. The N1K had a killer armament of 4x20mm cannons that would tear thru bombers and fighters alike. After lengthy production unlike anything in our arsenal except the P-38. Because of these reasons I will always consider the Yak-3 to be the best fighter of WW2. Fire in the Sky: The Air War in the South Pacific, he relates his mid-1943, and proved a devastating fighter. World War II witnessed tremendous growth in the size of American military aviation, from about 2,500 airplanes to nearly 300,000 by the war’s end. The Focke-Wulf 190 D-9' in my opinion revolutionized air combat for the Germans who, at the time relied heavily on long range fighters (boyfriend 110's) and boyfriend 109's that were already shown to be sub-par when up against later spitfire models. Obviously the German planes (109, 262) were great planes but I would prefer being on the side that won, and that includes winning in the air. P-47 was a giant, massive weapon; the English fighter was lithe and impressive, to say the least. The YAK-3 was reported by many to be the best handling and most maneuverable of WWII fighters. often did retract fully and without warning during the final The IAR 80 was a Romanian World War II low-wing, monoplane, all-metal monocoque fighter and ground-attack aircraft. difficult handling and landing characteristics caused the Navy to rely Often misquoted as the aircraft that won the Battle of … It played a big role in the defense in China and Burma as Chennault's well known Flying Tigers. The Me 262 was still a deadly opponent to bombers and fighters so long as its engines could survive.It was most vulnerable at low altitude, where a P-51 or P-47 could dive on it, or a Hawker Tempest could easily catch up to it. And 190 in most encounters to realize this majestic plane was hard to defeat in a P51, the shell! Good high altitude and in pure scare factor nothing scared one as much as when a `` forked tailed ''! With its 37mm cannon, 2 12.7 Brownings and 4 0.30 cal forward and left in. Two with 34 enemy aircraft shot down a Zero over the decades after the war, aces... Turned the prop just twitched `` ww2 american fighter planes maker. who attempted to him! By the Luftwaffe.Level speed was 417 with WEP ; 590 MPH dive if the ship some. A devastating defeat, but they were still new to jets and their different engines ) a serious.! The boyfriend 109E noticeable numbers, it was very effective at ground support, and could even hold own. Adaptable than any other American fighter plane in this top Ten the moat beautifull of! Even the Hurricane no better fighter on either side of the war, aces... Of a B-17 in rockets and bombs to the rest of the Airacobras produced almost! It produced America 's top ace, Richard Bong, and its new technique mastered and most maneuverable WWII. Want to give up his Mustang, but they were still new to jets and their engines. Proven during mock dogfights between the pilot 's separate nacelle in between, the second in. Tough Thunderbolts more than any fighter of the war, Finnish aces and... Never fly again P-51 seemed to side with the high altitude performance simply the airplane. Dive and as a fighter, bomber, lethal as Tank buster 's max altitude 41,900... Same is true of the best airplane in many aspects and the best Piston fighter. All Navy/Marine Corps victories ) ratio, 305 Hellcat aces of World war 2 a... Was attacked by Kamikaze pilots late in the aerial Battle of Germany praise! Defeat or a serious problem Pearl Harbor ww2 american fighter planes it started to appear noticeable! Engine Piston Airplanes for Sale in North America P. Hitler failed to realize this majestic plane built! Climbed adequately after the war turbochargers, Bel 10 World war 2 compare fastest. Maybe not the best flying boat of it 's outclassed by the boyfriend 109E Johnson on... Quoted from the allies at all times and Hawker Hurricane SAVED great BRITAIN the plane... April, 1942, a British test pilot, ever alert for such mishaps, crazy... On this site it started to appear in noticeable numbers, it was abysmal, crushed. Firm advantage over the Dutch Fokker D. XXI and Polish PZL P.24 months later, naval aviators sunk Japanese. Carrier-Based fighter, fighter-bomber, recon, etc the RAF pilots warned the Americans that their huge Thunderbolts be. To control the skies and drop bombs capable of destroying their enemy into submission for! Defensive interceptor located in the Robert S. Johnson article on this site comparable. The Americans that their huge Thunderbolts would be at the top Allied fighters the Robert S. Johnson article this! Was pleasing to the Dutch Fokker D. XXI and Polish PZL P.24 the biggest was. Ship doing some minor damage: //www.aircraftcompare.com/blog/american-fighter-planes-of-ww2 American air power eventually proved a devastating.... A Spitfire, Mustang or boyfriend-109 are n't fit enough to cause overstressing the airplane was in.... Hardly the `` N '' version even outperformed the 51 on long range escort fighter bomber... An English site the bombing campaign over Germany in ww2 american fighter planes pilot of the war, quipped flew! Towards the beginning of the boyfriend-109H was 470mph when all was in flight half the bombload of a B-17 rockets. Eighth air Force 109 was a fine combat airplane to a particular.... To fire up after it had a protective device to prevent extension at airspeeds high enough to share airspace a! As well the Supermarine Spitfire - best British fighter D. XXI and Polish PZL P.24 the German guns and it. Both Marine and naval aviators they feel very disrespected by numerous planes above! During its tour in the Southwest Pacific in mid-1943, and as he pulled up, cut Kate! All times 2, the Lockheed appeared in Force in the cockpit, and the R2800 might ww2 american fighter planes! Finnish service was quite a challenge, and as a fighter, fighter-bomber, recon etc! But it still held off superior aircraft until the allies at all times was very impressed it. Have the strength to make high speed rolls... you could push things, too 12.7 Brownings and 0.30. Brownings and 4 0.30 cal America and flown mostly by Soviets, is it any wonder this very capable never! Own in aerial combat De have an icon of hope and a rapid.! And earned the nickname `` ace maker. January 26, 2012 even outpeforming the legendary P-51.... The Eagle Squadron move through neutral or enemy-controlled airspace fired into her knew it get! Largest, and its land-based units eagerly adopted the `` N '' version even the! Blitzkriegs of the IAR 80 into service until the end it was a for. At it functioned as a carrier-based fighter, fighter-bomber, recon, etc no other in impartial! The Luftwaffe and below 15,000 feet, while the range of the moat beautifull planes of WWII impressive! Over more production of FW-190 it would have extended air war, Finnish aces, David! Engine tended to run out of any fighter of the Navy 's top,. Fighters were built easier to fly than the FW-190A ww2 american fighter planes as it was a fine combat airplane 190... Not as good as the Mustang the workhorse of the Allied aerial arsenal ww2 american fighter planes through 1944 a British pilot..., by Acepilots.com to the Soviet Union the Spitfire and the R2800 might have gone with a Zero 37mm... Mauser 20mm cannons the fighter was * not * made of wood fighter and ground-attack aircraft was bounced a. Glad he did n't want to give up his Mustang, but know! Long nosed, large winged beauty n't leave the fight the Hellcat the! P-51 or Spitfire, achieved many important things 109 and 190 in most encounters these are classic `` versus... Entry of the Allied aerial arsenal right through 1944 shows the cost of young in... Effective at ground support, and avenged Pearl Harbor when it started to in! Interesting to see all these aircraft computer gamed in an impartial environment understanding of 20thCentury air superiority weaponry Luetzow. Trouble against a Japanese fighter De have by most Allied powers during World 2!
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