Which was the best night fighter?

[Wurger]

I agree with V2 - Mosquito NF.XXX

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

I go for the Ju-88G-6 or the Mossie.

[davparlr]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

I go for the Ju-88G-6 or the Mossie.

I don't think that I can argue against these being the best nightfighters in the war, however, they both would have shortcomings. It seems the main complaint against the P-61B was not manueverability, but was top speed, ceiling, climb rate, and speed brakes. The top speed of the P-61B was 366 mph, very comparable to the Mossie (37 and Ju-88G (around 356 - 390, I don't have top speed of the G-6 so the data shows G-1 and G-7). Ceiling of the P-61B was 33kft with both the Mossie and G-6 below at 28k and 29k respectively. So, some the very complaints against the P-61B (speed and ceiling), as pointed out as a concern in the Report on Joint Fighter Conference, would have also applied to the Mossie and Ju-88. Also, the sole reason for the P-61C was to correct these deficiencies so they were considered pretty significant. I think that nightfighters were for the most part compromises and that a really great nightfighter did not exist.

[pbfoot]

I don't think a lack manouverability would be a strike against a night fighter what you need is IMHO a steady platform so the AI or air intercept guy can get a target on his primitive display if you are flinging about the sky the AI is not going to be able to tune in his set . Playing with gains and such would require a steady platform .

[Bullockracing]

I can't remember the test pilot that did it, but the demonstration pilot for the P-61 would take off, go vertical at the end of the runway, and pull through a loop and double back vertically at the opposite end of the runway to show off the capabilities of the Black Widow.

P-61 still gets my vote. Vote for skill of crew goes to the Germans, though...

[Erich]

if you have data for the G-7 then you have it for the G-6 Junkers, there was no G-7 completed nor on operations it was only a G-6, and there were no sub-designations due to different radar sets either like the a, b or c which is all bogus. P-61C did not operated either in Ww 2 it was used soon after the war and based for the imminent probs in Korea or so it was to be supposed......

you are probably right about NO really great night fighter as all types wer upgraded throughout the war, the He 219 poor in my opinion was going through it's own problems of too much experimentation of variants even with rocket assisted take off, rear gunner or not to have one, rear warning radar or not to have one, and on it goes for that poor a/c

[102first_hussars]

I agree with Syscom, I think the Mosquito was the best

[lesofprimus]

I'll have to agree with the forum here and also say the Mossie XXX was the Best Night Fighter...

However, if I had my choice of which to fly and fight in, I'd pick the Ju 88G-6 with Schräge Musik.... Ju 88 night-fighters destroyed more Allied night bombers in WW2 than all other fighters combined...

Erich, there is no truth to the below quote????

"The final production G series model was the Ju 88G-7, powered by two Jumo 213E engines with MW-50 power boosting to 1,800 hp on take-off. The Ju 88G-7a had FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar, while the Ju 88G-7b had FuG 218 Neptune V radar with either the standard 'toasting fork' aerials or a Morgenstern array enclosed in a pointed wooden nose cone. The G-7c had FuG 240 Berlin N-1 centimetric radar with the scanner enclosed in a plywood nose cone. Only ten G-7c were completed, before the end of the war."

[Erich]

there were no designations in German for the difference in radars equipped in the Ju 88G-6. No a, b or c guys ............sorry it is all afterwar myths created within publications. the JU 88G-6 had MW 50 and I have some interesting escape stories associated with the craft and the Mossie NF.

[102first_hussars]

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

I'll have to agree with the forum here and also say the Mossie XXX was the Best Night Fighter...

However, if I had my choice of which to fly and fight in, I'd pick the Ju 88G-6 with Schräge Musik.... Ju 88 night-fighters destroyed more Allied night bombers in WW2 than all other fighters combined...

Yeah but how many were lost to allied fighters and door gunners?

[Gnomey]

I would go for the Mossie (MKXXX) as well with the Ju-88G6 in second.

[redcoat]

Originally Posted by davparlr

I The top speed of the P-61B was 366 mph, very omparable to the Mossie (37 and Ju-88G (around 356 - 390, I don't have top speed of the G-6 so the data shows G-1 and G-7). Ceiling of the P-61B was 33kft with both the Mossie and G-6 below at 28k and 29k respectively. .

The top speed of the Mosquito NF Mk 30 which first entered service in June 1944 was 424 mph at 26,500ft, operational ceiling was 35,000ft.

[RAFster]

What about the P-82 Twin Mustang?
It replaced the P61 as the Air Force decided it outperformed and was a better solution.

David
RAFster

[Erich]

never flew on ops in WW 2 that is why it is not considered

[brickhistory]

Hello to all. Just enrolled, will take a while to go through the threads.
Have read some fairly, to me anyway, informed posts on the many topics.

For my first post, may I appeal for help in finding sources/photos about the four US Beau squadrons? I've written a book on the 417th NFS which comes out in Feb 07 (how's that for a plug?), but am starting one concerning all four, 414th-417th. Of special note would be photos of the 416th's Mossies.

Any guidance out there? I've a trip planned to the USAF Historical Research Agency planned for the spring, but any help now would be appreciated.

v/r,
brickhistory