Which was the best night fighter?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Gotta agree with Erich. The best night fighters were the Mossie and then the Ju-88. I could post many reasons but so many other people here have allready done it.

Lt. whoever the hell you are (14 year old kid, prettending ot be an officer in the military which is a disrespect to me and all the other people who have served or are serving), you really pissed some people off in the other thread.

All I can say is dont run off, dont quit, but learn... Get with P38 Pilot, he can talk to you.

[joebong]

I think those before me have listed the difinative machines. Its interesting though that even the lowly Bf110 was a blight on bomber command when coupled with an imaginative tactic. Like the one (Forgive me for not remembering its name.) that fighters loitered in 3D spaces, along anticipated RAF paths. Then vectored to targets as command I.D.ed the bomber streams crossing the channel. Its stuff lke this that makes the subject so fassinating. Also like P 61.s, P38.s were masters in the P.T.O. and treated harshly by
their rivals in Europe, at least while the Luftwaffe could put trained airmen up to counter them.

[Erich]

the technique of circling or flying in pre-scribed boxes using ground control was early war through the Tame Boar period it was then led for twin engines to fly in a course towards the bombers usually on the flight out from the target with each crew taking on whatever it could "see" or pick up on radar and Naxos.

single engine 109G's would fly individually on take-off hardly ever seeing anyone in their staffel, following burning fires on the ground and searchlight patterns. Few were equipped with radar but this was just something else the pilot had to take care of while flying so more of a hindrance than something of benefit

[the lancaster kicks ass]

Also like P 61.s, P38.s were masters in the P.T.O. and treated harshly by
their rivals in Europe

I'd hardly call the P-38M a masterful night fighter in the pacific, she didn't even shoot any aircraft down at night as far as i'm aware, and that radar operator's position had to be the smallest, most cramped position in any WWII aircraft...........

[lesofprimus]

Ventral posistion on the Avenger??

[the lancaster kicks ass]

you didn't have to stay there for the whole mission though........

[Erich]

the P-38 used was the standard day fighter version and not the radar equipped which never flew on ops, just as a test piece from what I have been told in the old and now de-funct US night fighters association

[brickhistory]

Correct, the P-38M never made it to operations. It arrived in the Phillippines in late July/early August 1945 and didn't fly operationally until after the two a-bombs were dropped.

They later flew in Japan as part of the American Army of Occupation forces. Gradually, the radars were removed and they flew as 'vanilla' -38s, often times as hacks by the 421st NFS who had P-61s.

[Wespe]

Hi guys, as You can see I am new on the forum

Ju 88 the best Lw nightfighter ?


I would say the best Lw nightfighter was the light weight He-219A-6, 11.900 kg (mossie hunter) with the DB 603L engine. The 219A-6 was specifically designed as a NF. 110's and 88s were pressed into this role since the Lw didn't have any NF's. If I recall correctly, it was due to English testpilots after the war, who had difficulties flying the 219 and made these rather negativ comments in regards to handling and speed. It is true that the initial performance of the fully equipt 219 wasn't much better then that of a Ju 88 or Bf-110, but this didn't apply to the 219A-6,
Not only did Major Werner Streib knock down 5 Lancasters in one sortie, in the first six sorties of his unit 20 planes were shot down.

But Germany's chance would have been the Me-262, does anybody have information on the performance of the Me 262 B-1a/U1 in night action?

[renrich]

Both the F4U and F6F were used as night fighters in the Pacific in WW2 and the F4U-5N had quite a bit of success as a night fighter and night intruder in Korea.

[Erich]

ah Wespe a slight correction the Uhu A-6 never flew in action. Streib flew an A-0 experimental and his RAF kills are all not confirmed so far.

you can read about the 1 kill with the Me 262B in Kommando Welter in my future release

[Civettone]

The He 219 and - since Erich told me - the Ta 154 are probably the two most overestimated night fighters ever.
The He 219 could have been an excellent night fighter but it need much more power, preferrably the Jumo 222.

Kris

[Wespe]

Originally Posted by Erich

ah Wespe a slight correction the Uhu A-6 never flew in action. Streib flew an A-0 experimental and his RAF kills are all not confirmed so far.

you can read about the 1 kill with the Me 262B in Kommando Welter in my future release

Hi Erich

Thanks for setting that (Uhu) right. Kommando Welter "your" future release?
Please tell me more, more, more

Wespe

[Erich]

we are covering the Moskito-jagd from the start with single engine fighters finally into Kommando Welter. We have been fortunate to know some of the pilots of Welters Kommando and will cover their stories and the use of the Me 262A-1a and the twin seater jets. Publishing maybe in another year as we have taken a leave from the work for at least a years time to collect more data and literally taking a break for the buzz in our heads. We will correct many mis-conceptions about Kurt W. in the book.

E ~

[Civettone]

Erich, which books carry your name by now?



Kris