 | Best Nightfighter of WW2 (Continued)| Aviation Discuss Best Nightfighter of WW2 (Continued) in the World War II - Aviation forums; The DH Mosquito was irrevocably the ''Best Nightfighter of WWII''....
-This is a documented fact, and it was a part ... |
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03-14-2005, 06:30 PM
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#31 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
| The DH Mosquito was irrevocably the ''Best Nightfighter of WWII''....
-This is a documented fact, and it was a part of the unique configurations this aircraft was developed to undertake, very early in it's career...and one it carried-out from it's inception as a Nightfighter, throughout the War and beyond into the fifty's when replaced by jets...
It's role as a Nightfighter and it's service was unsurpassed by any other aircraft and a contributing aspect to it's legendary status....
Germany tried unsuccessfully to copy it in the form of the Fw-154, and the He-219 was another attempt and although it's initial success was a half-dozen Mossies and some bombers, we may find that they were Mosquito Bomber or Pathfinder variants...
If those who believe the He-219 was the better aircraft and want to read up on it, you'll find that Capt. Eric Brown CBE,DSC,AFC,RN; wrote most illuminatingly of it's real performance after extensively testing it [and other German aircraft], in his book 'Aircraft of the Luftwaffe', and it's also reprinted in Air International July 1975 ' Viewed from the Cockpit'.....
While I feel the He-219 was a great looking aircraft with some special features, it was underpowered, [Brown only coaxing a max speed of 378mph out of it], not receiving the correct engines due to shortages, it was supposed to be fitted with DB-603G's but got mostly DB-603A's, a difference of 150hp, but it was also a very heavy fighter in comparison to the Mossie....Although well armed, it was not as manoevrable, had a lousy climb-rate and like many German aircraft it was too little, too late, a common feature of RLM's role of aircraft selection processes....this aircraft was on the drawing-board in 1940, and they dragged their heels on it for a good part of the War......
Northrop's P-61 was the only aircraft of this era specifically built as a Nightfighter, and it too suffered similar faults, being too heavy and not as manoevrable, although it performed good service in the Pacific towards the end of that conflict....Perhaps the P-38 NF variant's service was probably more successful there, but I don't have any figures to support this......
Personally, I feel the Ju-88 was the closest contempary to the Mosquito, and both the Bf-110 and Do-217 also did good service to Germany in this role also, but all said and done, the superlative Mosquito was and still is heralded as the ''Best Nightfighter of WWII''.............. | 
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03-14-2005, 06:32 PM
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#32 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country:  | Finally, someone who appreciates the Mosquito as much as I do. Thankyou Gemhorse for talking about the best of the best
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03-14-2005, 06:51 PM
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#33 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2004
Posts: 584
| Oh, my pleasure MM, we're 'brother's in arms' when it comes to the DH Mosquito, not enough folk out there can comprehend the real marvel this wooden aircraft was during WWII.....
Cheers... | |
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03-15-2005, 10:14 AM
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#34 | | Master of Ewes
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 19,959
Country: | hey i'm with the mossie too you know!!
although i don't know enough to make arguments like you do.........
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03-15-2005, 11:27 AM
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#35 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | The MkXXX was the latest nightfighter version and was easily the best nightfighter although the Beau gives it a close run
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03-15-2005, 02:47 PM
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#36 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,267
Country:  | The Mossie XXX was the best the RAF had to offer. The Me 262A-1a was the best German Nachtjäger, although my love for the Ju 88G-6 is strong it did not compare to the Mossie XXX. The Ju was just an old airframe and was counted on even with the latest electronics to do to much. Besides trying to take on RAF Mossies and 4-engine jobs it was the stable mount for many an evil night and day ground attack mission(s)...
E ~ | |
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03-15-2005, 03:39 PM
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#37 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Saco, MAINE!!!!
Posts: 894
Country: | Gemhorse, thanks for the good arguments. I am still baffled that the USAAC dragged its feet with night fighters. The P-38M was the NF and it did do a good job. Not that the P-38 did a bad job at what ever it did.
A questio for all you Mossie lovers, are any still around airworthy? 
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03-15-2005, 03:49 PM
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#38 | | "Shooter"
Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Moorpark, CA
Posts: 12,751
Country: | I got sent a flying Mossie video a while back in e-mail. I don't know where the video came from though, or how long ago it was filmed, but it appeared to be in the last 5-10 years.
__________________  http://www.vg-photo.com Wherever their bones may lie, the courage of heroes is consecrated in the hearts and engraved in the history of the free. Lt Col Honner DSO MC, 39th Commander speaking of the dead from the battle of Kokoda. | |
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03-15-2005, 03:53 PM
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#39 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: New York City
Posts: 105
| ur all wrong the p-61 is the best night fighter,it perform just like the mossie but it had a heavier armarment | |
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03-15-2005, 04:03 PM
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#40 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,267
Country: | the P-61 was a dog...............sorry Addi or whatever your real name is
The P-38 did frankly nothing in the pacific as we have already chatted about the M that never flew as a nf in the orient till after the war. I already gave the information on the P-38, please check the old threads
Erich | |
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03-15-2005, 07:15 PM
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#41 | | Banned
Join Date: Jan 2005
Posts: 795
| I don't know why no one has mentioned how cramped the ROs station in the P-38 was. Even if you were a runt you still emerged as a hunch-back after a mission. | |
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03-15-2005, 09:30 PM
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#42 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | There was a Mossie flying a while ago but it crashed and I think there are 1 or 2 projects to get one flying again. The prototype W4050 is at the deHavilland Museum- one place I NEED to go to
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When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life | |
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03-16-2005, 12:38 AM
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#43 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2005
Posts: 180
| What about the Arado ar 234 C-3N Blitz then? | |
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03-16-2005, 05:44 AM
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#44 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Saffron Walden/Sheffield
Posts: 3,001
Country: | What's the armament on it then?
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When you realise that the light at the end of the tunnel is actually an oncoming train, you know it's time to run for your life | |
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03-16-2005, 08:08 AM
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#45 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 527
| Update.
Last edited by GT : 04-03-2006 at 12:32 AM.
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