Best World War II Aircraft?

[Marcel]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

And how did it get it's replacement parts and fuel - and are there 500 of them still flying today?

A C47 didn't win the BoB Joe And I think a Hurricane has little use in peacetime, while this is different for the DC3/C47, so this comparisment isn't fair. But for the rest I agree on the Dacota being the best.

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Marcel

But for the rest I agree on the Dacota being the best.

But let's be fair, a Hurricane at an airshow is a good thing!

[Marcel]

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

But let's be fair, a Hurricane at an airshow is a good thing!

Yep, would like to see one, I never saw one flying. But a Dac flew over my house last week, so that makes it up a little

[ToughOmbre]

Originally Posted by Elvis

What was that list again? The C-47, the landing craft and the 2 1/2 ton truck. That what won the war for us.

The bazooka, the Jeep, the atom bomb, and last but not least, the C–47.

There are some absolutes in this world, things that are non-debatable, and the C-47's place as the greatest aircraft in aviation history is one of those things.

TO

[Marcel]

Originally Posted by ToughOmbre

There are some absolutes in this world, things that are non-debatable, and the C-47's place as the greatest aircraft in aviation history is one of those things.

TO

I think the Flyer I would be a strong contender as wel

[kool kitty89]

The DC-3/C-47 and derivatives is certainly the most sucessful aircraft in history though.

[kool kitty89]

So the P-40 may have actually served on more fronts than the Hurricane.

Though the DC-3/C-47 was pretty much used everywhere as well (including the Japanese), since it was the dominant pre-war civil transport and airliner.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by Elvis

What was that list again? The C-47, the landing craft and the 2 1/2 ton truck.
That what won the war for us.

Originally Posted by ToughOmbre

The bazooka, the Jeep, the atom bomb, and last but not least, the C–47.

LOL! Good one, Ombre!

I did an google search and came up with this quote...

"The Jeep, the Dakota and the Landing Craft were the three tools that won the war"
Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower

It can be found at Brian's Military Jeep website.




Elvis

[bf109 Emil]

this clip is a must see for any aviation buff

YouTube - Spitfire low-level flight - Spitfire im Tiefflug

the camera had to have balls just to continue filming, and notice when you see the spit coming, how low it is about 200 metres before pulling up...wow

[Elvis]

...and if you think that one's cool, check this one out.

I must've seen this 50 times already and I still wince when it flies over.



Elvis

[Kruska]

Following up on this thread it might be "dangerous" to post the following:

The C-47 is the best ww2 a/c

because; ?

1) the best fighter was a C-47
2) the best heavy bomber was a C-47
3) the best medium bomber was a C-47
4) the best ground attack a/c was a C-47
5) the best sub hunter was a C-47
6) the best night fighter was a C-47
7) the best transport a/c was a C-47
the best sea plane was a C-47
9) the best recon a/c was a C-47
10) the best trainer a/c was a C-47

Let's assume that the C-47 was indeed the best transport a/c, so does 1 out of ten criterias make any a/c the BEST of all ?

Even in a direct comparrison to a Ju 290 it wouldn't stand up to being the best transport a/c. Fact is that Germany lost the war and as such Douglas could market the C-47 unoposed, which makes it at most - the best post war transport a/c.

Which a/c had the overall biggest impact in regards to the outcome of WW2in the ETO or PTO ? the answer according to Gen. Eisenhower is C-47, to me it would be thousands of B17's and B24's or sarcastically the B-29 over Japan during a week in August 1945.

Which a/c had the means to forward the future layout of any transportation or civil airliner after ww2, the answer (IMHO) would be a C-47 a Ju 290 and even a Fw C-200 ex Condor/Lufthansa

So to my understanding this answer could only be verified by setting up certain criterias and make a poll out of it (I think this could be an interesting alternative).

Regards
Kruska

[fly boy]

along with flyboyJ C-47

[smg]

p 47 and p 40

[kool kitty89]

The C-47 was the most important for what it did, the C-46 and C-54 were superior and more capable designs but they weren't available in the numbers necessary to do what the C-47 did, it being the dominant pre war airliner as well. And the DC-3/variants was undoubtedly the most successful a/c of all time. And on the trainer issue, the docile characteristics of the C-47 would have made for an excellent multi-engine introductory trainer, or even a basic trainer in a pinch. (better than going straight to "live" trainer like a T-6 etc)

But "best" is really kind inspecific, "most important" or "most capable" being more descriptive. So it kind of leaves allot up to interpretation.

There's another discussion over here: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/avi...ant-12434.html (4 Most Important)

And some more here: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/pol...wii-11731.html (Pick 6 a/c to build your AF at beginning WWII)

[FLYBOYJ]

I look at the "best" in terms of being able to perform its mission, versatility, ease of maintenance and construction, impact to the war effort, ability to be improved, longevity, and cost. Role it up and it's the C-47.