Best World War II Aircraft?

[renrich]

If one wants to use air race results as criteria in judging performance of war birds, one is on shaky ground with the P47. There were P47s in early air races but it could not compete with the Mustang at low altitudes. It's high performance was due to it's turbo charged engine and it had to get above 25000 feet to start gaining on the Mustang. Taking all in consideration the P47 as far as being an air to air aircraft was pretty much a dog compared to the P51 B,C,or D.

[Astaldo711]

There's so many factors in determining an answer for that. You can compare straight numbers, like top speed, power to weight ratio, range, ceiling, firepower. You can compare aesthetics, air to air kills, air to ground kills, etc. Once factor that can't be over stressed is the pilot. The P-40 pilots of the AVG held their own against Zeros that were considered better aircraft. Training, skill and tactics made the difference.
Besides, everyone knows the Blackburn Skua rules all!

[Vincenzo]

Originally Posted by Astaldo711

There's so many factors in determining an answer for that. You can compare straight numbers, like top speed, power to weight ratio, range, ceiling, firepower. You can compare aesthetics, air to air kills, air to ground kills, etc. Once factor that can't be over stressed is the pilot. The P-40 pilots of the AVG held their own against Zeros that were considered better aircraft. Training, skill and tactics made the difference.
Besides, everyone knows the Blackburn Skua rules all!

The AVG P-40s versus Zeros it's a myth

[B-17engineer]

How?

[Shortround6]

Possiably because unless the AVG were opposed by Japanese Navy air units the single radial engine retractable gear monoplane fighters they were fighting against would have been Oscars?

I don't know, I don't have the Ja[anese air unit dispositions. Just pointing out a possible answer.

I am also not saying the AVG 'never' encountered Zero's.

[Vincenzo]

see here http://www.warbirdforum.com/neumann.htm

[FLYBOYJ]

The AVG never fought against the Oscar. There are resources that show no Zeros were operated in Burma during the period the Flying Tigers existed. The Flying Tigers fought mainly against "Nates" and "Oscars."

[Njaco]

I seem to remember from "God is My Co-Pilot" that the pilots talked about defeating the Zero and came up with dive and run tactics. I could be wrong. Its been years since I read the book.

[FLYBOYJ]

Scott (like many of the AVG) might of thought he was fighting against the Zero. The Oscar was mistaken for the Zero continually and visa-versa.

[B-17engineer]

Ohhhhh.... Zeros I knew they fought Oscars so when I saw AVG versus Zeroes is a myth I replaced Zeroes with Oscars...

I reject the reality and replace it with my own.

[Njaco]

Thanks Joe, that might have been it. Its been many years since reading it.

[Elvis]

Originally Posted by FlyboyJ

The AVG never fought against the Oscar. There are resources that show no Zeros were operated in Burma during the period the Flying Tigers existed. The Flying Tigers fought mainly against "Nates" and "Oscars."

I remember that all John Wayne could talk about, in the movie, were "Nakajima fighters".

Elvis

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Elvis

I remember that all John Wayne could talk about, in the movie, were "Nakajima fighters".

Elvis

Hey, the Duke is never wrong!!!!

[Elvis]

That's right, Pilgrim!
Now saddle up those horses and lets get a move on YA!





Elvis

[parsifal]

There were 25 Zeroes attached to the 22nd Naval Air Flotilla at the beginning of the war, fighting alongside the 3rd Hikoshidan, which had the only Oscars in the JAAF at that time (about 40 in total).

On the 23rd December approximately half of the 360 aircraft attached to the 3rd air division were transferred to Siam to begin operations over burma. As far as I know, no Oscars were included in that transfer, and none of the 22 air flotilla (or the Zeroes working with that formation....these aircraft were actually drawn from the 23rd Flotilla, which was deployed mainly in Formosa and engaging US forces in the Philipinnes. The Zeroes were redeployed to the southern theatre, when the Japanese learned that the British were transferring Heavy Ships and Hurricanes to help defend Malaya. These transfers were undertaken on the direct orders of Admiral Yammamoto).

Given the specific purpose for which the Yamada detachment (as the Zero formation was called) and the continued resistance being offered by the Hurricanes recently arrived in Singapore, I do not think that any Zeroes were part of the transfers to the new front in Burma. Moreover, I understand that the 22nd Flotilla and the specially attached Aero Formation remained in the Indies after the fall of Singapore.

Both the 22nd and the 23rd ended up in the South West Pacific as far as i know.