Bf-109 vs P-40

[beaupower32]

Going off of the Hurricane vs 110 thread, how about a bf-109 vs P-40 thread. To me, it is very hard to think which one is better, but I think it will have to come down to pilot in the end. Lets hear your thoughts.

[renrich]

Whew! I think that the P40 was considered as dessert for the 109. The P40 would have to be well flown with mutual support tactics to survive against BF 109s.

[MikeGazdik]

I will just wait till the Messerschmitt comes down to me in my Curtiss!

[Njaco]

If you're in the P-40 I think the only advantage would be for you to go down to the Bf 109s and then get the 'ell out of there!

[MikeGazdik]

I think the P-40 (USAAF) in the MTO, had well over 500 aerial kills. Sure the Bf 109 has the advantage on paper. But it would not be dessert.

[Clay_Allison]

At low alt, it was even. When the Germans realized that P-40 lost performance above 17,000 feet, they hunted higher and fought with energy and killed them pretty bad.

The war department minimized the need for high altitude operations and retarded development of the two-stage supercharger for the Allison (by indicating that they weren't interested). Thus the P-40, the P-39, the P-51A and to a lesser extent the P-38 suffered from their short sightedness.

The P-40 was, in my opinion, a better AIRFRAME than the Me-109. Just the Me-109 landing gear (or operational lack thereof) is enough evidence for me. The DB 600 series engines were masterpieces though and elevated an inferior airframe to being a better overall fighter plane.

[KrazyKraut]

I don't see where you get that from. The P-40s landing gear wasn't exactly a marvel either and its arrangement was aerodynamically inefficient. Most articles I have read describe the P-40's airframe as overly complex for a single engined fighter (e.g. 5 spar wing). I do think the P-40s, in its Kittyhawk variants, were decently armed and overall acceptable fighters, but inferior to Spitfire and Bf 109 not to even mention the Mustang.

[beaupower32]

[QUOTE=Clay_Allison;435685]At low alt, it was even. When the Germans realized that P-40 lost performance above 17,000 feet, they hunted higher and fought with energy and killed them pretty bad.
QUOTE]


I will agree here. At low alt, pretty even. Up high, the 109 really shined against the P-40.

[Soren]

The Bf-109F was much faster, climbed much quicker and turned much tighter. So the Bf-109F was no doubt the better a/c, but pilot skill can easily make up the difference.

[Clay_Allison]

Originally Posted by KrazyKraut

I don't see where you get that from. The P-40s landing gear wasn't exactly a marvel either and its arrangement was aerodynamically inefficient. Most articles I have read describe the P-40's airframe as overly complex for a single engined fighter (e.g. 5 spar wing). I do think the P-40s, in its Kittyhawk variants, were decently armed and overall acceptable fighters, but inferior to Spitfire and Bf 109 not to even mention the Mustang.

1/3 of all 109s built were destroyed in takeoff and landing accidents. That's ridiculous. Nothing like that happened to the P-40.

[KrazyKraut]

Where's the source for that? We recently had some numbers on landing accidents of German fighters here and they showed no extraordinarily high rates for the Bf 109. Certainly there were fighters with more robust landing gears, but the 109 was superior to the P-40 in much more relevant aspects.

[renrich]

As stated in another thread, the P40 had 592 kills in the Med. I suspect that few of those were 109s. The "Star of Africa", I believe, on his best day claimed 17 kills. Most of those were P40s.

[Vincenzo]

they had 592 claims

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Gotta go with Bf 109 here.

I think it was a better airframe overall, better performance where it counted the most (later varients our performed it at all areas I believe but do not take my word on it, this is off of memory) and Armament was better.

[beaupower32]

Originally Posted by renrich

As stated in another thread, the P40 had 592 kills in the Med. I suspect that few of those were 109s. The "Star of Africa", I believe, on his best day claimed 17 kills. Most of those were P40s.

Here is what I found. Dont know about the times being accurate, but might give a indacation of how the day went down.

On September 1st 1942 (ironically, a 3rd anniversary of outbreak of the war) Marseille down 17 allies planes in three sorties. His first encounter that day was with a P-40 which had attack Stukas. It went down in flames rather quickly. Then six Spitfires acting as escort to Kittyhawks dropped down on Bf-109s. Marseille lowered his flaps and throttling back almost staling his aircraft, causing Spitfires to shoot past him. The last got a full course meal from of Jochen's 20-mm canons and machine guns. The British fighter literally disintegrated in mid air. In the short skirmish which then transpired, another Spit was victimized by Marseille, as well as a second P-40 trying to escape on deck.

Times of victories: 08:28; 08:30; 08:33; 08:39.

On his second flight that morning, Jochen flew top cover for Ju-87s. They ran into big party of DAF fighters and bombers. Marseille with his wingman intercepted eight P-40s on their dive for Stukas, and allies planes formed the circle soon after this. He shot down two of his opponents immediately and the circle broke up. As they scattered, Jochen knocked down three more. He took his sixth after short chase, with a very long deflection shot. Throughout all this, his wingman flew close cover. They both climbed up again only to spot another flight of unsuspecting Kittyhawks. Marseille approached alone and shot down his seventh. After turning home he came upon yet another P-40 trailing white smoke. It became his eighth in this flight and probably was his easiest victim.

Times of victories: 10:55; 10:56; 10:58; 10:59; 11:01; 11:02; 11:03; 11:05.

Eight aircraft in ten minutes! Back in the base, as soon as he opened the canopy of his 109, he learned that Feldmarschall Kesselring was visiting his unit. Upon reporting to Operations HQ tent, Marseille declared 12 enemy aircraft shot down. Kesselring inquired of him the number he shot himself, and Jochen replied accordingly: "Twelve, Sir". His supreme commander did not say a word. Later, he admitted to being astonished. That was a very busy day for all pilots of the JG-27. After a meal and a short rest, Marseille departed as an escort to Ju-88s which were seeking to bomb British troops concentrations. The battle of Alam el Halfa was at its highest point. Fifteen P-40s attacked Junkers, which in turn were attacked by Marseille's pilots. A series of dogfights erupted which gradually brought fighting aircraft from 5,000 feet to almost ground level. In this aerial fracas the "Eagle of Africa" shot down another five P-40s.

Times of victories: 18:46; 18:47; 18:48; 18:49; 18:53.