|
10-06-2007, 06:56 PM
| #1 |
| Member  Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 64
| Just How Superior For years I've heard and read how the P-51 Mustang was so superior to the best German fighters (except for the ME-262 jet) meaning the ME-109 and FW-190, but just how true is this? Now, what I read and hear about suggests that this superiority isn't as great as has been stated over the years.
__________________ "A squadron of Spitfires sir" - Adolf Galland's reply to Hermann Goering's inquiry as to his wishes during the Battle of Britain. Last edited by Ghostdancer; 10-06-2007 at 08:39 PM. |
|         |
|
10-07-2007, 02:54 AM
| #2 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Adelaide
Posts: 510
| Well its hard to argue the fact that the P51 was a fabulous and very effective plane, however it is definately an overated plane. While obviously there are many more factors than just the plane I dont necessarily think that the plane itself was that superior. The Germans had some excellent designs. It is hard to truly decide if it was entirely superior because the Germans didnt have the numbers of aircraft and trained pilots that the US did when the Mustange was dominating the skies of Europe. I personally do not consider the Mustang the best fighter of WW2. I think it was an excellent long range fighter which was integral to the war effort though. Its range being its major drawcard compared to other planes.
__________________  |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 04:37 AM
| #3 |
| Der Crewchief   Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 33,150
| The main thing the P-51D had going for it was its long range. It was the fighter that took the war to the Germans. That is undisputed. I too think the P-51D is overated but not because it was not a good plane. It was one hell of a plane. The reason I think it is overated is because when someone says what is the best plane ever buit and automatically the majority of people go "P-51 Mustang!".  You have to look at it this way. Each aircraft had ist point where it was operating at maximum efficiency and ability. Some aircraft that was at high alltitude and some it was at lower alltitudes. The P-51D would be superior at certain altitudes to other aircraft and not superior at other altitudes. The P-51D I believe however was superior at the altitudes it needed to operate at and that was where the bombers were. Dont quote me on this though.
__________________  fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I] |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 04:51 AM
| #4 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Bucharest
Posts: 907
| Like many of you already said the major fact for the greatness of the P51 was its long range...
__________________ These airplanes we have today are no more than a perfection of a child's toy made of paper."Henri Coanda" |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 09:00 AM
| #5 |
| Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Berlin (Kreuzberg)
Posts: 1,726
| ...and itīs comparably high altitude cruise speed. While other planes had to climb to altitude at low speeds, the Mustang in itīs escort role already possessed altitude and a very high cruise speed there, enabling them to take basic advantage in combat.
__________________ ---delcyros--- |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 09:05 AM
| #6 |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Limburg
Posts: 1,219
 | Yes, that is completely true. Like Adler said, it wasn't the best fighter plane of WW2 simply because there is no such thing as the best. Beside the range there were other things which made it the success it was. American pilots were the best trained in the world. Couple that with optimized tactics for aggressive boom and zoom fighting. And it's true that certain planes are better at certain altitudes but that wasn't the case for the Mustang as it was faster than German planes at any altitude. And speed was its main weapon. Being able to outpace any adversary means you always have the initiative. Put all that together with excellent tactics and a flying range which allows you to roam all over Germany for hours and you've got yourself a devestating weapon. Kris
__________________   |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 10:22 AM
| #7 |
| Member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Louisville, KY
Posts: 82
| One other thing, NUMBERS, there were a heckuva lot of Mustangs flying around, with fairly well-trained pilots, while Germany's numbers of pilots, fuel, and aircraft were dwindling. I think it's a beautiful aircraft though, and it's still my favorite, but "facts is facts". |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 11:37 AM
| #8 |
| Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 64
| Years ago I was at the museum in Mesa, Arizona which had a collection of WWII fighters (These are now at the Museum of Flight in Seattle) which included an FW-190. One of the guides was taking a group of visitors through and he stated that some believe the FW-190 to have been the best fighter of the war. The quality of piloting was mentioned. It should be remembered that at the outbreak of WWII the P-40 and F4F Wildcat were the best fighters in the US arsenal at that time and were technically inferior to the Japanese Zero and yet these planes in the hands of skilled pilots held their own against the Zero.
__________________ "A squadron of Spitfires sir" - Adolf Galland's reply to Hermann Goering's inquiry as to his wishes during the Battle of Britain. |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 11:43 AM
| #9 | |
| Senior Member  Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon
Posts: 3,933
| Quote:
| |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 11:49 AM
| #10 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon
Posts: 3,933
| Quote:
The Fw190D was the first piston engine German fighter that legitimately was the equal (or better) of the P-51 B/C/D at all altitudes.. pilot skill and tactical advantage were keys in which one won a one on one fight. | |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 12:00 PM
| #11 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon
Posts: 3,933
| Quote:
The Germans were smart and tough - they did their best to attack when they were able to position for local air superiority... and we perhaps have exhausted this particular subject over that last four months in other threads. Regards, Bill | |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 12:01 PM
| #12 | |
| Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 64
| Quote:
If I'm not mistaken when the Museum is Mesa was dedicated among those present were Erich "Hartmann, Adolf Galland and Saburo Sakai, not sure about that though.
__________________ "A squadron of Spitfires sir" - Adolf Galland's reply to Hermann Goering's inquiry as to his wishes during the Battle of Britain. Last edited by Ghostdancer; 10-07-2007 at 12:04 PM. | |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 12:09 PM
| #13 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon
Posts: 3,933
| Quote:
| |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 12:13 PM
| #14 | |
| Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Lakeside, Arizona
Posts: 64
| Quote:
__________________ "A squadron of Spitfires sir" - Adolf Galland's reply to Hermann Goering's inquiry as to his wishes during the Battle of Britain. | |
|
| |
|
10-07-2007, 12:17 PM
| #15 | |
| Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon
Posts: 3,933
| Quote:
It was and helped shape my own thoughts about the big picture contribution of the Mustang over ETO. Galland and Rall were very helpful in my research and Ray Toliver was key in making the introductions. | |
|
| |
 |
| Thread Tools | |
| Display Modes | |
| |
Linear Mode
