 | Most effective planes of the early war years| Aviation Discuss Most effective planes of the early war years in the World War II - Aviation forums; Hmmm....
The first Spitfire proto flew in March 1936, but the first operational Spitfire with 8x .303's reached #19 ... |
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06-06-2005, 09:55 PM
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#46 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
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Country:  | Hmmm....
The first Spitfire proto flew in March 1936, but the first operational Spitfire with 8x .303's reached #19 Squadron RAF at Duxford in August 1938... When war broke out there were 306 MkI's in service... By Sept 1939 there were 11 Squadrons.... Over 10% of the 306 aircraft had been lost to accidents....
The first action for the Spitfire was on Oct 16th 1939, when #602 and 603 engaged Luftwaffe Bombers off of Scotland...
19 Squadrons used Spits by 1940, with a third of these being lost while covering the withdrawl at Dunkirk...
I see now with some research that the Spit really wasnt designed to combat the -109...
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06-06-2005, 10:10 PM
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#47 | | Member
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Country: | I might be called crazy but I think that few aeroplanes accomplished what the Swordfish did in Taranto early in the war. Except maybe what the Stuka did in Poland. It has to be remembered that the both the Stuka and the Swordfish pilots met up against very light resistance from aircraft though.
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06-06-2005, 10:22 PM
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#48 | | Minister of Whoopass
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It has to be remembered that the both the Stuka and the Swordfish pilots met up against very light resistance from aircraft though.
| And when they did, it was a quick victory for either fighter pilot... Quote: |
Except maybe what the Stuka did in Poland.
| I agree 100%... The Stuka, as has been stated on the first page, is definatly the winner of this poll for me...
__________________ "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
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06-06-2005, 10:41 PM
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#49 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2004
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Country:  | The Stuka gets a lot of credit for the Blitzkrieg, it didn't carry it though. A line from Hitler after viewing a wrecked Polish artillery battery; "Did our Stukas do that?", Guderian replies "No, our panzers"...Hitler was shocked by that reply.
What I'm saying is, for the whole picture, don't just come to the conclusion that the Stuka cut a clear path for the German ground forces to advance.
It certainly was the most effective bomber of the early war years, it says something when Stukas attacked a French artillery battery by the River Meuse, covering Sedan, and they didn't destroy many guns but the fear alone made the artillery gunners never return...or maybe it was just because they were French...  
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004  To those in that club. | |
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06-06-2005, 11:06 PM
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#50 | | Member
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Country: | Quote: |
or maybe it was just because they were French...
| Oui Oui, or should I say, es muy verdad, or maybe, You got that right, mate!
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06-06-2005, 11:08 PM
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#51 | | Member
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Country: | Anyone have any kudos for the P-40?
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06-06-2005, 11:20 PM
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#52 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
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Country: | No..
__________________ "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
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06-06-2005, 11:40 PM
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#53 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: UK
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Country:  | I agree the Stringbag was easy meat when it was faced with fighters. it on ocassion got lucky out manouvering the enemy but you are quite right guys, although not as effective as the Stuka at dive bombing the Swordfish was suprisingly adept in this roll as well as its many others.
I have not got info of the exact angles of dive but the standard attack was for the pilot to stand on the rudder bar when diving and look over the top wing to see the target so googles and a helmet where vital bits of kit as the pilots bonce was in the slip stream it must have been pretty steep. Pull out was begun at around 500ft. Having said that it must have been the slowest dive bomber in the war as if the airspeed exceeded 200knots there was a distinct possibillity of folding the wings. | |
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06-07-2005, 02:01 AM
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#54 | | Senior Member
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| As far as I ama ware only a fw PR Spitfires felw in france. The normal fighters didn't.
I am interested on what peoples views are re twin engined fighters.
Three that come to mind are the 110, Fokker G1 and the Potez 63 | |
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06-07-2005, 06:50 AM
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#55 | | Senior Member
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Country: | The 110 was rubbish but from what I've read the Fokker wasn't too bad. Neither was the Whirlwind
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06-07-2005, 06:56 AM
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#56 | | Minister of Whoopass
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Country: | Yes Glider, it seems that the Spit was held back from France for security issues... Air Chief Marshall Dowdings reluctance to send them to France probably saved the BoB........ 19 Squadrons instead of 10 woulda been the difference...
__________________ "Boyington was a Drunk, but He was a Drunk We'd Follow Straight Into Hell..."
-- Lt. William Northrop Case | |
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06-07-2005, 07:08 AM
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#57 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: London
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| To be honest I thought that the 110 did rather well in France. It was faster than any other fighter, better armed than any other fighter and had a decent range. Granted it came unstuck in the BOB but in France, Poland and Norway it may have been different.
Any views anyone?
Les I like the combat film. He may have got away with it if he hadn't reversed the turn. | |
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06-07-2005, 10:32 AM
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#58 | | Konfused with a 'K'
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Country:  | Stupid RLM...they should have taken on the Fw-187, not the Me-110. The -187 was a much, much better plane.
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06-07-2005, 12:47 PM
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#59 | | Senior Member
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Country: | The RAF lost over half it's strength in the Battle of France. A few Spitfires were sent across the Channel to cover the Dunkirk evacuation but none were ever stationed in France until '44.
Since this thread is up to Dunkirk and most effective we can't count the Spitfire. I've already agreed that the Bf-109 was the most effective fighter up to Dunkirk though.
The Bf-110 did well against Air Forces that had weak aircraft and poor tactics. Once it met the RAF in full force the escort fighter needed it's own escort!
__________________ "When you go home tomorrow, don't expect anyone to know what you have been through. Even if they did know, most people probably wouldn't care anyway. Some of you may get the medals you deserve, many more of you will not. But remember this, all of you are now members of the front-line club, and that is the most exclusive club in the world." - Lt. Col. Matthew Maer CO 1st Battalion, the Princess of Wale's Royal Regiment. Camp Abu Naji, Oct. 2004 To those in that club. | |
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06-07-2005, 01:26 PM
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#60 | | Minister of Whoopass
Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Long Island Native in Mississippi
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The Bf-110 did well against Air Forces that had weak aircraft and poor tactics. Once it met the RAF in full force the escort fighter needed it's own escort!
| Hehe.......
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-- Lt. William Northrop Case | |
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