MOST OVERRATED AIRCRAFT OF WWII

[plan_D]

I cannot see how anyone could consider the Spitfire over-rated. After all it's only reputation beyond the Battle of Britain is that it was a magnificant plane to fly and a brutal challenge for any who opposed it, not to mention it's wonderful looks.
I also fail to see how the Spitfire became unworthy of respect 'out of it's cave'. It performed fighter sweeps over the channel throughout the entirety of the war. If these sweeps had continually been a failure, the Fighter Command would have halted them to avoid losing much needed aircraft for the defence of Britain.

The Spitfire continued through the war, escorting bombers over the channel (which was still hot with the Luftwaffe right up until around '44), performed fighter sweeps over France, covered the D-Day landings, flew over Africa, flew over the CBI, covered both landings on Italy, was in the RAF, RAAF, RNZAF, VVS, USAAF and FAA. For an aircraft designed for intercept duties, never intended to go far reaching out of British airspace it performed remarkably well throughout the war. The Luftwaffe certainly did not enjoy it's presence in any engagement.

In the Battle of Britain I will agree the Spitfire is given too much glory. The Hurricane deserves the most, but never all as the Spitfire did perform there too. The Spitfire was hitting them hard and fast, just as the Hurricane was.

[Nonskimmer]

I just can't believe you left out the RCAF.
What is this wacky world coming to?

[plan_D]

Sorry. It served with the RCAF (I put it first, just for you), RNZAF, RAAF, RAF, VVS, USAAF and FAA. Really though, do we care about Canada? I mean, seriously.

[Nonskimmer]

That hurt, it really did.
Ah well.

[plan_D]

Are you going to need counselling, NS?

[Nonskimmer]

Perhaps.
Maybe next week, I'm feelin' kinda lazy right now.

[plan_D]

You DO know they let you sit down, right?

[Gemhorse]

At last !...a strong clear voice rises above the muttering....and thank you for putting 'RNZAF' second....The highest scoring RAF pilot was Canadian, and I believe his successful mount was the Mk.IX Spitfire....

But I agree with all you've said plan_D, although I believe it was more a case of the Hurricane not being fully appreciated and acknowledged, like with all the glory bestowed on the Spit....It really was a better weapon's platform too, and I can't understand why they didn't improve on it more; perhaps Hawker's efforts all went into the Typhoons etc., afterward, also
another aircraft that deserved 'glory'....

Also, on this topic generally, there is a difference between ''overrated'' and ''outclassed'', which occurred to aircraft such as the Zero....

Interestingly, the Zero and Hurricane were of a kind really, both into it early as interceptors, but the Hurricane's range of duties-performed was much wider, geographically, and from the first to carry RP's, to having 2x 40mm's underwing....She was also the first British NF......She was definately ''overshadowed'' by the Spitfire....not as fast.....but far more versatile.

Speaking of armour, the Hs-129 also carried plenty, but although it had success against Soviet tanks, from the start of 'Operation Bagration', late June 1944, what followed was a huge defeat of the German Forces, the Hs-129 was seriously in decline....It was only good for 200-250 mph, so it was at the mercy of any interceptors and although heavily-armed and armoured, it was mostly AA fire that was their undoing....So how would you classify this ? - 'overrated or out-classed ?'.....

So just outa interests sake, how would the 'Buffalo' be categorised here ?

[delcyros]

Just keep design strategies in mind. Hs-129, Ju-87 and IL-2 are designed for the ground attack role, only. Tactics require air superiority or a sudden strike. For that aim they are pretty planes, no other allied plane has nearly the records of IL-2 as well as no axis plane contributed that much to ground operations as the Ju-87. Without fighter cover, these planes are easy prey, no doubt. Bu if they can move freely, they are able to wreak havoc under their targets in uncomparable quality.
I still stay for the Me-262, altough I like all ww2 jets, it seems to be overrated in many books ("..could have changed the outcome and such things...nonsense!).
Not intending to denie it was a good plane

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yeah there was no way, even if the -262 was around at the start of '44, it would have made a difference to the war for the germans, the way i see it only the Fw-190 could have saved the germans, the A to take out the bombers, the D to deal with the fighters............

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

And that is what I am getting at. Udet claims the Stuka was the greatest but the Il-2 was complete crap. I am not a Il-2 fan and I think the Il-2 was overated however just as much as the Stuka. The Stuka was just as much of a sitting duck as the Il-2. I dont understand how you can not see the Udet.

Udet you also claim the Spit was overated however if you are going to claim this then you have to realize the 109 was just as overated and I would not put the 109 in the overated catagory and neither would I put the Spitfire in this cattagory. Both were great planes and did a great job.

I will concede now on the Zero and will rather classify it as outclassed and not overated.

However the Stuka was deffinatly overated. It did a great job in the beginning but just like the Il-2, Udet it was a sittind duck and an easy target.

[Kongo Otto]

Most overrated WW2 airplanes:
Brewster Buffalo
Fairey Battle
Boulton-Paul Defiant
Vultee Vengeance
SBU-2 Vindicator
Blackburn Roc

[cheddar cheese]

OVERrated?

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yeah CC, you know, maybe we aren't giving the roc enough credit

[cheddar cheese]

No, Over rated means giving it too much credit