What theatre would you fly? - Aircraft of World War II

Njaco · 06-22-2008, 08:46 PM

May be a stupid question bordering on "my favorite aircraft" but I was wondering which theatre or campaign you would fly. What aircraft would be your favorite in that theatre, which country would you fly for and, importantly, what would be the reason.

I probably would want to fly in North Africa, most likely for Germany with a Bf 109 or if I was lucky a Fw 190. I believe the North African campaign had a pure sense of dogfighting and aerial combat that came with it because of the terrain and the whole dynamics of the frontlines. Would have been interesting!

parsifal · 06-23-2008, 04:15 AM

What aircraft would be your favorite in that theatre, which country would you fly for and, importantly, what would be the reason.

Theatre: South Seas Detachment The Lae Wing
A/C: Zero
Country: Japan
Why: IMO these guys were the creme de la creme. They cant win the war, but they just flew rings around everyone for so long. The zero is not the biggest, or the best, by a long shot, but it was revolutionary for its time, and IMO was a real pilots plane

eddie_brunette · 06-23-2008, 05:16 AM

PTO: Hellcat
MTO: Bf109F or P38
ETO: DH96

KrazyKraut · 06-23-2008, 05:17 AM

I would fly a Piper Cub as an army US army airmail pilot. Reason: I like being alive

Vincenzo · 06-23-2008, 05:34 AM

MTO
SM 82 (bomber role)
why i like long and dangerous fly, in not a large formations

Wildcat · 06-23-2008, 05:40 AM

Theatre: New Guinea
A/C: Vultee Vengeance
Airforce: RAAF
Why: Mainly because I love the Vengeance plus I reckon rolling onto your back at 10 000ft and diving down to 1500ft before you commence your pull out whilst under enemy fire would make for some pretty exciting flying!

olbrat · 06-23-2008, 08:21 AM

I'd vote for the South Pacific (or the Caribean) in a PBY. Hopping from one beautiful island to another, diving or fishing from the blisters, sipping jungle juice on the beach... ha ha!

ToughOmbre · 06-23-2008, 09:00 AM

As aircrew.....

Putting aside the highest casualty rate for any American soldier in WW II, I would want to be a waist gunner in a "Fort" over "Festung Europa".

As a pilot.....

Flying a P-38 in the Pacific. I'd give Bong and McGuire a run for their money.

TO

renrich · 06-23-2008, 09:10 AM

I would choose being a member of VF17, the Jolly Rogers, flying F4U1As in the Solomon's in late 43. That Corsair has the raised canopy and seat and is debounced, VF17 is landbased(although they do land on a carrier, refuel and are launched in one battle) and they have a lot of success. A beautiful part of the world(from 10000 feet.)

Thorlifter · 06-23-2008, 09:17 AM

CBI - P-40
South Pacific - Corsair
ETO - P-38
Africa - Fw-190
Med - Me-109

Planes would change depending on the date we are talking about also, but here is a quick list.

drgondog · 06-23-2008, 09:49 AM

My first preference would be assigned as air attache in Brazil, second choice Mustangs in ETO. Probably want to fly in 357th FG rather than my father's 355th - primarily because the 355th was on the deck where a high scholl kid with a good eye could whack you with a 20mm far easier than a 109 or 190 (as long as you could see them).

Air attache duty - teach Brazilian pilots to fly and learn different cultural nuances from the distaff side.

Trebor · 06-23-2008, 10:18 AM

European theatre. flying P-51 escort for the 44th bomb group. that's all

AVRoe · 06-23-2008, 10:40 AM

Peter Pan, West end.

wilbur1 · 06-23-2008, 10:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Trebor

European theatre. flying P-51 escort for the 44th bomb group. that's all

Dang trebor you beat me to it

Lucky13 · 06-23-2008, 11:04 AM

I'd fly and fight in the Pacific. I'd fly Wildcat from USS Yorktown, from her first attacks on the Japanese to the battles of Coral Sea and Midway.
After being sunk in June of '42 and a short stint flying F4U Corsair, hopping from island to island, I'd be transferred to fly PBY Catalina with VP-33 flying night missions as Black Cats.....

06-22-2008, 08:46 PM	#1
Njaco The Pop-Tart Whisperer Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: South Jersey, United States Posts: 11,833	What theatre would you fly? May be a stupid question bordering on "my favorite aircraft" but I was wondering which theatre or campaign you would fly. What aircraft would be your favorite in that theatre, which country would you fly for and, importantly, what would be the reason. I probably would want to fly in North Africa, most likely for Germany with a Bf 109 or if I was lucky a Fw 190. I believe the North African campaign had a pure sense of dogfighting and aerial combat that came with it because of the terrain and the whole dynamics of the frontlines. Would have been interesting! __________________ "If you can read this, thank a teacher. If it's English, thank a soldier!" http://www.njcacoa.org/

06-23-2008, 04:15 AM	#2
parsifal Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 2,493	What aircraft would be your favorite in that theatre, which country would you fly for and, importantly, what would be the reason. Theatre: South Seas Detachment The Lae Wing A/C: Zero Country: Japan Why: IMO these guys were the creme de la creme. They cant win the war, but they just flew rings around everyone for so long. The zero is not the biggest, or the best, by a long shot, but it was revolutionary for its time, and IMO was a real pilots plane __________________ Do not judge on abilities, but on choices

06-23-2008, 05:34 AM	#5
Vincenzo Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Lazio Posts: 1,079	MTO SM 82 (bomber role) why i like long and dangerous fly, in not a large formations Last edited by Vincenzo; 06-23-2008 at 06:02 AM. Reason: the reason

06-23-2008, 05:40 AM	#6
Wildcat Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Queensland Posts: 4,765	Theatre: New Guinea A/C: Vultee Vengeance Airforce: RAAF Why: Mainly because I love the Vengeance plus I reckon rolling onto your back at 10 000ft and diving down to 1500ft before you commence your pull out whilst under enemy fire would make for some pretty exciting flying! __________________

06-23-2008, 09:00 AM	#8
ToughOmbre Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Jersey Shore Posts: 3,533	As aircrew..... Putting aside the highest casualty rate for any American soldier in WW II, I would want to be a waist gunner in a "Fort" over "Festung Europa". As a pilot..... Flying a P-38 in the Pacific. I'd give Bong and McGuire a run for their money. TO __________________ *“Let's get Enterprise* and Hornet turned into the wind."**

06-23-2008, 05:16 AM	#3
eddie_brunette Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Nelspruit, Mpumalanga Posts: 561	PTO: Hellcat MTO: Bf109F or P38 ETO: DH96

06-23-2008, 05:17 AM	#4
KrazyKraut Banned Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 339	I would fly a Piper Cub as an army US army airmail pilot. Reason: I like being alive

06-23-2008, 08:21 AM	#7
olbrat Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 61	I'd vote for the South Pacific (or the Caribean) in a PBY. Hopping from one beautiful island to another, diving or fishing from the blisters, sipping jungle juice on the beach... ha ha!

06-23-2008, 09:10 AM	#9
renrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado Posts: 3,525	I would choose being a member of VF17, the Jolly Rogers, flying F4U1As in the Solomon's in late 43. That Corsair has the raised canopy and seat and is debounced, VF17 is landbased(although they do land on a carrier, refuel and are launched in one battle) and they have a lot of success. A beautiful part of the world(from 10000 feet.)

06-23-2008, 09:17 AM	#10
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,729	CBI - P-40 South Pacific - Corsair ETO - P-38 Africa - Fw-190 Med - Me-109 Planes would change depending on the date we are talking about also, but here is a quick list. __________________

06-23-2008, 09:49 AM	#11
drgondog Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: oregon Posts: 4,198	My first preference would be assigned as air attache in Brazil, second choice Mustangs in ETO. Probably want to fly in 357th FG rather than my father's 355th - primarily because the 355th was on the deck where a high scholl kid with a good eye could whack you with a 20mm far easier than a 109 or 190 (as long as you could see them). Air attache duty - teach Brazilian pilots to fly and learn different cultural nuances from the distaff side. Last edited by drgondog; 06-23-2008 at 09:55 AM.

06-23-2008, 10:18 AM	#12
Trebor Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Posts: 1,296	European theatre. flying P-51 escort for the 44th bomb group. that's all __________________ THANKS NJACO FOR THE SIG PIC!! Southern Comfort III of the 8th Air Force, 44th Bombardment Group. Captain George R. Insley (pilot) commanding, Rudolph Jandreau Engineer/top turret gunner

06-23-2008, 10:40 AM	#13
AVRoe Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Herrsching,near München Posts: 208	Peter Pan, West end. __________________ We shall show mercy, but we shall not ask for it. Sir Winston Churchill 1940

06-23-2008, 11:04 AM	#15
Lucky13 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: A Swede living in Glasgow, Scotland Posts: 17,331	I'd fly and fight in the Pacific. I'd fly Wildcat from USS Yorktown, from her first attacks on the Japanese to the battles of Coral Sea and Midway. After being sunk in June of '42 and a short stint flying F4U Corsair, hopping from island to island, I'd be transferred to fly PBY Catalina with VP-33 flying night missions as Black Cats..... __________________ JAN "Felicis Tredecim" "I´m going back to the front to relax" "THE BLACK CATS FLIES TONIGHT" "Find your enemy and shoot him down - everything else is unimportant!" "When you're out of F-8's... You're out of fighters!"

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