Worst aircraft of WW2? - Page 44 - Aircraft of World War II

riseofnations · 01-29-2007, 04:44 AM

i think it might of been the Heinkel 177 Griffon or something that had a habit of falling out of the sky or catching fire. Hitler once called it a piece of crap. Of course some of the italian planes were pretty bad too.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 01-29-2007, 12:21 PM

He He-177 definatly was a piece...

The coupled engines is what ruined an otherwise good design.

koivis · 01-30-2007, 01:57 AM

If you had asked my half-sister's grandfather about which was the worst aircraft of WW2, he never would have mentioned the Brewster B-239 Buffalo. His name was Hans Henrik "Hasse" Wind, and he scored a total of 75 air-to-air kills, of which 31 flying THE ONE AND THE SAME BUFFALO, BW-363. The total kill tally for that single aeroplane was 41.

SO STOP CLAIMING THAT BUFFALO WAS THE WORST!
It simply wasn't. It may have been "obsolete" but many, many GREAT aircraft became obsolete during the war. For example:
Vickers Wellington, maybe the best armed medium bomber at start of the war, totally obsolete as bomber by 1943
Bristol Blenheim, fastest bomber in the world between 1937-1939, totally obsolete as bomber by 1943
Hawker Hurricane, the hero of BoB, TOTALLY obsolete in A-to-A role by 1944
etc etc

If some of you say Buffalo was the worst, why not say Fokker D.XXI? A bit over 400 kph top speed, 4 x .303 armament? BECAUSE it was just obsolete by WWII! It's that simple.

FLYBOYJ · 01-30-2007, 08:37 AM

Well put!!! Keep in mind the B-239s used by Finland were a lot lighter than the ones used by the US Marines at Midway, but your point is well taken...

the lancaster kicks ass · 01-31-2007, 01:02 PM

and it is one which have have made several times over, but for the new guys that come along ever so often and for some reason all pick the buffallo

i believe "aircraft" like the Ba-88 are more deserving.........

FLYBOYJ · 01-31-2007, 01:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

and it is one which have have made several times over, but for the new guys that come along ever so often and for some reason all pick the buffallo

i believe "aircraft" like the Ba-88 are more deserving.........

Agree...

Gnomey · 01-31-2007, 01:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

and it is one which have have made several times over, but for the new guys that come along ever so often and for some reason all pick the buffallo

i believe "aircraft" like the Ba-88 are more deserving.........

Agreed as well, it is similar to the way everyone picks the P-51 for best fighter...

the lancaster kicks ass · 01-31-2007, 01:31 PM

even some Brits do that, although quite rightly many do pick the spitfire.......

Civettone · 02-07-2007, 05:26 PM

A logical question is always: "was the aircraft a bad design or were the requirements along which it was designed, wrong?"

Such an attitude gives a more correct view on aircraft like the Heinkel He 177 or Breda Ba.65. The latter was a light bomber in the same category as the Sukhoi Su-2 or Fairey Battle (and in a way as the Stuka). Although they are classical examples of 'bad aircraft' I believe it would be closer to the truth to state that the 'light bomber' concept was outdated.

For the Ba.88 however, there are hardly any excuses

Kris

timshatz · 02-07-2007, 05:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ

Well put!!! Keep in mind the B-239s used by Finland were a lot lighter than the ones used by the US Marines at Midway, but your point is well taken...

And the Fins were up against an enemy without the experience or refined doctine of the Marines at Midway. The Japanese pilots were amongst the best in the world at that point. The Marines were barely out of training. Put it all together and you have the makings for the slaughter that ensued.

Biplane pilot · 02-11-2007, 08:06 PM

I've not gone thru all 43 pages of this thread but want to point out something about the Devastator. According to Osprey's combat aircraft series on the TBD, it had no losses to Japanese fighters OR flak until Midway. that's six months of combat without any losses in flight. Midway of course was a disaster, but it wasn't a pointless mission either. The TBDs brought the enemy CAP down to wavetop level so the SBDs could deliver the punch.

I've known a couple of TBD pilots and they liked the airplane. Wanted more power, but that's not unusual.

bigZ · 02-11-2007, 08:41 PM

Any mention of the Bachem Natter or the Ohka yet?

Heinz · 02-12-2007, 12:20 AM

Avro Manchester was pretty woeful.

Its engines were its downfall.

FLYBOYJ · 02-12-2007, 12:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bigZ

Any mention of the Bachem Natter or the Ohka yet?

They were mentioned earlier.

The Natter never saw service and the only major strike using Ohkas was intercepted by Hellcats, most of the Betty mother ships jettisoned their loads to evade destruction.

If I remember there were at least 2 successful Ohka attacks, one of them sank a USN destroyer - the Ohka cut it in half!

FLYBOYJ · 02-12-2007, 01:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Biplane pilot

I've not gone thru all 43 pages of this thread but want to point out something about the Devastator. According to Osprey's combat aircraft series on the TBD, it had no losses to Japanese fighters OR flak until Midway. that's six months of combat without any losses in flight. Midway of course was a disaster, but it wasn't a pointless mission either. The TBDs brought the enemy CAP down to wavetop level so the SBDs could deliver the punch.

I've known a couple of TBD pilots and they liked the airplane. Wanted more power, but that's not unusual.

I do believe some were lost at Coral Sea. They did help sink one Japanese carrier.

01-29-2007, 04:44 AM	#646
riseofnations Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 10	i think it might of been the Heinkel 177 Griffon or something that had a habit of falling out of the sky or catching fire. Hitler once called it a piece of crap. Of course some of the italian planes were pretty bad too. __________________ www.famousconflicts.com

01-29-2007, 12:21 PM	#647
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,150	He He-177 definatly was a piece... The coupled engines is what ruined an otherwise good design. __________________ 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]

01-30-2007, 08:37 AM	#649
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,049	Well put!!! Keep in mind the B-239s used by Finland were a lot lighter than the ones used by the US Marines at Midway, but your point is well taken... __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

01-31-2007, 01:02 PM	#650
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	and it is one which have have made several times over, but for the new guys that come along ever so often and for some reason all pick the buffallo i believe "aircraft" like the Ba-88 are more deserving......... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

01-31-2007, 01:31 PM	#653
the lancaster kicks ass Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 19,945	even some Brits do that, although quite rightly many do pick the spitfire....... __________________ "Reminds me of the time I sank the Tirpitz" comments a Spitfire pilot, "One pass of course, old boy."

01-30-2007, 01:57 AM	#648
koivis Junior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 12	If you had asked my half-sister's grandfather about which was the worst aircraft of WW2, he never would have mentioned the Brewster B-239 Buffalo. His name was Hans Henrik "Hasse" Wind, and he scored a total of 75 air-to-air kills, of which 31 flying THE ONE AND THE SAME BUFFALO, BW-363. The total kill tally for that single aeroplane was 41. SO STOP CLAIMING THAT BUFFALO WAS THE WORST! It simply wasn't. It may have been "obsolete" but many, many GREAT aircraft became obsolete during the war. For example: Vickers Wellington, maybe the best armed medium bomber at start of the war, totally obsolete as bomber by 1943 Bristol Blenheim, fastest bomber in the world between 1937-1939, totally obsolete as bomber by 1943 Hawker Hurricane, the hero of BoB, TOTALLY obsolete in A-to-A role by 1944 etc etc If some of you say Buffalo was the worst, why not say Fokker D.XXI? A bit over 400 kph top speed, 4 x .303 armament? BECAUSE it was just obsolete by WWII! It's that simple.

02-07-2007, 05:26 PM	#654
Civettone Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Limburg Posts: 1,219	A logical question is always: "was the aircraft a bad design or were the requirements along which it was designed, wrong?" Such an attitude gives a more correct view on aircraft like the Heinkel He 177 or Breda Ba.65. The latter was a light bomber in the same category as the Sukhoi Su-2 or Fairey Battle (and in a way as the Stuka). Although they are classical examples of 'bad aircraft' I believe it would be closer to the truth to state that the 'light bomber' concept was outdated. For the Ba.88 however, there are hardly any excuses Kris

02-11-2007, 08:06 PM	#656
Biplane pilot Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Western USA Posts: 4	I've not gone thru all 43 pages of this thread but want to point out something about the Devastator. According to Osprey's combat aircraft series on the TBD, it had no losses to Japanese fighters OR flak until Midway. that's six months of combat without any losses in flight. Midway of course was a disaster, but it wasn't a pointless mission either. The TBDs brought the enemy CAP down to wavetop level so the SBDs could deliver the punch. I've known a couple of TBD pilots and they liked the airplane. Wanted more power, but that's not unusual.

02-11-2007, 08:41 PM	#657
bigZ Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 558	Any mention of the Bachem Natter or the Ohka yet? __________________ Lord Flasheart: [about planes] Always treat your kite like you treat your woman. Lieutenant George: How do you mean, sir? Do you mean, take her home at the week-end to meet your mother? Lord Flasheart: No! I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back! Captain Blackadder: I'm beginning to see why the suffragette movement are wanting the vote. Lord Flasheart: Hey, hey! Any girl who wants to chain herself to my railings and suffer a jet movement gets my vote!

02-12-2007, 12:20 AM	#658
Heinz Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Melbourne, Victoria Posts: 6,716	Avro Manchester was pretty woeful. Its engines were its downfall.

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