Greatest Fighter Aircraft of All Time

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and you get the sound of FOUR merlins with the lanc, plus she has long range- thus she must be the greatest fighter of all time!

[Gnomey]

Originally Posted by the lancaster kicks ass

and you get the sound of FOUR merlins with the lanc, plus she has long range- thus she must be the greatest fighter of all time!

Interesting logic Lanc. That was one problem with most fighters of the time. The only ones that really had the range (and good still fight) were the P-47, P-51 and P-38. The Spifire as a interceptor was almost second to none and range isn't a big factor (despite this the range of the Spitfire was increased throughout it's lifetime).

[cheddar cheese]

Originally Posted by syscom3

The Spitfire's notoriously short range means its relegated to the "also ran" catagory.

I dont see why...calling the SPitfire an also-ran is extremely naive. Its an interceptor, for home defense, not for escorting bombers into Germany.

I also consider the Spitfire the greatest fighter of the war, but Id have a P-38, Fw-190 or 5-serie Italian fighter anyday.

[syscom3]

Its what you do on offense is what wins wars.

If you want a point defense bomber interceptor, the P38 and F4U could fill that role with ease.

If you want a point defense interceptor to go after fighters, the P38 and F4U also could fill that role with ease.

[wmaxt]

Originally Posted by syscom3

Its what you do on offense is what wins wars.

If you want a point defense bomber interceptor, the P38 and F4U could fill that role with ease.

If you want a point defense interceptor to go after fighters, the P38 and F4U also could fill that role with ease.

AND
If you want an escort that can go the distance the P-38 will do it.

If you want to drop 4,000lbs bombs 500mi from base anf fight its way out the P-38 will do it or 2,000lbs to 800+mi anfd fight their way home again its the P-38.

If your fighting over water the P-38 has an extra engine to get you home Or the F4U can just land on a carrier.

wmaxt

[syscom3]

Exactly. The Spitfire was a remarkable aircraft for the first part of the war. But when it was time to take the fight to the axis powers, the P38, P51 and F4U filled the role.

[plan_D]

Are you saying the Spitfire didn't take much of a role after 1940? Or that it even saw any axis aircraft?

The Spitfire took the fight to the axis throughout the war. In every theatre of war from the Asian Steppes to Burma, from North Africa to Great Britain the Spitfire fought every single Axis nation with great distinction.

[syscom3]

The Spitfires claim to glory rapidly faded from the scene towards the end of 1943. After the P38's were flying their missions, and the P47's got their long range drop tanks, the fight was brought into the Reich. At that point, the Spitfire role was more or less "sloppy seconds".

When the P51's were deployed in quantity, the role for the Spit was pushed aside even further.

In the PTO (including the CBI), it was a marginal player. The extra long ranges precluded its use for any lasting effect.

I will say it was the greatest fighter up to middle 1943. After that, it was far from it.

[pbfoot]

well syscom i wish you better luck in this discussion then your one on the B24

[syscom3]

Well, tell me how many Spitfire sorties there were over Germany in 1944?

How many Spitfire sorties in the PTO between New Guinie and Rabaul?

How many Spitfire kills were there of the Luftwaffe in 1944 and 1945?

Like I said, an excellent plane whos time came and went when the long range fighters took to the air.

Plus I more than proved my point about the B24. Still tied with the Lanc for 2nd best.

[pbfoot]

how many P51 38 and 47s were scrambled or flew Cap to cover the build up of Overlord forces from 42 to 44 ? how many took part in the largest air battle in the west at Dieppe? Each one of the fighters in this discussion was was a great fighter but in all reality the Luftwaffe in 44/45 was spent force the glory days of the Luftwaffe were over and had been since the end of 43 not to knock the tenacity and courage of any of the pilots

[syscom3]

The Luftwaffe was eliminated as a force by the P38/P47/P51.

And the only reason the Spitfire had the CAP over England was it couldnt do anything else.

Range means a lot and when you cant fly to where the fight is, then youre not contributing much.

[plan_D]

If the Spitfire didn't have the range to engage the Luftwaffe? How were the Luftwaffe encountering Spitfires? Must have been some kind of ...well, I just don't know what. All those reports of Spitfire encounters must have been against Mustangs and Lightnings. All those Spitfire VIIIs over Burma couldn't have been there, it's just not true. Those Spitfire Vs and IXs flying over Russia must have just been made up. The Spitfire XIVs that the Luftwaffe hated, must have just been Western propaganda 'cos it could have NEVER engaged the Luftwaffe.

And what about North Africa and Italy? And don't tell me the Spitfire took the most pictures of Europe ... because that's just a big lie too.

[pbfoot]

If push came to shove I would say the luftwaffe was probably more abused on the Eastern front then on the Western front maybe the fact the Luftwaffe was not present on the Channel or North Sea is a statement about the prowess of the guys who flew the Spits and how many stragglers of the daylight raids were saved by the Spits yes range means a lot and the guys who escorted the B17s til Sept/Oct 43 to the German border probably wish they could have gone further but please don't mock their contribution as little

[plan_D]

There were Spitfires flying over Germany! And there were Spitfires flying in the VVS. The Soviet Union were practically begging for the Spitfire IX to protect Moscow.