The Best Biplane Fighter of WW2

[the lancaster kicks ass]

I never did..........

[ROSE]

I WOULD DEFINETLY HAVE TO SAY THE GLADIATOR .

[toffigd]

no - too weak armament - only 7,7mm

[HealzDevo]

I would have to say the Polikarpov I-153 is the best biplane fighter. During WW2 Goering actually made an order to Luftwaffe Pilots to stay away as the Germans were losing too many aircraft to this biplane fighter. In Russia it was very fast and powerful. I am surprised you are considering the Gladiator and the CR-42 which didn't really last that long. In mainline service the Gladiator was gone by WW2, and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.

[mosquitoman]

It hink the problem is that comparitively, not much is known about Russian aircraft compared to say, the RAF or 8th AF aircraft

[cheddar cheese]

and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.

Except the Fiat G.50 and Macchi MC.200... The CR.42 was a great biplane.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

I would have to say the Polikarpov I-153 is the best biplane fighter. During WW2 Goering actually made an order to Luftwaffe Pilots to stay away as the Germans were losing too many aircraft to this biplane fighter. In Russia it was very fast and powerful. I am surprised you are considering the Gladiator and the CR-42 which didn't really last that long. In mainline service the Gladiator was gone by WW2, and the Italians really didn't have too much better than the CR-42 to replace it with.

you obviously haven't met my patriotic side

[cheddar cheese]

To say that means he hasnt met you at all, as your patriotic side is your only side

[Bushranger]

CR 42 gets my vote

Mainly because of the better engine than the Gladiator, the better armament, and the manouverability

The famous test-pilot Captain Eric M. Brown, RN, had an opportunity to fly the captured CR.42 MM5701, which was captured after a forced-landing in the later stages of Battle of Britain. He reported that the aircraft was an aerobatic gem. It was remarkably fast for a biplane with a top speed of 270 mph at 12,400 ft and a marginal stability, the hallmark of a good fighter. The CR.42 was a superb biplane that gave an outstanding performance for its type, but as a fighter it was under-gunned. Though highly manoeuvrable, like all aircraft with a lot of fabric covering it was very vulnerable to enemy fire.

On the Gladiator:

Burges saw nine bombers turning in a wide circle south of the island, obviously preparing to head back to Sicily. Cutting across the circle, he and one of the other pilots (probably Squadron Leader A. C. Martin) gave chase, and he was able to fire most of his ammunition at one bomber without apparent result. These were some of 34o Stormo BT S.79s which had hit Hal Far, and the crews reported that the Gladiators fired from long range. One S.79 piloted by Capitano Rosario Di Blasi from 52o Gruppo was hit in the fuselage.
Five hours later a lone S.79 was sent out by the 34o Stormo to reconnoitre the result of the raid. Again Gladiators were scrambled. This time two went up to intercept. Flying Officer John Waters in N5520 got within range and opened fire. He believed that he had shot down the Italian machine, but in fact it was merely driven away, making for Sicily without being able to complete its mission.
At 19.25 the eight and final raid came in and the Gladiators were scrambled. Flying Officer ’Timber’ Woods first attacked two different S.79s without apparent result before being attacked by an escorting MC.200 from 79a Squadriglia flown by Tenente Giuseppe Pesola who blasted off 125 rounds at him without result. Woods immediately went into a steep left-hand turn. He circled with the enemy fighter for three minutes before he got it in his sight. He got in a good burst with full deflection. The Italian fighter went down in a step dive with black smoke pouring from his tail. He couldn’t follow it but he taught it went into the sea. Woods was subsequently credited with an unconfirmed victory as the first victory for the defenders of Malta. In fact Pesola’s aircraft hadn’t even been seriously damaged. Evasive action and the black exhaust smoke from the hastily opened throttle had obviously misled Woods.

[plan_D]

That's kind of bias. Refering to the lack of armament on the Gladiator while in the previous quote it clearly states the Cr.42 lacks decent offensive armament for a fighter.

Then, this is best Bi-Plane and lets face it...they were all poor.

[cheddar cheese]

Well, the Gladiator had 4 x .303 and the CR.42 had 2x 12.7mm. PErhaps the Gladiator has a slight edge there but then again 12.7mm's are gonna do more damage than 7.62mm's, so I dont know. I still maintain the CR.42 was better though.

[plan_D]

They both lacked effective armament. There's really no point in comparing because both armaments were unlikely to bring down an aircraft without lucky hits or perfect aim.

[FLYBOYJ]

Then, this is best Bi-Plane and lets face it...they were all poor.

I think what's being shown here is the obsolescence of these aircraft during WW2 when compared to other contemporary fighters of the day. All these bi planes were highly maneuverable "delightful to fly" etc. but what good is that maneuverability when a 109 or a Spitfire could just accelerate away and come back and blast you out of the sky while you're performing those slick little aerobatic maneuvers?

These aircraft were conceived with conservative WW1 thinking, the twilight of the day when you could get away with performing slick aerobatics during aerial combat in limited numbers. And don't forget the light armament, that was considered heavy a decade earlier.

[Bushranger]

You have a point concerning the weak armament on the Cr 42 plan_d, but also read what it says concerning the Gladiator. It says a couple of times about how the Glads poured shots into the bombers/fighters without effect. I've read reports on the Cr 42's of the CAI in combat with Hurri's. A couple of Hurricanes were forced away by bullet holes in the fuel tanks, controls etc. The Falco's still lost the engagement, but that's to be expected.

How abou the best biplane bomber? I'm thinkin Swordfish

[plan_D]

Both the Cr.42 and Glad's armament were weak, not nearly powerful enough for a modern engagment. The Falco's strikes to the Hurri's fuel tanks would be lucky but there's more chance of actually making a strike against a vital area if you're throwing more lead hot, which the Glad did.