Best ETO fighter from 1939-1942

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

She was a good multi role aircraft.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and suprisingly manouverable.........

[HealzDevo]

Supermarine Spitfire. Could successfully go head to head with the Bf-109E/F and the Fw-190A. The P-38 Lightning wasn't around until 1943 wasn't it?

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

The P-38 Lightning was in the ETO/MTO from the beginning of the US entry into the War I believe.

[CurzonDax]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

The P-38 Lightning was in the ETO/MTO from the beginning of the US entry into the War I believe.

Wow with the Lightning in the Great War even the Red Baron would have been easy pickings. And who said we didn't have good planes in that one! (Just kidding with ya dude!)

;{)

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by CurzonDax

Wow with the Lightning in the Great War even the Red Baron would have been easy pickings. And who said we didn't have good planes in that one! (Just kidding with ya dude!)

;{)

LOL Wow I wish I had cought that before you did. Ohwell it is a good laugh hell I laughed at it.

[CurzonDax]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

The P-38 Lightning was in the ETO/MTO from the beginning of the US entry into the War II believe.

This is true, but if memory serves they first Lightning units in the ETO were the F-5 recon birds. I don't think they even flew CAP for Torch.

:{)

[evangilder]

P-38s were attacking enemy cargho aircraft during the North African battles. Here is some inffo from one of my articles on the P-38:

The 1st, 14th and 82nd Fighter Groups were transferred from England to the 12th Air Force in North Africa to support Operation Torch, the invasion of North Africa in October of 1942. While en route to Algeria, 2 German Ju-88 bombers were shot down by pilots of the 82nd FG over the Bay of Biscay.

The first combat in the North African campaign for the P-38 was on November 19, 1942. P-38Fs from the 1st fighter group escorted B-17s on a bombing mission to El Aouina airfield in Tunis. The P-38s did help to establish air superiority over North African skies, but the Lightning’s successes were mixed. On April 5, 1943, 31 enemy aircraft were downed by 26 P-38Fs from the 82nd FG, with the friendly losses at 6 lost. Due to the enemy tactics, the Lightnings were often forced to dogfight at 15,000 feet. In fighter engagements, the maneuverability was affected partly by the twin engines, partly by the wheel control instead of a stick. But it was highly effective against the bombers and it caused a great deal of destruction of the transports used to resupply Rommel. The transports were often attacked well out to sea, causing a complete loss of the aircraft, crew and supplies. This was one of the contributing factors to Rommel’s surrender in North Africa. During the North African campaign, 37 pilots of the 12th air force had become aces. Among these, Lt. WJ Sloan of the 82nd FG had 12 kills and Lt. HT Hanna of the 14th FG downed five Ju-87 bombers in one day on October 9, 1943 to become an “Ace in one day”.

The P-38F was the most common variant during the campaign in North Africa, but there were also a few G models as well.

The top ace of the MTO was a pilot of the 82nd FG, William “Dixie” Sloan. Most of his missions were escort duties for B-26 bombing runs. During these missions, he scored 12 aerial victories.

[CurzonDax]

I guess I should have been more specific, I meant the Torch landings. The landings were in October, the 1st and the 14th groups. If I remember correctly the CAPs for the landings themselves were fighters, Spits and P-40s from Gibraltar and F4Fs from carriers. In fact future Corsair ace Tommy Blackburn was shot down during Torch. Which also begs another question, the performance of Wildcat/Martlets against 109/FW-190/French Fighters.

:{)

[CurzonDax]

Sorry hit the submit button too early, the 1st and 14th airgroups did not get to Africa until November.

:{)

[evangilder]

Sorry, I misunderstood. I would have to look a bit at Torch to see what were the fighters used during the landing. But the list you have does seem correct, to my recollection.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Good info there.

[102first_hussars]

I didnt know people were still posting here. Funny this was the first thread people got pissed at me on

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

It is not hard to do....

[evangilder]

Just proves that it's not all about you.