Best Jet of WW2?

[Erich]

Guten Abend.

many thanks is the translation. there is a group of US vets that meets at Chino annually. One of the largest groups is the all black Tuskegee airmen of the 15th US air force. Great guys I would love to meet.
Call up the Chino airport for dates and times. Gnerally at least once a year there is a meeting of US veterans/ air force in northern California and also in southern California. Will have to look for the information but I do think there is a web site associated with web-birds.com

could be wrong on that

[plan_D]

As long as the German stays simple, I'll be able to understand as well. I've written off to the RAF records on the operational history of my Great-Uncle, he is still alive but I don't know where he is. None of my family does because they never used to get along, typical. Anyway, thankfully my Grandmother had his service number, with my Grandads.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i don't suppose anyone knows of any veterans in the south west of england??

[Huckebein]

Hmm, a bit late, I am. I went for the Arado - the most successful of all the types up there in its intended role - it was all but invulnerable on operations. By way of comparison the Meteor only really proved much use as a V1 catcher (until the F.III very late on), and the '262 had a very stop-start career, sometimes savaging American raiding forces, sometimes being knocked out without landing a blow themselves.

[cheddar cheese]

yes! screw you lanc, the meteor is down in 3rd where it should be

[the lancaster kicks ass]

I went for the Arado - the most successful of all the types up there in its intended role

it was designed as a bomber but it was pretty crap at it, it made a better recon plane...................

[Lightning Guy]

I believe the 262 was considerably more successful than the Arado in it's intended role. For that matter, the 262 was probably a better bomber than the Arado.

[Huckebein]

I don't think the Arado was crap as a bomber at all! It was used more often as a recce plane because it was the only type that could get through and take the photos. When they were occasionally used as bombers they did as well as could be expected under the circumstances they were forced to fly in. In fact small groups of Arado 234s in service with KG76 were flying small, 6-8 aircraft raids on areas such as railyards and factory facilities as early as 23rd December 1944, and were achieving what would have been, in any other circumstances, notable results, with the only loss in the first spate of attacks being one Arado forced to crash land at its base due to damage done by a Tempest in a fleeting head-on attack.
The Me 262A-2 Sturmvogel was notoriously useless and innaccurate as a bomber, partly due to the altitude restrictions placed upon it and partly for want of a bombsight. If you read up on it you'll find countless reports that the Allies didn't even notice that the '262s were at work most of the time, and that even if they did the '262s did hardly any material damage to the Allies whatsoever.

[Erich]

ah but you are not speaking of the Soviets friend. the 262's flying out of Czechslovakia both had to endure the pressures of the western and Easterna allies and were drawn thin. the 262 units taking part in both bomber intercepts as well as ground attack/bombing missions. this from former Pilot of KG 51, Hans Busch. And yes the units jets were effective, it is just they were dog meat in the air vs US P-51's making long range flights.

E ~

[Huckebein]

Yes, but the Arados were more effective as bombers, no?

That was my point - that they were more successful as bombers than '262s were as fighters - even though their exploits were less spectacular at a time when fighters were more important to the Luftwaffe. The '262's successes and failures are very well known because it's such a well known aircraft, the Arados didn't have any failures (that I can think of), and were very good at their jobs.

[plan_D]

The Meteor being only good for V1 interception isn't really fair, had it been delivered to continental Europe squadrons it would have been an asset to the fighter command.
The Arado may have been good, but a bit worthless in the Luftwaffes, and German situation. The 262 was more useful to Germany, and therefore more effective.

[cheddar cheese]

yes, but if they didnt have the 262 there were Ta-152's and 109 K-4's to go round, but if there was no arado what are you going to use for recce, a storch?

[Erich]

Arado's were shot down just like any other German a/c. I have the first hand docs to prove that. The Arado was best suited as a recon a/c and second as a bomber. Still as the 262 eninge failures were ever present. I do feel though that the 262 has been given the lime-light due to the fighter vs fighter and bomber ops and much has been written on the Schwalbe do to this.

[the lancaster kicks ass]

yes, but if they didnt have the 262 there were Ta-152's and 109 K-4's to go round

but they weren't as good at intercepting as the 262................

[Erich]

we will never really know. the Me 262 fighter was to take on US and RAF heavy bombers. The K-4 was to be a fighter pure and simple as was the TAnk which was to be the high altitude counterpart of the P-51H, but since the latter never occurred in aerial combat that is just supposition........