Best Pacific Fighter?

Originally Posted by evangilder

WIth drop tanks, the P-47N had a range of 2350 miles. Joe Baugher has a good write-up on the P-47N at:
http://home.att.net/~jbaugher1/p47_13.html

According to the P-47N manual a plane fitted with two 165 gallon wing drop tanks and one 110 belly drop tank had a range of 2920 miles. Accounting 90 gallons for combat, this would reduce this range figure to about 2750 miles. Because only 1120 miles of the range figure is from external tanks, and 1800 (or 1630 accounting for combat usage) is from internal fuel, the combat radius is half the range figure.

It was also possible to carry two 300 gallon wing drop tanks (it is unclear if a 110 belly tank could also be carried), which would have extended range to about 3400 miles.

The P-47N was the longest range fighter of WWII.

=S=

Lunatic

Source:
PILOT TRAINING MANUAL FOR THE THUNDERBOLT P-47N
Hq. Army Air Forces, Washinting 25, D. C., 1 Sep 45

[the lancaster kicks ass]

wow them's good pics, although in the combat shot it does look like a P-47 shooting annother P-47..........

[acesman]

Since the P-38 shot down more Japanese aircraft than any other plane, and was a land-based figher to boot (meaning it did not have a floating airfield to deliver it to enemy territory) I have to go with proven performance vs speculation. Also, the P-38 was continually upgraded, and the P-38L-1-LO was the longest ranged American fighter of the war, with a combat radius of 1500 miles (this I discovered on a site about the P-47N!)

[evangilder]

I wouldn't call the P-47N a speculation. Testing had shown it quite capable, and it was beginning to see action when the war ended. The 1,500 mile radius number on the P-38 is under ideal conditions. Yes, the P-38 shot down more Japanese planes, but it was also in the war longer. The P-38 had a lot of bugs that had to be worked out before it was really a viable fighter. Don't get me wrong, I like the P-38. But after studying it, the Hellcat and the Corsair, I would have to say the Corsair was the best Pacific fighter.

Editted to correctly state the P-47N, not the P-38N...

Originally Posted by acesman

Since the P-38 shot down more Japanese aircraft than any other plane, and was a land-based figher to boot (meaning it did not have a floating airfield to deliver it to enemy territory) I have to go with proven performance vs speculation. Also, the P-38 was continually upgraded, and the P-38L-1-LO was the longest ranged American fighter of the war, with a combat radius of 1500 miles (this I discovered on a site about the P-47N!)

Range was up to 3000 miles, using 330 gallon. That is far from combat radius, which appears to have been more in the area of 900-1000 miles.

The P-47N was a late entry to the war, so it didn't rack up the kills of the P-38. That does not make the P-38 a better plane.

=S=

Lunatic

[cheddar cheese]

Once a P-38F, fully armed, flew over 3300 miles non stop. Ill try and find the site.

[acesman]

Lets see, the P-38 was designed in 1937, and the combat version entered active service in May 1941. The P-47N was developed in 1944 and entered service in 1945. Considerable strides were made between first generation WWII aircraft (1939-1941) and last generation WWII aircraft (1943-45). And yet the P-38 flew air superiority missions till the last day of the war, and the P-47 flew in the Pacific theater after Japanese air power had been broken. The P-47N was a fine aircraft that had no chance to prove it's mettle in the Pacific. The P-38 compiled a fine record in the Pacific, even with early bugs and being improperly used (trying to get in a turning match with a Zero). And given its longevity, I believe that it was the best Pacific Theater fighter, and probably one of the most significant planes in the theater.

[cheddar cheese]

The P-38 could actually hold its own in a turning fight with a Zero. It has been reported than Bong turned inside Zeros at fairly low speeds.

[R Leonard]

Since the P-38 shot down more Japanese aircraft than any other plane

Sez Who? And how many was that?

[mosquitoman]

It all depends on which era of the pacific war- early or late because there's an awful lot of difference between a Brewster Buffalo and a Corsair in production techniques. Just look at the RAF, they were using biplanes as fighters in 1940 and in 1945 we were using jets

[acesman]

Quote:

Since the P-38 shot down more Japanese aircraft than any other plane

Sez Who? And how many was that?

Don't know how many, the stat is according to the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) and US Department of Defense records. This is not surprising since the Lightning was one of the main (and often THE main) USAAC fighters for three+ years in the Pacific Theater.

[acesman]

The P-38 could actually hold its own in a turning fight with a Zero. It has been reported than Bong turned inside Zeros at fairly low speeds.

Perhaps. And later models of the Zero and Lightning may have performed differently that early models. Supposedly the early Lightnings would use more of a "boom and zoom" technique. But Bong was also an exceptional pilot, and that could make a difference.

[R Leonard]

Don't know how many, the stat is according to the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) and US Department of Defense records. This is not surprising since the Lightning was one of the main (and often THE main) USAAC fighters for three+ years in the Pacific Theater.

To which USAAF records do you refer?

And since there was no DoD at the time, I presume you mean the War Department. To which War Department or, if you wish, even DoD, records do you refer?

Regards,

Rich

I believe the Hellcat was the #1 killer of Japanese planes.

=S=

Lunatic

[R Leonard]

I believe the Hellcat was the #1 killer of Japanese planes.

That is certainly my impression.

1st Place: F6F with 5163 (just bombers and fighters)
2d Place: F4U with 2138 (just bombers and fighters)
3d Place: P-38 with 1700 (all types)

And USAAF in the Pacific (Cental, Southwest, and Aleutians) recorded some 3715 credited victories. The F6F beat that all by itself.

Rich