Best Pacific Fighter?

FLYBOYJ · 05-24-2005, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by elmilitaro

Hey the hellcat was the best with a 19:1 kill ratio. Tell me what other plane had this record.

Some things to think about:

The Hellcat was the most numerous USN fighter at a time when it particiapted in several major naval battles, it had a huge advantage numerically, logistically, and tactically. For example, consider by the time of the Marianas Turkey Shoot, the caliber of Japanese pilots severely diminished. Don't get me wrong, the Hellcat was a great aircraft, but with these situations in a "combat rich environment" it was no wonder it came out with that type of kill ratio!

R Leonard · 05-24-2005, 05:43 PM

Eastern FM-2: 32.46 to 1 overall. From 1 Sep 1944 to EOW: 41.89 to 1. From 1 Jan 45 to EOW: 187 to 1

Damn nice job for "the Wilder Wildcat"

Rich

MP-Willow · 05-27-2005, 03:27 PM

Kill ratios are a bit miss leading, as FlyboyL says, the F6F witch I do like, had a lot less quality pilot to go against then say the P-40 and F4F pilots in the first years.

Now when the Hellcat did find a skilled IJN Pilot in a Ki-84 or the like it did to a good job, but some of the new planes were taxing the F6F.
As for the F6F I think it was best with the 2 20mm guns and 4x.50s.

FLYBOYJ · 05-27-2005, 03:45 PM

Also consider that you had a similar situation with the F6F as with the P-51. In the PTO you had to be a good pilot to fly a P-38 or an F4U. If you flew and F6F and you were a good pilot, you became a great pilot. Now I'm not comparing the F6F to the P-51, but what I am saying is the F6F was tough and easily flown, a good combination for semi-green pilots. I think this fact attributed to its success.

MP-Willow · 05-31-2005, 02:23 PM

I will agree, but those semi-green pilots had the numbers advantage over anything they flew against. Aside from the few times that the realy good Japanese pilots were flying

FLYBOYJ · 05-31-2005, 03:49 PM

Absolutely - and with an F6F, that was just another advantage.

MP-Willow · 06-03-2005, 12:07 PM

Yes, but then I have been thinking we all talk of the pilots and planes, but what of the crews on the cround that worked through rain, shells and poor if non-excistant replacement parts to keep them fighting along

FLYBOYJ · 06-03-2005, 12:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MP-Willow

Yes, but then I have been thinking we all talk of the pilots and planes, but what of the crews on the cround that worked through rain, shells and poor if non-excistant replacement parts to keep them fighting along

As a mechanic by trade, I appreciate that

HealzDevo · 06-03-2005, 10:17 PM

What I mean, is that the older types would gradually be eliminated in Combat or otherwise so that the newer types would be predominant in the Pacific Forces of that time. Thus there would be a new economy of scale in terms of Parts and Servicing. Also the assumption is that there would be attempts to be able to produce parts closer to the Front-line. Maybe using resources shipped from China. As well China, may become assuming that it has survived in some form at this stage of the War, an Allied Production Facility churning out thousands of Fighters leaving American production to focus on the European War. The only hinderance being the speed at which new pilots can be trained to replace those that were lost in Combat or accidents.

MP-Willow · 06-06-2005, 02:14 PM

HealzDevo, China was a mess for most of the war. The P-40s that were flying in Eastern China were put together mostly by wite, and the creativity of the ground crews. I do not think that China would have been used for war production of any real scale. The scale was massive when you look at the landings in the Pacific.

FlyboyJ, you are always welcome. Hotshot pilots need to know what keeps them in the air