Best WWII Air-Force

[FLYBOYJ]

Agree.......

[Lucky13]

Same here....

[Soren]

Agreed here as-well.

[Gnomey]

And here.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by drgondog

I would say Luftwaffe wins hands down September 1939 with Japan second
, RAF third, US and maybe Italy fourth and USSR last.

This is the only bit I would disagree with. Remembering that in 1939 the Japanese had no Zeros's or Ki43's they would be a distant third behind the Luftwaffe and the RAF.

[Soren]

The LW also continued to be the best until 1942-43 where numerically they just couldn't keep up anymore. The fact hat the LW lacked carriers I don't see as such a big minus until the USSR was defeated, after which a fleet of carriers would be of importance.

[drgondog]

Glider good point. Soren I have zero problem conceding Luftwaffe superiority thru 1942 - all of 43 debateable but ?? dunno

Glider, I positioned the Japanese 'Air' because they did have formidable Carrier ability - ahead of the RAF who were still not totally accepting the notion (until Ark Royal? and Prince of Wales)

The greatest relative discussion I have seen so far about Britain's State of Readiness is in Churchill's Gathering Storm volume. He was the only leader pounding the table in 1938.. but I don't feel passionate enough on the difference to argue your point of view

Regards,

Bill

[flojo]

Thinking about this poll it came into my mind that the RAF was probably the airforce in WW2 managing to incoporate the most foreign flyers into it's ranks (not sure if perhaps USSR had more). Especially at BoB time with the highly refined air-ground coordination the RAF fighter force had this was a remarkable achievement. But o.k. - if I would be a national command authority somewhere and could choose one of the airforces from 1945 including their industrial base and logistic support services I of course would decide for the US.

[Glider]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Glider, I positioned the Japanese 'Air' because they did have formidable Carrier ability - ahead of the RAF who were still not totally accepting the notion (until Ark Royal? and Prince of Wales)

Bill

Make it a close third then

[syscom3]

I'd still like to see Soren explain the LW's dominance in the following fields:

Long range fighters that were effective in their role.

Heavy bombers

Transports, both tactical and long range (for the era)

Long range maritime patrol

Industrial and production methodologies that could build a single factory to build a 4 engined bomber at a rate of 1 per hour

Industrial and infrastructure capability to not only build two types of existing heavy bombers by the hundreds per week, but also design and put into mass production a 3rd heavy bomber that was "next generation"

Training infrastructure that could produce thousands of decent pilots per month.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by syscom3

I'd still like to see Soren explain the LW's dominance in the following fields:

Long range fighters that were effective in their role.

Heavy bombers

Transports, both tactical and long range (for the era)

Long range maritime patrol

Industrial and production methodologies that could build a single factory to build a 4 engined bomber at a rate of 1 per hour

Industrial and infrastructure capability to not only build two types of existing heavy bombers by the hundreds per week, but also design and put into mass production a 3rd heavy bomber that was "next generation"

Training infrastructure that could produce thousands of decent pilots per month.

I too am in the conclusion and have allways been that the US was the best airforce of WW2 but just to answer a few of the above things:

Transports, both tactical and long range (for the era): Luftwaffe had many good transports:

Junkers Ju 52
Arado Ar 232
Gotha Go 244
Junkers Ju 290
Messerschmitt Me 323

Long range maritime patrol:

(Lots of maritime patrol aircraft but I will only list the long range types)

Blohm Und Voss BV 138 (range 4,023km (2,500 miles)
Blohm Und Voss Ha 139 (range 3,075 miles (4948km)
Blohm und Voss Bv 222 (range 6100km (3,790 mph) and an endurance of 28hr)
Blohm Und Voss Bv 238 (range: 3,790 miles (6100km)
Dornier Do 18 (range: 2,175 miles (3,500km)
Dornier Do 22 (range: 1,429 miles (2,300km)
Dornier Do 24 (range: 2,950 miles (4750km) INHO was better than the Catalina, and she is also very beautiful!
Dornier Do 26 (range: 7100 km (4,412 miles)
Heinkel He 115 (range: 3,300km (2,050 miles)

[drgondog]

Originally Posted by DerAdlerIstGelandet

Well here is how I look at it. I think the Luftwaffe had the best aircraft and innovations as Comiso said. However my vote has to go to the USAAF for only one reason and one reason alone.

It was able to take the battle to the Germans. Without that, the Luftwaffe may have prevailed in my opinion.

I truly agree but would also add that US also took the Battle to Japanese everywhere including homeland when no other Airpower could.. with one hand tied behind the back while the bigger hand was in ETO. (And the USMC and the USN has to be counted in the AirPower equation with its marvelous little floating airfields)

I am not downplaying the role of ANZAC forces or RAF in Pacific - they simply were not equipped for long range daylight assaults nor did they have the material resources.

Actually in 1943 you could easily debate RAF/Germany/US Airpower as "strongest" then the US pulls away in late 1943.

Regards,

Bill

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Originally Posted by drgondog

Actually in 1943 you could easily debate RAF/Germany/US Airpower as "strongest" then the US pulls away in late 1943.

Regards,

Bill

I agree

[HealzDevo]

But still the USAF was fighting on both the European Front and the Pacific Front of the war and winning. Surely that makes them a better airforce than the Germans who were fighting on one front and the Japanese who were fighting on another front. That is equivalent to taking on two big tough opponents and wiping the floor with them what the US eventually did. Sure it did get a bit of a bruising early on but it overcame two major airforces at the same time!

[Glider]

Originally Posted by HealzDevo

But still the USAF was fighting on both the European Front and the Pacific Front of the war and winning. Surely that makes them a better airforce than the Germans who were fighting on one front and the Japanese who were fighting on another front. That is equivalent to taking on two big tough opponents and wiping the floor with them what the US eventually did. Sure it did get a bit of a bruising early on but it overcame two major airforces at the same time!

I think you may have forgotten the Russian front