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02-19-2007, 03:06 PM
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#61 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,828
Country:  | Why do you think that is funny. The Finnish Airforce was actually highly successful.
__________________  US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | 
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02-19-2007, 03:37 PM
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#62 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country:  | As stated earlier, for what they had and what they accomplished they must be on the top 3. I know their Buffaloes had the best kill ratio of the war, it wouldn't surprise me if the same is said for their Air Force...
__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"  | |
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02-19-2007, 03:53 PM
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#63 | | He who does not skim
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Halifax, Nova Scotia
Posts: 8,957
Country:  | Definitely an accomplishment. That small, relatively ill-equipped bunch of men held the line for a quite a while against the vastness of the Red Army/VVS. Let's not forget their deeds of the Winter War of 1939/40. Anyone who'd laugh at the Finns should look up a little history me thinks. | |
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02-19-2007, 04:29 PM
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#64 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Jacksonville, NC
Posts: 3,225
Country: | The Finnish armed forces' performance was a testament to human tenacity and determination. By all measures they should have been easily brushed aside, yet they ran an amazingly successful campaign - although they simply could not overcome the sheer numbers.
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If the Army and the Navy ever look on heaven's scenes, they will find the streets are guarded by United States Marines | |
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02-19-2007, 04:31 PM
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#65 | | the old Sage
Join Date: May 2004 Location: Platonic Sphere
Posts: 9,264
Country: | the best air force ? my gosh so many possibilities and with different tactics involved, offense, defense and .... ? too much
Keine Ahnung  | |
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02-19-2007, 04:36 PM
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#66 | | Der Crewchief
Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany
Posts: 29,828
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by Nonskimmer  Definitely an accomplishment. That small, relatively ill-equipped bunch of men held the line for a quite a while against the vastness of the Red Army/VVS. Let's not forget their deeds of the Winter War of 1939/40. Anyone who'd laugh at the Finns should look up a little history me thinks. | I agree. That is why I asked if he was laughing.
__________________ US Army Blackhawk Crewchief 2000-2006 Classic ww2aircraft.net quotes: fly boy said: "isn't that the first jet bomber? becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" "wait what ok who made the b-2 crash come on people that messed up its a b-2" "ah yes the mistel those things are so annoying is games and in real life" | |
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02-19-2007, 07:09 PM
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#67 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 399
Country:  | Who is voting for Luftwaffe???
Yes they had their highlights but to say they where the best??
Still contend that the RAF put them through such a mauling during the BOB that they never fully recovered. Had to go and "fight a proper war" in their words after getting their sorry asses kicked. By the end of 1941 monthly production of British aircraft alone surpased the Luftwaffes.
Not denying they were a dangerous opponent after the BOB. But look at the disastous course pilot training took. Even upto 1942 it was still conducted in a relaxed atmosphere with skining jollies untill the demand for replacement pilots would cause the numbers of hours training to dwindle to a fraction of any allied pilots. Instructors and student fritted away in doomed operations. Night fighters with their specialist experience used in daylight defence. Goring as its leader. Performance drop of the 190 at altitude. Failure of leadership to gear up production earlier etc, etc.
If this poll was 1944-45 I would go with US airforce as its equipment was carefully planned, fighters with high ceiling and range, bomber formations with great strength of defensive armament, large bomb load and penatration. A bombing strategy that would force the Luftwaffe to fight and cripple the economy. decent training program. A competant Tacticical airforce with close cooperation with ground and air forces etc, etc. But this is a vote for the entire war so I am still undecided.
Finns put up a good show no matter who they fought. How did the Yugoslav airforce get on with their 20 licensce built Hurris?
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Lord Flasheart: [about planes] Always treat your kite like you treat your woman.
Lieutenant George: How do you mean, sir? Do you mean, take her home at the week-end to meet your mother?
Lord Flasheart: No! I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back!
Captain Blackadder: I'm beginning to see why the suffragette movement are wanting the vote.
Lord Flasheart: Hey, hey! Any girl who wants to chain herself to my railings and suffer a jet movement gets my vote!
Last edited by bigZ : 02-19-2007 at 07:13 PM.
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02-20-2007, 03:30 PM
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#68 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Nora Springs, Iowa
Posts: 260
Country: | Never mind what I said,I was thinking somthing else...
__________________ "I ask you to judge me by the enemies I have made."
- Franklin D. Roosevelt
"Courage is a quality God has seen fit to dispense with utmost care. The men of Bataan were His chosen favorites."
- Major General Edward P. King, Jr., USA
Commanding General, Luzon Forces, 1942
"No Mother, no Father, no Uncle Sam."
- Cabantuan P.O.W.'s flag motto.  | |
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02-21-2007, 07:09 PM
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#69 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Fresno, CA
Posts: 2,385
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by FLYBOYJ As stated earlier, for what they had and what they accomplished they must be on the top 3. I know their Buffaloes had the best kill ratio of the war, it wouldn't surprise me if the same is said for their Air Force... | I knew the finns were highly successful but highest kill ratio of the war? Better than the Corsairs 11:1 ?
Another post says the Buff had a ratio of 26:1.. difficult to believe. Are there any built in means of inflation ie. lots of transport aircraft shot down, ground "kills"?
I'd like to read more about that..
Last edited by comiso90 : 02-21-2007 at 07:13 PM.
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02-21-2007, 08:09 PM
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#70 | | IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA
Posts: 13,231
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by comiso90 I knew the finns were highly successful but highest kill ratio of the war? Better than the Corsairs 11:1 ?
Another post says the Buff had a ratio of 26:1.. difficult to believe. Are there any built in means of inflation ie. lots of transport aircraft shot down, ground "kills"?
I'd like to read more about that.. | Nope - the Finns really stuck it to the Ruskies and I doubt any of their claims are inflated. Finnish Air Force History
__________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT" | |
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02-21-2007, 08:28 PM
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#71 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Canada
Posts: 113
Country: | have to agree, think the finns probably were the best, considering equipment, | |
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02-21-2007, 09:32 PM
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#72 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Orange County, CA
Posts: 8,303
| Put it into perspective.
The Finns didnt have any designs of their own, no manufacturing capacity and didn't employ them in massive numbers like the other main combatants.
The US dwarfs all the other powers when it is subjectively compared in 1945.
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"Pilot to copilot..... what are those mountain goats doing up here in the clouds?" | |
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02-23-2007, 06:20 AM
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#73 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Kiwi Land
Posts: 848
Country:  | So I voted for the RNZAF.
What the shyte did ya expect me to vote for?
Pacific, Africa, Europe.
We were flying there before you knew where the stuff they were on the map.
Jam your subjectives where the monkey stores his peanuts.
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4 out of 5 voices in my head say I am normal. Majority rules.
You're just jealous because the voices only talk to me. | |
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02-23-2007, 01:43 PM
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#74 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Oct 2006
Posts: 795
Country: | I'd vote for the R(X)AF and SAAF - never mind what the X stands for or whether it is there at all, the main thing is to keep in mind that the RAF and the Dominion Air Forces should really be (other than in a few cases such as the RNZAF in the Pacific) considered as ONE big multi-role, multi-speciality Air Force with some of the world's most effective aircraft, and some of the world's best air and ground crews, not to mention tactics of all kinds. Sorry for the Yanks, but they don't come close. Tonnage may be one thing, but it helps if the tonnage in question actually hits the target, and not just the general area. Forget the Luftwaffe - no strategic capability.
Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest
Mosquito, Beaufighter, Meteor
Lancaster
Says it all, really.
OK, you have to admire the Finns for fighter ability, but they had no long-range potential for doing the enemy serious evil, either.
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02-23-2007, 03:36 PM
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#75 | | Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: NIAGARA
Posts: 4,601
Country: | Quote:
Originally Posted by ndicki I'd vote for the R(X)AF and SAAF - never mind what the X stands for or whether it is there at all, the main thing is to keep in mind that the RAF and the Dominion Air Forces should really be (other than in a few cases such as the RNZAF in the Pacific) considered as ONE big multi-role, multi-speciality Air Force with some of the world's most effective aircraft, and some of the world's best air and ground crews, not to mention tactics of all kinds. Sorry for the Yanks, but they don't come close. Tonnage may be one thing, but it helps if the tonnage in question actually hits the target, and not just the general area. Forget the Luftwaffe - no strategic capability.
Spitfire, Typhoon, Tempest
Mosquito, Beaufighter, Meteor
Lancaster
Says it all, really.
OK, you have to admire the Finns for fighter ability, but they had no long-range potential for doing the enemy serious evil, either. | Although I appreciate your sentiments about the commonwealth Air Forces there is no way they had the ability or tools to compete with the US . I also don't believe the leadership of the commonwealth forces was on par with the USAAF/USN . I will concede that the special purpose units like 617 or the units running out of Tempsford were better then the Usaaf but once the US got moving in 42 there was no equal
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