Best WWII Air-Force - Aircraft of World War II

Desert Fox · 02-17-2007, 10:46 PM

Out of all the combatants of WWII, which had the best air force?

pbfoot · 02-17-2007, 10:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Desert Fox

Out of all the combatants of WWII, which had the best air force?

Being as impartial as i can I believe the USAAF/USN were the best air arms of WW2 I really can't see any argument to point towards any other air arm. Numbers Quality and Logistics made them the winning combination

Desert Fox · 02-17-2007, 10:55 PM

Good point, but I believe that the RAF was the best, considering they beat back the German onslaught during the Battle of Britain, outnumbered enormously

pbfoot · 02-17-2007, 11:50 PM

could the RAF accomplish the same thing as the USAAF in all theatres of the war . The Usaaf the dominant force in both the ETO and PTO what else can you say .That is something I don't think any other force could say

FLYBOYJ · 02-18-2007, 12:21 AM

FINLAND!!!!

lesofprimus · 02-18-2007, 12:23 AM

Quote:

Good point, but I believe that the RAF was the best, considering they beat back the German onslaught during the Battle of Britain, outnumbered enormously

If the US didnt enter the War in Europe, the Brits would be speaking German and the Eifel Tower would be flying the Swastica...

comiso90 · 02-18-2007, 02:23 AM

I've asked myself this question since I was 10 years old.

I could almost say the Brits just for the Battle of Britain, truely a monumental feat whose glory belongs to humanity not just the British.

The American's list of world-beating attributes is much too long list but the fact is that they didn't hit their stride until mid 1943.

The Germans on the other hand were consistently fearsome from start to finish. Lack of resourses in the face of over whelming numbers and convoluted high German Command strategy were their demise.

The poll is not "what nation had the economy to support a massive air force" Imagine the Luftwaffe with the GMP of the USA behind them!

I hate to say it but the Germans have it for innovation, tenacity, creativity and effect from start to finish.

Yes Flyboy---The Finns get honorable mention

comiso90 · 02-18-2007, 02:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

If the US didnt enter the War in Europe, the Brits would be speaking German and the Eifel Tower would be flying the Swastica...

Our Allied friends are tired of hearing that...

And if the French didn't help out the Contenental Army, Americans would be speaking English.... I mean Starbucks would be known for its tea and "Americans" would be known for their terrible food.

"Lafayette we are here!"

lesofprimus · 02-18-2007, 03:41 AM

Quote:

Our Allied friends are tired of hearing that...

Too bad, cause its the truth...

comiso90 · 02-18-2007, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lesofprimus

Too bad, cause its the truth...

LES: Yes, but imagine a never-ending onslaught of "we saved you"...

It's as tiresome as the jackass in the Louvre taking flash photos of the Mona Lisa while wearing a Hawaiian shirt and shouting ”we saved your asses!”

Our histories are intertwined..... No debt... no allegiance... friends don't thank friends.

The French dudes saved us way back when! now they're pricks....

But we owe thanks... Now there is China... lets rock

Cyrano · 02-18-2007, 07:10 AM

Some finnish kill-death ratios by aircrafts:

Fokker D.XXI - 16:1
Messerschmitt G-2/G-6/G-8 - 26:1
Brewster Buffalo - 32:1

Most aces compared to the population!

The single aircraft with most kills:
"The top-scoring Brewster pilot was Hans Wind, with 39 kills in B-239s. Wind scored 26 of his kills while flying BW-393 and Eino Luukkanen scored seven more kills with the same plane. BW-393 is credited with 41 kills in total, possibly making it the fighter aircraft with the greatest number of victories in the history of air warfare."

Add Finland to the list!

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 02-18-2007, 07:43 AM

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.

Gnomey · 02-18-2007, 08:07 AM

I would agree Alder the Germans had the best aircraft but in terms of logistics etc there were no match for the USAAF (or the RAF to a lesser extent). Thus overall I will go with the USAAF for the ability to take the battle to the Germans as well as having the best logistical back up to keep them flying.

powerslave · 02-18-2007, 08:36 AM

What about Russia air force!? In my opinion they had best airplanes, after luftwafe, on the allied side!!

FLYBOYJ · 02-18-2007, 09:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powerslave

What about Russia air force!? In my opinion they had best airplanes, after luftwafe, on the allied side!!

The Soviet Air force got mauled not only by the Germans in the opening days of WW2, but by Finland who's air force was one tenth her size.

View Poll Results: Best WWII Air-Force
Royal Air Force	64	22.94%
Luftwaffe	85	30.47%
United States Air Force	113	40.50%
Royal Australian Air Force	9	3.23%
Regia Aeronautica	5	1.79%
Royal New Zealand Air Force	8	2.87%
Royal Canadian Airforce	15	5.38%
Chinese Air Force	0	0%
Russian Air Force	10	3.58%
Japanese Air Force	3	1.08%
Multiple Choice Poll. Voters: 279. You may not vote on this poll

02-17-2007, 10:46 PM	#1
Desert Fox Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Great Southern Land Posts: 436	Best WWII Air-Force Out of all the combatants of WWII, which had the best air force? __________________ "Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared." - Eddie Rickenbacker

02-17-2007, 10:55 PM	#3
Desert Fox Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Great Southern Land Posts: 436	Good point, but I believe that the RAF was the best, considering they beat back the German onslaught during the Battle of Britain, outnumbered enormously __________________ "Courage is doing what you are afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you are scared." - Eddie Rickenbacker

02-18-2007, 12:21 AM	#5
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,051	FINLAND!!!! __________________ "IF ITS RED OR DUSTY, DON'T TOUCH IT"

02-18-2007, 02:23 AM	#7
comiso90 Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: FL Posts: 3,294	I've asked myself this question since I was 10 years old. I could almost say the Brits just for the Battle of Britain, truely a monumental feat whose glory belongs to humanity not just the British. The American's list of world-beating attributes is much too long list but the fact is that they didn't hit their stride until mid 1943. The Germans on the other hand were consistently fearsome from start to finish. Lack of resourses in the face of over whelming numbers and convoluted high German Command strategy were their demise. The poll is not "what nation had the economy to support a massive air force" Imagine the Luftwaffe with the GMP of the USA behind them! I hate to say it but the Germans have it for innovation, tenacity, creativity and effect from start to finish. Yes Flyboy---The Finns get honorable mention Last edited by comiso90; 02-18-2007 at 02:30 AM.

02-17-2007, 11:50 PM	#4
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,586	could the RAF accomplish the same thing as the USAAF in all theatres of the war . The Usaaf the dominant force in both the ETO and PTO what else can you say .That is something I don't think any other force could say

02-18-2007, 07:10 AM	#11
Cyrano Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 310	Some finnish kill-death ratios by aircrafts: Fokker D.XXI - 16:1 Messerschmitt G-2/G-6/G-8 - 26:1 Brewster Buffalo - 32:1 Most aces compared to the population! The single aircraft with most kills: "The top-scoring Brewster pilot was Hans Wind, with 39 kills in B-239s. Wind scored 26 of his kills while flying BW-393 and Eino Luukkanen scored seven more kills with the same plane. BW-393 is credited with 41 kills in total, possibly making it the fighter aircraft with the greatest number of victories in the history of air warfare." Add Finland to the list!

02-18-2007, 07:43 AM	#12
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 33,152	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. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles"[/I]

02-18-2007, 08:07 AM	#13
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 15,224	I would agree Alder the Germans had the best aircraft but in terms of logistics etc there were no match for the USAAF (or the RAF to a lesser extent). Thus overall I will go with the USAAF for the ability to take the battle to the Germans as well as having the best logistical back up to keep them flying. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

02-18-2007, 08:36 AM	#14
powerslave Junior Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 5	What about Russia air force!? In my opinion they had best airplanes, after luftwafe, on the allied side!!

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