Favorite fighter/interceptor?

[runningdog]

The only advantage is that I cannot hear crickets.

A spell playing sniper in the fifties did for my hearing. The strange thing is the first time I noticed it was when, walking through a field teeming with grasshoppers, I couldn't hear them. Funny though, I can hear recordings of them.
When I saw a quack about my hearing, he was quite cheerful about it, told me I'd got the 60/40 syndrome. I've got 40% hearing one side and have lost 60% hearing on the other side.
Took me a long time to work the joke out............

[icepick]

Why wasn't the Meteor a choice in the poll? The only true interceptor in the choices was the Me262, and it would be hard to choose it since the P-51 managed such a good record against it. Why is one strange mystery.

So I found myself voting for the P-38, even though it was a pursuit like most of the choices. Britain's rocket killer, the Meteor, would be my top choice.

[kool kitty89]

The V-1 wasn't a rocket, it was pulse-jet powered.

And the only Metoer produced durring the war that was really combat capable was the late F.III with Derwent engines and long engine nacelles. (with a top speed of ~490-520 mph)

The Mk.I was slower than the P-51 and the short-nacelled Derwent powered F.III was only marginally faster at low altitudes. (top speed ~450 mph, ~410-420 with Wellands)


But this is a favorites thread, so performance isn't necessarily the deciding factor.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Why wasn't the Meteor a choice in the poll? The only true interceptor in the choices was the Me262, and it would be hard to choose it since the P-51 managed such a good record against it. Why is one strange mystery.

So I found myself voting for the P-38, even though it was a pursuit like most of the choices. Britain's rocket killer, the Meteor, would be my top choice.

What great track record did the P-51 have against the Me 262? Sure they did shoot some down in air to air, but the majority of Me 262s were shot down when they were most vulnerable, that being during landing.

[wesleyp47]

For ETO gotta be the P-47, For PTO gotta be the P-38.

[drgondog]

What great track record did the P-51 have against the Me 262? Sure they did shoot some down in air to air, but the majority of Me 262s were shot down when they were most vulnerable, that being during landing.

Chris - I don't have the exact numbers as I don't have all of the encounter reports but ~ 50% were taken out starting with hits at high altitude resulting in damage or destruction, and usually for the damaged ones it was a hit to one engine.. after which a long chase until destroyed.

At least 20% were shortly before landing or shortly after take off.

In context of Me 262 vs P-51, it came out on the short end but not because it wasn't a superior a/c. It simply had no place to hide if it engaged with several 51's without advantage of suprise - and didn't have enough fuel to get way out of sight and have enough time to land safely.

If it lost an engine it was toast.

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

Chris - I don't have the exact numbers as I don't have all of the encounter reports but ~ 50% were taken out starting with hits at high altitude resulting in damage or destruction, and usually for the damaged ones it was a hit to one engine.. after which a long chase until destroyed.

At least 20% were shortly before landing or shortly after take off.

In context of Me 262 vs P-51, it came out on the short end but not because it wasn't a superior a/c. It simply had no place to hide if it engaged with several 51's without advantage of suprise - and didn't have enough fuel to get way out of sight and have enough time to land safely.

If it lost an engine it was toast.

That I was aware of, but I was not aware that it was that high of a percentage. Thanks.

[drgondog]

That I was aware of, but I was not aware that it was that high of a percentage. Thanks.

When the Me 262 appeared, the 8th AF developed tactics for a four ship flight to counter the threat. Most of the 262's shot down had an over optimistic view of the superiority (which it had one on one) and thought presumably they could take on four.

It basically reduced to a four ship Thatch weave and if the 262 made a pass and didn't capitalize on its energy to get back to greater altitude, and subsequently try to get a lead on the first two 51s - the second flight would cut the circle for high deflection shots. The K-14 made this possible.

Galland once told me that the doctrine in the march-April timeframe was to only make one pass when allied fighters were in the area.. boom and sail on - never looking back to engage with the escorts

[arado234d]

from the ta-book,it only got into limited serv. late jan. 45 but easly shot down p-47..tempest mk5.. mustangs, it to me was the best fighter,even if only having about 550 mile range

[Smoke]

Mustang, hand down. But the P-38 Lightning is a close second.

[SoD Stitch]

Galland once told me that the doctrine in the march-April timeframe was to only make one pass when allied fighters were in the area.. boom and sail on - never looking back to engage with the escorts

That's what the -262 pilots were SUPPOSED to do; but, as we know, the less disciplined pilots sometimes decided they could turn and fight with the more maneuverable Mustangs, which usually ended in disaster.

[drgondog]

That's was what the -262 pilots were SUPPOSED to do; but, as we know, the less disciplined pilots sometimes decided they could turn and fight with the more maneuverable Mustangs, which usually ended in disaster.

Very True Stitch... plus a hit to one engine usually spelled disaster as few were able to get out of range/sight at the reduced speed...

[Erich]

actually gents it was all entirely up to the Schwarführer. If P-51 escorts had been called away or were not present it was felt the speed of the jet and turn around would be beneficial to allow a second pass either single or in 3-4's. It was obvious that even higher orders did not dictate the realities in combat

[Yerger]

Favorites polls are harder than best, one a mental the other facts.

In favorites I imagine someone offering me a new mint one to keep

This one to hard for 1, even hard by country:

US: P-61 and P-38 tie

German: 190D-9, Do-335, and 109F are a 3 way tie

Japanese: Ki-84, Ki-61, early model Zero, and Shiden-Kai are a 4 way tie

British: Sea Fury, but for operational WWII: Tempest, Typhoon and latest Spit 3 are a 3 way tie

So if I win a give away, I need a bigger garage

[Juha]

Hello
I made my choice after pondering the question a while, in fact my favourites are Spitfire Mk VIII, which was designed for Merlin 60 series engine and not an emergency solution as Mk IX, and P-51B, closely followed by 109G-10, Tempest, La-5FN, Ta-152C, Spitfire Mk XIVE and late P-47Ds. Not able to choose neither of my two favourites I at end chose Spit XIV, after all Mk VIII with 2-stage Griffon with some strengthening. Not so nice plane to fly but with more raw power.

Juha