Dick Bong... Americas Leading Ace....

[FLYBOYJ]

Originally Posted by Graeme

I've lost count of the number of books that cite the XF4U-1 as the first American warplane to exceed 400mph. Occurring on 1st October 1940 on a flight from Stratford to Hartford, demonstrating a speed of 404mph. It's going to be a hard myth to dispel in aviation literature.

A myth that is 100% wrong - without a doubt the XP-38 was the first US Aircraft to exceed 400 mph...

[FLYBOYJ]

That he was - a production test pilot at Burbank. His job was to test fly newly completed P-80s as they left the production line.

[AV8]

The P-38 has a lot of strengths if you only USE them. Some pilots did. Bong and McGuire come to mind immediately.

The same can be said for ALL fighters.

The AVG racked up a positive kill ratio with the P-40, the Hellcat had the best kill ratio of ANY fighter until the F-15, and a LOT more.

Let's remember that more enemy aircraft were shot down by the Me / Bf 109 than by any other aircraft in WWII, Lightning, Hellcat, Spitfire, and Mustang notwithstanding.

Yes, it was on the losing side, no, it was NOT a bad aircraft, it was a GREAT PLANE. The one that shot down the most HAS to be a great plane, ya' think? I do.

It basically has one or two weaknesses: Short range, shared by others, and designed for takeoff and landing on grass. Not too good on pavement of ANY sort, but decent on grass. WW2 WAS mostly greass runways. Well, maybe gravel, grass, AND pavement!

[Soundbreaker Welch?]

The one that shot down the most HAS to be a great plane, ya' think?

Yes sir.