Best tank killer aircraft of WW2 Part I

[lesofprimus]

I dont seem to recall a P-38 pilot ever downing a Me-262 in combat... Anyone else heard anything on this????

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

and why are we talking about this in the best tank killer thread...............

 

[wmaxt]

I dont seem to recall a P-38 pilot ever downing a Me-262 in combat... Anyone else heard anything on this????

I've heard of at least one but as the 262 came in numbers the P-38s were moving to an attack mode in the ETO so they didn't meet often.

 

[plan_D]

First jet encounter was by a Mosquito, I heard. And the first one downed was by a P-47, the first kills by -262s were F-5 Recce Lightning and two PR. Mosquitos...this is what I heard, feel free to correct it if it's wrong.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

I heard it was two F-5s and one PR Mossie, all on high-altitude recon (obviously, they were unarmed) work...

 

[plan_D]

You're right, yes. It was two F-5 Lightnings and a PR. Mosquito in July 1944, at some point.

 

[Lightning Guy]

I'm not aware of any encounters between a P-38 and a Me-262 (though I have flown some simulated encounters). The P-38 was credited with the first kill over a Me-163. But I believe by the time the 262 could be encountered with any regularity the P-38 was mostly relegated to shooting up the Wermacht and note escorting heavies.

 

[plan_D]

I flew against -262s in a P-38 on Il-2 FB - it was certainly interesting combat.

 

[Erich]

the Me 262 encounters are all covered in earlier threads pertaining to the Schwalbe. how about we get back on topic shall we ?

 

[plan_D]

The topic that everyone accepts the Il-2M was the best Tank Killer aircraft of the war in ability but personal preferances swing to the Ju-87G in some?

 

[Erich]

really ?

NSG Ju 87's used in the night role agasint WEstern Allied forces

 

[plan_D]

In percentage terms the Il-2s did lose a lot more but the Il-2 performance wise was better and did kill more.

 

[Erich]

killed more ? doubtful when you count all the Stuka Panzer aces as well as all the different Stuka variants in service.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

I prefer the Tiffy and stand by it!

 

[plan_D]

I'm talking about the Ju-87G variant alone, as the others were not tank killers - they were dive bombers.

I personally like the Tiffy better too, but it wasn't the best tank killer.

 

[GermansRGeniuses]

Actually, I know it wasn't, but I think that it had the capability and potential to be, if it had HVARS equipped or larger cannons...

 

[Erich]

a couple of things. SG 1 and 3 and 77 during 43-45 do not have written histories so we will never know right at present was their 10th Panzerstafflen actually shot up.

neither a concise history as far as I am aware of all Il-2 units. in any case the Il-2 did cause havoc as experienced by a good friend of mine, now deceased but it did no damage to the Stugs of the Stug Abteilung 1 under his own admission. It appears like many so-called tank busters the Il-2 and Tiffy did cause many MT casualties but did not in effect destroy armor in the "claimed" amounts.....

 

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i also like the tiffy, a fine aircraft................

 

[Erich]

the broken backed NSGr Ju 87D-5's in the above photo fired rounds such as these............ 2cm hard cores which did tremendous damage

 

[plan_D]

Did no damage to StuGs? Which StuGs, are we talking StuGIII 'cos they'd be ripped apart from the air. .50 cals could tear them open for on high.