The Best Allied Plane Of WW2

[redcoat]

Originally Posted by Glamorgan

what do people think of the seafire? has anyboday heard of it

The Seafire was the naval version of the Spitfire, and while its robustness was questionable for carrier use, it is considered in some quarters to have been the best low-level navy fighter of WW2

[screamingeagle]

i'd go with the mosquito for its raw speed and one of the lowest loss rates of all Bomber Command aircraft during the war

[machine shop tom]

If I were to pick best fighter between the P-47 and the P-51 (Merlin engine), I'd pick the Jug. It was equally at home at high altitudes and excelled in the ground attack role and was not as vulnerable to ground fire as the P51. The P-51, when used as a ground attack weapon in the Korean war,was badly mauled because of it's in-line engine's cooling system's vulnerability to ground fire. The Air Force wanted to use P-47s, but they were already out off it's inventory. BTW, the Navy's Corsairs were more successful at ground attack because they used the same radial engine as the P-47.

tom

[PFC]

Well, I don't really know much about Allies planes, but I like Spitfire.

[kfz]

Originally Posted by machine shop tom

If I were to pick best fighter between the P-47 and the P-51 (Merlin engine), I'd pick the Jug. It was equally at home at high altitudes and excelled in the ground attack role and was not as vulnerable to ground fire as the P51. The P-51, when used as a ground attack weapon in the Korean war,was badly mauled because of it's in-line engine's cooling system's vulnerability to ground fire. The Air Force wanted to use P-47s, but they were already out off it's inventory. BTW, the Navy's Corsairs were more successful at ground attack because they used the same radial engine as the P-47.

tom

but then ther P47 was never the top level dogfighter that the P51 was. The ruggedness came at a price. The P51 was pretty amazing design and its superb performance in virtually all areas and its availablity in huge numbers have you got to put it up there not only amongst the greatest of WW2 but amongest the greatest aircraft ever.

[kfz]

Originally Posted by T. A. Gardner

Hands down, the Douglas DC-3 / C-47. Nothing else comes close. The Soviets and Japanese copied it. Everybody used it. It served in military service with the US into the 70's and in other nations virtually to today. This aircraft is still being flown in civilian use.
What other aircraft that was in use in WW 2 can match that record?

Not many.

[Gnomey]

For continued use in its original role none, although there are some Ju52/3m's still flying.

For me it is also the C-47 overall with the P-51 has best long range interceptor, Spitfire as interceptor and the Mossie (also as Night Fighter)/B-29 as best bomber

[machine shop tom]

Originally Posted by kfz

but then ther P47 was never the top level dogfighter that the P51 was. The ruggedness came at a price. The P51 was pretty amazing design and its superb performance in virtually all areas and its availablity in huge numbers have you got to put it up there not only amongst the greatest of WW2 but amongest the greatest aircraft ever.

Yes, there are many compelling arguments to support that.

tom

[Kitty]

With 3 votes so far the Mossie is winning

[Slipdigit]

Not trying to throw a wet blanket on the thread, but exactly how do you quantify a "best aircraft"? Each plane had a specific job or jobs to do, so how would I ask if an L-4 Stinson was a better or worse plane than a A6M? Each had a job to do that was nothing like what was required of the other. And then, do you include all versions of a plane? The D-model P-51 was a gem, do you use it or the original Allison-engined version when comparing it to, say, a Manchester bomber?

Am I being too picky?