Best Fighter Plane Of The War?

[Kitty]

I've been following this thread on and off since it started. I've read all of the arguments and decided that for me the best fighter was the Hurricane. A little War Horse that was manouvrable (admittedly not fast) but in the hands of an experienced pilot she could hold her own. And if she was shot up she brough the pilot back safe and sound.
So I'll go for the little war horse of the RAF. (and the Mossy at low altitude)
Kitty

[adamcotton]

Originally Posted by mosquito617

I've been following this thread on and off since it started. I've read all of the arguments and decided that for me the best fighter was the Hurricane. A little War Horse that was manouvrable (admittedly not fast) but in the hands of an experienced pilot she could hold her own. And if she was shot up she brough the pilot back safe and sound.
So I'll go for the little war horse of the RAF. (and the Mossy at low altitude)
Kitty

Well, the Hurricane was a doughty warbird, no doubt about that. But the fact is it was really no more than a monoplane version of the biplane Hawker Fury, and therefore may be viewed as the zenith of applied biplane technology. Whereas the spitfire and those that came after her were an entirely different technology in terms of construction and aerodynamics and, unsurprisingly, reflected that fact in their performance in the air. The Hurricane was a cart horse; the Spitfire a race horse.

As regards the Mosquito, the fighter variants were extremely effective. I've heard it said that a Mossie on one engine could still tackle a 109 on even terms, though I'm inclined to think if that's true then it applied only to the lighter, bomber versions. Having said that, I interviewed a Beaufighter pilot many years ago and he said a Mossie with one engine shut down was still as fast as a Hurricane IIC at full bore - so who knows? Ultimately, it all boils down to personal preferences, and has as much to do with perceived asthetics as it does with actual performance in the air.

[spidge]

[quote]

Originally Posted by adamcotton

Whereas the spitfire and those that came after her were an entirely different technology in terms of construction and aerodynamics and, unsurprisingly, reflected that fact in their performance in the air. The Hurricane was a cart horse; the Spitfire a race horse.

I to have been reading with much enthusiasm however I bow to the knowledge of those being well above mine in this area.

As an 18year old, I took my parents on holiday (as they never had a car and only one holiday that I could remember) where at the camp site we met an Aussie who flew Spitfires in the BoB and the Super until wars end.

I remember well his analogy mirroring Adam's somewhat, about the "opposition" and the "friendlies" during that time.

Some were hacks, some were plodders, some were thoroughbreds, but there was only one champion thoroughbred like Pharlap (stayer) and that was the Spitfire supermarine which just got better the longer the race went. (He was referring to the improvements 1939 - 1945.

I always remember this man talking about his "Spits" and nothing has changed my mind since.

My vote goes to the Spitfire!

[lancesergeant]

Have to agree with you on that one Spidge. For longevity from mid/late thirties onwards to the fifties, takes some doing. All this with modifications and engine improvement, to keep up with the others show it's pedigree and the soundness as well as staying power of the design.

Like Adam says it can be down to personal preferences or actual performance. It depends what your criteria is in choice of best fighter. The term "best" is ambiguous and leaves plenty of leeway for personal choice. No one plane can carry the mantle of best, as no plane can be master of all trades. I for one would be very surprised if the Spit didn't win the top especially among British contributors.

[Kitty]

Originally Posted by lancesergeant

I for one would be very surprised if the Spit didn't win the top especially among British contributors.

You saying we're biased purely because we had the best fighter ever built?
Kitty

[spidge]

Never let it be said!

[Hawkeye90]

Performance wise i would go with P-51, the Spitfire would not be far behind though.

[lancesergeant]

Originally Posted by mosquito617

You saying we're biased purely because we had the best fighter ever built?
Kitty

Moi !!! surely not lol.

[redcoat]

Originally Posted by adamcotton

As regards the Mosquito, the fighter variants were extremely effective. I've heard it said that a Mossie on one engine could still tackle a 109 on even terms, .

Its a myth.
While the radar equipped night fighter Mossie was more than a match for any Luftwaffe fighter at night. In daylight, the Mossie fighter was no match for the Me 109 and Fw 190, both in terms of speed and maneuverability.

[Herroberst]

I originally chose the F4U Corsair because of its rugged survivability and versatility, but may have to change to the TA-152 which technically would come under the Fw-190 category. With a speed of around 470mph and (2) 20mm and one 30 mm it was definately a fighter to be reckoned with. It also had a ceiling of 48,500ft.