No Contest ; Best Allround!!!!!! Aircraft of WW2.------------The Mossie,just look at all the Rolls it took.
Spitfire... thank goodness for it and the men in her. :yeah: I'ld have to say the spitfire too... :metoo: but i do have a special spot in my heart for lancasters
depends on whats meant by best. best at versatility-Hurricane/Mossie best morale booster-Spitfire best workhorse-DC-3 best underdog- Gloster Gladiator best seaplane-sunderland best at being shot down-Fairey Battle... most of the areoplanes were best at something or other, positive and negative. I do however pick the Avro Lancaster. Grand-slam, Dam-Buster, and the hundreds of other missions carried out my Lancs.
I'll throw my vote behind the Mosquito as well. For many of the reasons already mentioned: Lowest combat loss rate among Allied aircraft, sheer versatility as a fighter, bomber, night fighter, photo recc, pathfinder, etc, and that while in service it was the most dominant aircraft. Besides, it was manufactured with good old Canadian plywood!
It got to be the Mosquito for me First multi role aircraft & had a big impact in the war Have to agree with the Mosquito as best Multi-role aircraft. Excellent at whatever it was required to do and produced remarkably low loss rates. Regards Tom
I agree with Canuck...The Merlin made the Spitfire, the Lancaster, the Mustang was reborn with it and became magnificent. All good planes need a Merlin...
Didn't German fighters have an advantage over aircraft with a Merlin engine? German aircraft having fuel injection systems and Merlins a carburettor which cause fuel suplly problems when maneuvering. I'm thinking of the Me109 and the Spitfire at the time of the BoB. Regards Andy
My vote goes to the PBY Catalina. It's naval recon in the Pacific and Atlantic spotted more enemy ships than any other plane used and saved more allied ships and lives than any other plane or ship. I bet there's a few sailors and airmen who ended up in the drink and were rescued by Air Sea Rescue who'd agree.
Didn't German fighters have an advantage over aircraft with a Merlin engine? German aircraft having fuel injection systems and Merlins a carburettor which cause fuel suplly problems when maneuvering. I'm thinking of the Me109 and the Spitfire at the time of the BoB. Regards Andy Quite correct Andy, but the problem was soon cured, originally by the use of a coin (Halfpenny I believe), before a better modification was installed. It was the "Negative G forces" which shut off the fuel supply momentarily. But yes, think just how good a RR Merlin would have been if it was injected from the beginning! Regards Tom
Cheers Tom I seem remember the coin Mod now you mention it .... One thing I always admire about the 'Joe Tommy' in the Britsh military is his ability to overcome a problem Regards Andy
Andy, It cost more than I thought for the early modification against "G" Force fuel starvation. It cost 1 shilling See attached link. https://www.freebase.com/view/en/miss_shillings_orifice Regards Tom
I agree with Canuck...The Merlin made the Spitfire, the Lancaster, the Mustang was reborn with it and became magnificent. All good planes need a Merlin... I'm sure the Mossie was Merlin powered as well.
Just imagine the RR 'Griffon' in the Mosquito, Lancaster, Mustang, etc. Even the P-38 and the old P-40. John.
I think it terms of the roles played overall by aircraft, I'd have to go with the Spitfire and all it's variants. The impact they had on the Battle of Britain stemmed the tide in Western Europe, and they were constantly envied by the Germans and prized by the British. Beyond that, I think on the Eastern Front the Il-2 Sturmoviks would get my vote due to their ability to absolutely decimate German supply columns and heavy armour, and they could hold up alright in sorties with the Luftwaffe despite their main functionality being a ground attack unit.
Given the wording of the question, I have to agree about the C-47, but my heart belongs to the DH 'Mosquito'. A truly magnificent aircraft, beyond all others in the combat role. John.
I like the P-40 also. I know, it was not an air-supremacy fighter and obsolete in many catagories, but there was something about it that always captured my imagination. Maybe it was reading about the Flying Tigers....
Whilst the Spitfire is still my favourite aircraft the Hurricane was responsible for 80% of all kills IIRC in the BoB!. The Hurri seems to have been the ugly sister.