Lousiest Fighter in WWII?

last SG · 2006-06-17T21:31:41+00:00

i think the buffalo has an unfair rep, esp amongst singaporeans because those were the planes stationed in sg. from wikipedia: The Brewster Buffalo, or Bre...

Viper52 SG

Hi moca, not really modified, but the Finns were using a version of the Buffalo (equivalent to the F2A-2 IIRC) that was not underpowered or overweight, and along with better tactics, meant they scored greater success.

Viper52 SG

Hi Heng, I seriously recommend that trip. I've just got back from Normandy (will be posting a photojournal soon) and if you're armed with the history of the place, the feeling can be quite overwhelming. Paid visits to the American cemetery at Omaha and a Commonwealth one at Bayeux, quite emotional. Did not visit the German one though (a bit more out of the way, will visit next time).

[email protected] SG

yea i don't doubt the emotions will run high. i was at hyde park a couple of months ago. Theres a memorial there dedicated to Australian soldiers, and all their campaigns were on the memorial. I went along, then when i got to singapore i stopped, my throat went dry and tears welled up in my eyes. I know how hard the Aussies fought for sg.

davechng SG

HI Viper 52

I guess with practically no armour on the Ki27,KI43 and A6m2 the .303 should do okay!

One day will have to visit Normandy... maybe also visit those small town like Carantan, and all that.... FOr Europe I did visit Arhem bridge! had a small memorial on the bridge commemorating John Frost ! now named John Frost Bridge ! Quite emotional when I was up there.... Maybe Eindhoven and Nijmegan would be next to go.!

DaveC

SBS3625D SG

I heard that some time later, a batch of hurricanes arrived and on first day of operations, shot down 5 unescorted Jap bombers. Next day, went to attack escorted bombers and lost 3.

[email protected] SG

i doubt that. The hurricane always gave a damned good accounting of itself. If u read Roald Dahl's "Going Solo" you'll know just how well they held up against the Nazi airforce in Greece. A single squadron of 15 hurricanes took on over 100+ german ME109s over a period of several months and had an incredible kill:loss ratio.

spartan6 SG

Even when converted for ground attack they preformed excellence

Texcoco II SG

Possible if they Hurricane pilots here sucks badly?

[email protected] SG

doubt it.

SBS3625D SG

Went to dig up my pointer magazine, says that hurricanes are superior to zeros at higher altitudes.

20 Jan 1942, first day of ops, shot down 8 Jap bombers, next day lost 5.

acwire_2125 SG

I think the Hurracian is not that bad yet.

Viper52 SG

The Hurricanes did well over Singapore, but again, pilot quality, tactics and the entire defence of Malaya did them in. Coupled with Japanese numerical superiority, they couldn’t achieve miracles. Read Hurricanes over Singapore, the sister book of Buffalos over Singapore I mentioned earlier.

Shotgun SG

There were so many advantages n disadvantages to all the WW2 aircraft. I saw this documentary on discovery channel where they showed how the Bf109s would try to lead their adversary hurricanes into negative g' dives to get their engines to fail.

Why? Cos the hurricane engines usin carborator while their bF109s have direct fuel injection. =/

[email protected] SG

in the end its about whether u know how to use your plane's strengths to your advantage while tactically avoiding situations which allows the enemy to exploit its weaknesses.

My 3 fav WW2 fighters would be the FW-190, the Supermarine Spitfire and the P-38 Lightning! Mr. Green

The P-38 was simply unique and lovely. the FW-190 had a raw brutal beauty to it and the Spitfire had the sexiest curves. Lovely trio of planes. Very Happy

Shotgun SG

I think the sexiest design is still the Mustang. Unfortunately, they only realised the mustang's full potential near the end of the war. The mustang was actually in service very early in the war, as early as 41 or 42.

They served in the RAF, as recon and light ground attack fighters, as its original allison engine was considered inadequate. Strangely, the merlin was already around at this time, it just didn occure to the yanks or the brits to put these 2 together. =/

BillyBong SG

The P38 lightning during bomber escort duty over Europe frequently encountered engine problems. It's engine either seized or froze due to inadequate cold protection, and large numbers were lost to engine failure rather than the enemy.

The Spitfire was totally outclassed by the FW-190, and this was clearly illustrated at the Dieppe amphibious landings.

For a list of aircraft that were bad:

1. P400 aircobra
2. Buffalo
3. Me-163 Komet (one-flight wonder)
4. Gloster Gladiators (defenders of Malta)
5. Swordfish torpedo bombers
6. Wildcat
7. TBM Devestator Torpedo bombers

Yup, think there was an italian model call 'dewotine' or something which saw some action, not sure how it rated. But the Fiat models contributed to the hopelessness of the Regia Aeronautica during WWII.

[email protected] SG

honestly? i don't care if the P-38 had problems. It was unique u dun see another plane like that anymore. Maybe it'll be in the future when we have space craft b4 we see another design like that. It just had this beauty to it.

And nevermind the spitfire being outclassed. It was sexier and anyways it won the battle of britain and anyways the it was the ME-109s they have to face over the skies of england. Mr. Green

BillyBong SG

Honestly, i think the COSAIR was THE underrated plane of the war....it was both carrier-based and land-based and was immensely loved by their crews.

I also loved the wooden DeHavilland Mosquito....multi-role plane. Mr. Green

spartan6 SG

Well swordfish is e only bi-plane 2 play an important part in sinking more then 1 top-of-e-line battleships during a time domiated by mono-planes

[email protected] SG

I'd like to nominate the JU-88 even tho its technically not a fighter. Laughing

8 of them attacked a single Sunderland Seaplane. Only 2 escaped alive.

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