Quote:
Originally Posted by aki
I think the P51H is superior to the Ta-152 as a high-speed interceptor, but I don't consider the P51H as being part of the war since AFAIK it never actually saw combat, whereas the Ta-152 actually did (albiet very little). As far as overall performance F8F Bearcat imo is the best.
Breaking down into theaters the best fighter in terms of wartime effectiveness (and not performance) I think it's:
European: P51 Mustang--they were a God-send for the B17s and B24s that escorted them. Prior to that US fighters didn't have the range to escort bombing runs, and many a bomber was downed. The great range of P51 made it an awesome escort.
Pacific: F6F Hellcat--sure the P51 was invaluable in its B29 escorts from Iwo Jima/Saipan to Tokyo, but most of the key conflicts involved carrier battles. And to that end it was the F6F that was pivotal. Good range, maneuverability, speed--top it off it was easy to fly, so green pilots had a surviving chance when faced against veteran pilots in Rabaul. The F4U by contrast was unforgiving to fly (hence the term Ensign Eliminator), and was a clumsy adaptation into carrier-based duty... snap stalls made them a handful in hands of inexperienced pilots. I think F6Fs are ugly as sin though 
As far as aesthetics, I've always preferred radial engines over inline. Another plane I think is cool is the Lavochkin La-7: |
Aki, you make great points all. You may be right that had the Bearcat be deployed before the end of the war, it may have been the greatest all around dogfighter of them all. Grumman took FockeWulf design and technology from the FW 190 D model and used it in the Bearcat's design. That short fuselage and stubby wings, while making it a beast on takeoff, would have made for an insane turning and rolling aircraft not to mention the incredible rate of climb and dive speed.
As for the F6F Hellcat, it never got the press that the more glamorous Corsair got. Truth be told, it was the Hellcat that was responsible for devastating the Japanese Naval and Army Air Forces. It was a rugged plane that could stay with a Zero and have great firepower. It also was perfectly suited for carrier duty, certainly much better than the Corsair.
As for the Corsair, the bent wing of course was because of the huge prop being used on the R2800. I think you would agree that the F2G1 and F2G2 Super Corsair variants with the R4360 Wasp motor would have certainly been a formidable aircraft. Pappy Boyington loved his Corsair as did many other top American aces.
Regarding the Russian fighters, they never received the attention that Western fighters got. I read accounts where Yak 9's could eat a Mustang alive in the air. Yak, Mig and Lavochkin are produced fantastic fighters. I personally have been a fan of the Yak 9 for years. The Mig 3 was not too shabby either.
Remember, my reasons for the Mustang have to do with combat service, kill ratio, length of service and flight qualities. The Military Channel voted the P51 Mustang as history's all time greatest fighter, beating out the Mig 15, F4 Phantom and many other fine airplanes. Plus, no one can deny that the Rolls Royce Merlin is the sweetest sounding motor ever produced. I have a CD of a Mustang at start up, take off, in flight, fly-bys and the sound is to die for. Still puts a smile on my face every time I listen to it.