Now that we are getting the A6M, and we already have the N1K2, its time to bring in the F6F. In the ETO the main rivalry was the 109 vs Spitfire... in the pac it was F6F vs Zeke, having one without the other doesn't seem right. After all, Japanese pilots respected planes such as the P38 and F4U, however, they didn't fear them.
Warrant Officer Takeo Tanimizu (32 victories) recalls...
'I think the F6F was the toughest opponent we had. They could manoeuvre and roll, whereas planes such as the P-38 and F4U made hit and run passes - they were not very manoeuvrable. It was difficult to make the American planes burn in the air. If you hit them, they may puff some smoke. You could always tell by the way they smoked if it was an enemy plane or a Zero.'
Tanimizu on the F4U;
The only time you could really shoot it down was when it was fleeing. You had to shoot at it from a certain angle, otherwise, the bullets would bounce off. A few times, I would see F4U making low level diving attacks and dive into a coconut grove or the water because it couldn't pull out - the plane was too heavy. we would sometimes chase them into the sea. We didn't have this problem because our planes were so light.'
P.S. After all, the F6F was responsable for shooting down 5000 enemy aircraft.
