P51-D vs F4U-4 & P38-L

[Raygun]

Actually the F7F was the best WW2 fighter ever built

So true, the Tigercat sure is a beauty.

[MiloMorai]

Actually the F7F was the best WW2 fighter ever built

Are you forgetting about that nice little a/c from deHavilland?

[Widewing]

Are you forgetting about that nice little a/c from deHavilland?

I'm assuming you mean the marvelous Hornet...

Yet, the Tigercat raised fighter design to a fine art. IMHO, except perhaps for the Spitfire, no prop fighter ever built was so perfect in form.


My regards,

Widewing

[Bodhi]

I'm assuming you mean the marvelous Hornet...

Yet, the Tigercat raised fighter design to a fine art. IMHO, except perhaps for the Spitfire, no prop fighter ever built was so perfect in form.


My regards,

Widewing

Yet Grumman still felt the need to build half the fuselage with exterior button head rivets...

I shake my head every time I look at it...   It'd be 20 kts faster without that!

[balance1]

It shouldn't.  Only reason it did is that somewhere along the line you messed up.


ack-ack

Actually ack, sir IIRC the D-11 can out turn the G in a sustained turn according to (i believe) Gonzo's page

[Murdr]

Actually ack, sir IIRC the D-11 can out turn the G in a sustained turn according to (i believe) Gonzo's page

By about 3 yards, but the G does a 360 over 3 seconds faster.

[Saurdaukar]

Daimler-Benz 605 > Anything powered by Rolls, Allison or Pratt.

(runs and hides)

 

[NitroFish]

Here is a link in AH about a comparison of P38L vs P51d forum;http://bbs.hitechcreations.com/smf/index.php?topic=25938.0

Good news Skuzzy, search function works. Even from June 01, 2000.

[TimRas]

The only problem with the "cold weather" theory about European operations is that at 25K feet, it is just as cold over the equator as it is over Europe. It's also just as cold over the south west Pacific ocean area at 25K feet as it is at 25K feet over Europe.

[AWwrgwy]

In Aircraft of the Aces "Mustang Aces of the Eighth Air Force" by Jerry Scutts we find this paragraph at the bottom of page 15:

"The conversion of all groups to P-51s lay in the future and one unit, the 56th, resisted all attempts to part from its beloved P47s.
As one of the original saviors of the Eighth, the 'Wolfpack' was allowed this indulgence. Not that 'Hub' Semke's outfit was the only one to protest at the impending conversion.
In particular the 364th and 479th FGs, which arrived in ETO with P38s during early 1944, howled loudly at the decision.  However, most complaints were forgotten
once crews experienced the superiority of the P-51 over the P-38 in combat."

I think in the end analysis, the truest most remarkable statement any of us could make here today is that both the P38 and P51 were better than the other 

IIRC, "Hub" Zemke was on leave when the 56th "protested the impending conversion."  Consequently, when the opportunity arose, he took command of the 479th FG who were to convert from P-38s to P-51s.  Ironically, Zemke, while flying through severe turbulence over Germany, lost a wing on his P-51 and was captured.


wrongway

[Shuckins]

Does anyone have data on the rate of operational losses per sorties flown?  Losses due to technical malfunctions and operational losses, as well as operational readiness rates should also have a bearing on the judgement of which of the three fighters were the most effective in the war.