Top Ten fighters of World War 2

[Mathman]

While digging through some magazines searching for reference material on the F6F Hellcat (like the numerous books I have on it aren't enough) for a model I am building, I came across something kind of interesting.  I found my copy of the March 2000 issue of World War II magazine.  In it is an article on the top ten fighters of WW2.  I am sure this has probably been brought up before, I just thought that maybe we can revisit it again.  Keep in mind that this list is just fighters (meaning no bombers or attack planes, so no IL-2 or TBF).

I Don't think that the list is in any particular order, and no sub-types are distinguished.

1. P-51 Mustang
2. Bf-109
3. Spitfire
4. P-47 Thunderbolt
5. A6M Zero
6. P-38 Lightning
7. FW-190
8. F6F Hellcat
9. Yak-9
10. Me-262

I agree with this list, for the most part, though, like all top ten lists, it is real tough to nail down a true "top ten."  They have a list of runners up, which include such planes as the Corsair, Hurricane, La-7, Tempest, etc.  Without having flown any of these planes, I can't say which is better or worse.  I know there is a book by a guy named Eric Brown (I think) who was the cheif naval test pilot for the RN.  He flew all of the above planes and makes some good comparisons and comes up with a list of top fighters of the war.  I would list his, but I loaned it to someone awhile back and they never returned it.

Also, notice that most of these planes are included in AH, with the exception of the 262 and Hellcat.  I am not gonna beg or whine for either of them as I am sure they are coming soon.  Well, at least the Hellcat should 1.05 include the Navy (and that is all that is important to me  ).

-math

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"Why did I paint Mickey Mouse on my plane?  I liked Mickey Mouse."
-Adolph Galland

[SpyHawk]

I find it very odd that the Corsair is not on the list. I have seen many web-pages and magazine articles that claim the Corsair, especially the -4, was the best fighter of the pacific war. Further that it is a contender for best fighter of WWII over all.

It is also considered by most as the best fighter-bomber of the war *yes, even better than the jug in many ways.

No offense but your list looks kind of half baked to me.

later

[BUG_EAF322]

many people many differences glad to see the 38 there.
like some saying it's only good for groundwork is not correct.

it is a fighter  
also great in ground work.
but i would prefer aircooled engines for that

but than again it climbs very well full loaded

[Karnak]

In no particular order:

P-51
F4U
Spitfire
Ki-100
Fw-190
Yak-3
P-47
Bf109
Ki-84
Tempest

Fighter-Bombers:
Mosquito
Il-2

Bombers:
B-17
Lancaster
B-29
Tu-2


Sisu
-Karnak

[F4UDOA]

Gents,

Just on a point of reference for anyone reading the same issue of flight journal that gives the list stated above. It was written by Barrett Tillman whom is practically a Grumman employee. He is has written many books both fiction and non fiction on the hellcat. The artical was an overview of the 1944 Joint Fighter Conferance. At that conferance the F4U was rated as being a far superior A/C by the attendee's but Tillman barely mentions the F4U in his artical at all.

Also on the A/C comparisons done by Capt. Eric Brown of the Royal Navy. He ranks the F4U 5th behind the Hellcat, Zero, Wildcat and the mighty Sea Hurricane in the order of best carrier fighters of WW2. I am completely baffeled by his decisions and analysis of these A/C. Especially since the F4U replaced three of those A/C on British and American carriers. I have a copy of this book if anyone wants more information.

If you want the actual report that the magazine artical was based on go to  www.schifferbooks.com  and look up "The Report of Joint Fighter Conferance 1944"
It is a 300page hard back and worth having in your collection.

Later
F4UDOA

[SpyHawk]

ROFL F4UDOA. I guess this guy *really knows what he is talking about huh?*

 

[Mathman]

Spyhawk, if you would have read my post, you would have seen that this is not "my" list.  I got it out of a magazine that I found.

Do I agree with it?  For the most part, yes.  I don't like the fact that the 262 is included.  Why?  Because I think it is very difficult to compare piston engined planes to jet engined planes.

Also, you may have also seen that the list contains more American fighters.  This is probably due to the magazine being produced in the US.  I think that it leaves a lot to be desired in terms of being all inclusive.

As for the Hellcat being listed and the Corsair not, I think this has more to do with the fact that the F6F had a bigger impact on the PTO than the F4U did.  Was the Hog a better overall performer?  Yes.  That is not in question.  The Hellcat, though, made a much bigger impact on the war with Japan.  Could the Corsair have done the same thing?  Probably.  The problem is, it didn't.  Not because it was a bad plane, just that it wasn't put into service ealier.  If it really bothers you that the Hellcat is listed and the F4U isn't, just be satisfied with the fact that the Corsair was in operational service well into the 50's and the F6F wasn't.  Just know though, that it was the Hellcat that had a bigger impact on the war with Japan.

-math

[F4UDOA]

Mathman,

I don't think(I'm not sure) that Spyhawk was LOLing about you. I think he meant
Capt.Brown for his selection of the mighty Sea Hurricane and others over the F4U.

As far as impact on the war that is a two headed snake of a subject. Yes the Hellcat was used off of Carriers in area's where the F4U never saw service IE the Marianas and other Central Pac locations. However the F4U was on Gaudacanal in Jan 1943 and saw action for months before the Hellcat was introduced. And for a time saw much heavier combat the the Hellcat while the Japanese still had some decent pilots to put up in the air. By the time of the Marianas Turkey shoot the IJN was already decemated inflating the kill scores of the F6F pilots. The bulk of the F4U ariel kills were prior to 1944. Boyington, Hanson, Walsh and Kepford all were 20+ kill aces before 1944 and the leading American aces in both theaters at the time. Bong, Mcguire and
David McCampbell(Navy's top F6F ace 34 kills) did not match or surpass them until well into 1944 after the Japanese air forces had been rendered impotent.

So which had the greater impact??

Here is a list of kills for each A/C type in the pacific theater from
"US Navy Fighters of WW2"

F6F= 5,156 306 Aces
F4U= 2,140 93 Aces
P-38= 1,700 90 Aces
F4F/FM2= 1,006 58 Aces
P-40= 706 27 Aces
P-47= 697 32 Aces
P-51= 296 5 Aces
P-39= 243 1 Ace
P-61= 63 1 Ace

Just one side note to these numbers.
It is stated in Airpower magazine March 1999 that the total 5,156 Kills awarded to Hellcat pilots includes A/C destroyed on the ground. I do not know if this is true but it would certainly put a different slant on the Pacific theater if it were.

Thanks
F4UDOA

[Mathman]

There is also one other thing though.  During 1943, when the Corsair was introduced, there weren't anywhere near the number of carrier engagements that there were in 42 or 44.  This would make it tough for the Hellcat to get kills.  I am not really trying to start a great F6F vs. F4U debate.  I mean, hell, they both kicked major bellybutton in the PTO.

We might as well include the F4F though, as it held the line during 42 and most of 43.  It was facing the cream of the crop when it came to the IJN pilots back then.  Considering the performance advantage of the Japanese planes during this time, it is amazing that pilots like O'Hare, Foss, Carl, and McCuskey performed as well as they did.  Says a lot about the quality of pilots and the benefit or self-sealing fuel tanks and armor.  

-math

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"Why did I paint Mickey Mouse on my plane?  I liked Mickey Mouse."
-Adolph Galland

[SpyHawk]

Thanks F4UDOA.

Yes Math, I was taking a pot shot at the author, not you.

Well worded post as far as I can tell. It was clear that it was not *your list*.

c-ya

[Jigster]

Chuck Yeager's list:

P-51

Fw 190

Me262

P-47

P-38

A6M5

Me 109

P-39

P-80

F6F

As he stated "Only planes I ranks as my all-time favorite rides are the P-51, Fw 190, ans 262, in that order. The rest are just planes I consider good because I really liked the way they flew"

- Jig

[LLv34_Camouflage]

Brewster Buffalo.

The finns achieved an exchange ratio of 32:1 in their BW's, during 3 years of fighting against Russia.  I don't think this record has ever been matched.

Camo




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Camouflage
XO, Lentolaivue 34
 www.muodos.fi/LLv34

Brewster into AH!

"The really good pilots use their superior judgement to keep them out of situations
where they might be required to demonstrate their superior skill."

[Jekyll]

I suppose any discussion of the 'best' 10 fighters of WW2 ultimately dissolves into defining what we mean by 'best'.  

Is the 'best' aircraft the fastest, the heaviest gunned etc?  In which case late-war aircraft will dominate the list.

IMO, the 'best 10' list boils down to 'which were the 10 fighters which had the greatest effect on the aerial war?  So here goes  

1.  Hurricane Mk 1 (it won the BoB)
2.  A6M3 (the Japanese 'wonder plane')
3.  Fw190A4 (scourge of the Allies in 1941)
4.  Spitfire Mk IX (helped restore the Allied fortunes)
5.  F6F Hellcat (it won the Pacific air war)
7.  P51 Mustang (enabled deep daylight penetration bombing of the Reich)
8.  La7 (dominated the skies of Eastern Europe)
9.  Ki84 Hayate (too little, too late.  But could have turned the tide in the Pacific but for manufacturing problems)
10. Me262 (how could anyone go past this one.  The first operational jet fighter.  If introduced in 1943 it might well have prolonged the air war for years)



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C.O. Phoenix Squadron
http://www.users.bigpond.net.au/phoenix
Aces High Training Corps

[Duckwing6]

CAMO: means an exchangerate of 32:1 that thy had to trade 32 Brewsters to buy a single YAK ?

<G, D, R>  

[LLv34_Camouflage]

 

Originally posted by Duckwing6:
CAMO: means an exchangerate of 32:1 that thy had to trade 32 Brewsters to buy a single YAK ?

Duckie, you almost got it right!