Most Versatile Aircraft of WW2?

[Die Hard]

I was talking about the Me 410, not the Ju 88. The standard A and B series could carry a torp using a special shackle replacing the wing bomb shackles. The BK 37 was mounted on a weapons pallet like all the other weapon packages, so any 410 could carry it in the bomb bay. The BK 50 required removing some of the fixed armament, so it may fall outside of the scope of this discussion.

[Ack-Ack]

Umm ... the F6-F was badass in the PTO ... 19:1 kill ratio along with it's ability for ground attack ... ranks it in the top IMHO.

As far as I know, the Hellcat was USN, not USAAF.  Of the fighters fielded by the USAAF in the PTO and CBI, the P-38 was the dominant fighter.  It was also the USAAF fighter that broke IJAF's and IJN's back in the South West Pacific area of operation in the PTO.

I also totally agree the Hellcat was versatile as well, it was also referred to as a jack of all trades (like the Lightning) for a reason.


ack-ack

[Scherf]

Fair enough.

[Masherbrum]

As far as I know, the Hellcat was USN, not USAAF.  Of the fighters fielded by the USAAF in the PTO and CBI, the P-38 was the dominant fighter.  It was also the USAAF fighter that broke IJAF's and IJN's back in the South West Pacific area of operation in the PTO.

I also totally agree the Hellcat was versatile as well, it was also referred to as a jack of all trades (like the Lightning) for a reason.


ack-ack

I almost called you out Ack-Ack but you indeed said "USAAF".   So I still agree that for the USAAF for the PTO, the Lightning was the most versatile.

[SlapShot]

As far as I know, the Hellcat was USN, not USAAF.  Of the fighters fielded by the USAAF in the PTO and CBI, the P-38 was the dominant fighter.  It was also the USAAF fighter that broke IJAF's and IJN's back in the South West Pacific area of operation in the PTO.

I also totally agree the Hellcat was versatile as well, it was also referred to as a jack of all trades (like the Lightning) for a reason.


ack-ack

Your right ... the F6-F (Navy), along with the F4-U (Marines), were the primary USN fighter planes in the PTO starting in 1943. Prior to that, the F4F and the Buffalo were the primary USN fighters.

The F4F enjoyed a 6.9:1 kill ratio over the entire war ... not bad at all ...

The Hellcat was the most successful aircraft in naval history, destroying 5,271 aircraft while in service with the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps (5,163 in the Pacific and eight more during the invasion of Southern France, plus 52 with the Royal Navy's Fleet Air Arm during World War II).

[bozon]

If discussing versatility do not forget that the F6F was also the USN's prime night fighter equipped with radar.

[Angus]

Mosquite wasn't a dedicated dive bomber, Ju-88 was. Both of them dropped bombs. So putting in a uniform  "strike aircraft-category" completely forgets this fact. Ju-88 had airbrakes, dive bomb sight. Neither of which the Mosquito had. Personally, I don't care either way which plane you guys find the most versatile. I just commented on the methods of comparison.

Were they not few, and basically modified on the assembly line, with little popularity with the factory?
The Mossie had the higher top speed anyway, so it would, as many other "fighters" dive-bomb without having to be modified....
BTW, did the JU88 do photo recce over areas with fast enemy fighters? Don't think so....
Nor would they go for low strafing and rocketing.
I forgot Doodle bug hunting BTW. The Mossies even did that at night...

[Ack-Ack]

If discussing versatility do not forget that the F6F was also the USN's prime night fighter equipped with radar.

Yep, and the F6F5-N also performed pathfinder missions during nightime ground attack missions.  We also can't leave out that is also was used as a photo/recce aircraft.

ack-ack

[morfiend]

 This is an interesting topic and some of my favourite planes have all been mentioned!

  As much as I luv the mossie I'd give the nod to the Ju88 as most versatial but really it's like comparing apples and oranges. The Mossie was a plane no one asked for and was made by furniture and piano makers...  The JU was a plane everyone wanted and the design requirements were so vast that they were almost unaccomplishable.

 But as versatile as the JU was there was no way a piano maker could have assembled it!...


  

 PS: Die Hard,I would like you to show me just 1 example of the Me410 ever using a torp,sure they made some prototype,trials but I have never seen or heard of them being used operationally.Besides who needs torps when you can have that BK5 barking instead.

[cobia38]

  PBY
 

[uptown]

  PBY
 

ah ha! at least someone agrees with me 

[ReDeViL2]

P47 Thunderbolt...started its career as a Fighter/Bomber Escort (which it continued throughout) and evloved into one of the best Ground Attack Aircraft of the Second World War.

[ReDeViL2]

F4U-s.  Mossy is a fine pick too but since F4U's could operate off carriers, I give them the nod.   

F4's operated in the Pacific Theatre...as far as I know exclusively...so I think we would possibly have to either break this topic down into the Western Europe/Middle East/Italy and Pacific Theatre categories.  Anyone else?

[IrishOne]

F4's operated in the Pacific Theatre...as far as I know exclusively...so I think we would possibly have to either break this topic down into the Western Europe/Middle East/Italy and Pacific Theatre categories.  Anyone else?

i still say the 190.   did it all 

[Ack-Ack]

F4's operated in the Pacific Theatre...as far as I know exclusively...so I think we would possibly have to either break this topic down into the Western Europe/Middle East/Italy and Pacific Theatre categories.  Anyone else?

I think only in US Navy and Marine service was the Corsair exclusive to the Pacific.  The British Fleet Air Arm flew Corsairs in both the Pacific and Europe.  One Fleet Arm Corsair (Corsair JT404 from 1841 squadron) flown by Lt Mattholie when he was forced to do an emergency landing in Norway and was captured by the Germans.  The Germans then transported to Narvik, Norway and its fate isn't known after that.

ack-ack