Most Versatile Aircraft of WW2?

[Ack-Ack]

they even tried troop transport, a passenger pod that attaches to the wing, but I think after they transported the first passenger it got binned?  

The personel transport pods weren't banned from the P-38s, they were just used very rarely and I think in extreme cases where there were no other options.  Those that rode in them likened it to being stuck in Hell and one even threatened to put the designer in the pods so he'd know what Hell felt like.  Must have been terrifying and rather clausterphobic to be stuck in one of those windowless pods.


ack-ack

[Ack-Ack]

Mossie and Ju88 had the most versions performing different roles, being remarkably successful at all of them.  Sea Mosquito missed WWII though.

Edit:

Yes, we need more versions of both the Mossie and Ju88.

I don't know who wrote this essay but he makes a very good argument for the Mosquito being the most versatile plane in WW2.

De Havilland Mosquito - The most versatile and successful allied aircraft of World War 2


While it is no surprise that I love the P-38 and the fact that it was a jack of all trades and performed well in all it's areas of use, it definitely was overshadowed by the more versatile Mosquito.

ack-ack

[Guppy35]

I really think it has to go to the Ju88.

• Transport
• Day Bomber
• Day Heavy Fighter
• Day Reconnaissance
• Night Bomber
• Night Fighter
• Night Reconnaissance
• Torpedo Bomber
• Dive Bomber
• Pathfinder
• Guided Bomb and Missile Controller
• Unguided Missile

Based on that list, the Beaufighter would give it a run for it's money

[Karnak]

When did the Germans ever use pathfinders?

[Scherf]

Didn't they use KG 100 for "fire-raising" with the Knickebein system?

[Karnak]

Didn't they use KG 100 for "fire-raising" with the Knickebein system?

Not sure.  I am not remotely as familiar with German operations after 1940 as I am with British operations.

[Baumer]

Well both the Beaufighter and the Mosquito are very close to the Ju88 in terms of versatility. So it would come down to defining each role specifically enough to split hairs.

But come on, nobody ever strapped a Spit on top of either a Beau or Mossie and used it as a missile!    (that I'm aware of)

Karnak, it's my understanding that the Ju88S-2 and S-3 were designed and used as pathfinders.

[Karnak]

S series didn't come into existence until late 1943 as far as I know.  I wasn't aware of any German operations that late in the game that would have benefited from Pathfinders, unless the German use of the term is different than the British use of it.

[Angus]

Pathfinders based on a beam signal from the ground would suffer with the same range problems as just bombing from the beam, since the curvature of the earth allows only "so" much range.
Anyway, I would put my vote to the Mossie. Fighter, Attacker, Bomber, Night Fighter both offensive (intruder) and defensive , pathfinder, Recce, Transport/Special ops (Yes, VIP passenger room in the bomb-bay). Although the JU-88 was good and a torp-hauler as well, it would not hold up with the Mossie in some other roles. Anything could be Recce, but the Mossie was better than most at it.
Someone mentioned the Spitfire. Sort of good, - it was designed as a defensive fighter with short legs and good altitude performance, but ended up with features as long range recce, attacker, high-alt superiority fighter, offensive fighter, carrier borne fighter, and...the beauty queen of the lot

[Baumer]

Well Karnak I read about it in "Bombers of the Luftwaffe" by Dressel and Griehl. It has a couple of photo's of Ju88S's downed in England, and stated they were used as pathfinders. It may be a discrepancy in the usage or in translation from German, but it was a modification to the design for a specific purpose.

One aspect of this discussion that hasn't been touched on is the variety of design requirements. Neither the Beaufighter or Mosquito were designed to be a high angle dive bomber, sure they were used as such, but in a more limited way then the Ju88. In my opinion the designers of the Ju88 faced a ridiculous set of design requirements for the mid 1930's.

[Wmaker]

In my opinion the designers of the Ju88 faced a ridiculous set of design requirements for the mid 1930's.

...and on top of that, the requirements weren't all clear from the get go but changed during the designing of the plane.

[IrishOne]

im biased here, but i gotta say 190.   it does every role fairly well.  good dive bomber, great buff killer, F8 great for de-acking, and they're decent in a furball     

[B3YT]

I'd have to say Mossie was most versatile ever made . period. 

of added interest plane that gave the most to development of the RAF and new weapons


 The hawker  Hurricane.....no hear me out on this one. was a great dog fighter,   anti tank plane with the twin Vickers , sea hurricane (not the one use hurri cat but fully fledged carrier borne fighter bomber. ) first Britsh plane fitted with rockets (hurri MK IV) . was the test bed for all new British munitions (first fitted with napalm tanks) . was developed into the typhoon , Pauls defiant was the bastige child of one with a Vickers turret.

It scored the most kills against the Luftwaffe in the BoB downing more planes than ALL other defence (aircraft , AAA) put together. Served in all theatres of WWII.  Flown by more aces than any other fighter in the RAF  (most spit aces were already an ace in the Hurricane or scored their majority of kills in the Hurricane first) .   

Though it was never as fast as the spitfire it helped develop most of the new weapons systems  due to it's robust build and design allowing modifications for test purposes   while not  causing a drain on front line fighters .     

[Karnak]

Hurri was not developed into the Typhoon.

[B3YT]

it's not a direct development .
 But it was used  as a test bed for the designs that would become the Typhoon (the typhoon kept the same wing shape and internal designs of the later Mk hurricanes (there were 19 Mks produced in all by hawker before the wars end, 5 of which were sea hurricanes ) . The engine mounting systems were also taken from the hurricane for the MK1a Typhoon. Aileron and elevator designs were again taken from latter Mk hurries , Though these were to change for the MKII onward as it's role was changed.   

They power plant  and  fuselage construction though being very different owe  a lot to lessons  learned and the positives of the Hurricanes aerodynamics (e.g positive elevator and aileron control in high speed dives)

Not saying it was great , just that later aircraft owe a lot to the lessons  taught (though not mistakes)  from Sir Sidney Cams great little fighter/bomber