Most Versatile Aircraft of WW2?

[Grendel]

When did the Germans ever use pathfinders?

From 1940 onwards in large scale operations.

[Scherf]

Is that *the* Grendel there? If so, have a question for you about Poli Ringbom.

[Karnak]

From 1940 onwards in large scale operations.

Hard to use a late 1943 aircraft in 1940 though...

Also, what did German pathfinders do?  I have never heard of German raids using target markers like British raids did.

[Lusche]

Hard to use a late 1943 aircraft in 1940 though...

Also, what did German pathfinders do?  I have never heard of German raids using target markers like British raids did.

They did the same thing. Marking targets as well as setting flight path markers.

One example: The raid on Bristol 27/28 March 43:

The meeting point was over Guernsey, marked by a battery of searchlights on the ground.
The next waypoint near Newport was marked by four red flare bombs at 3000m, which was renewed 3 times (every 12 minutes)by 3 more planes.
The target was marked by a mix of white & yellow flare bombs by planes of I./KG 66.

The German "pathfinders" were mostly called "Beleuchter" (=illluminators)

[W7LPNRICK]

allied- Mossie or P-47 in all their variants IMO
axis- Ju-88 personally I hate flying it, because it's a shuddering slow pig and can't dive WOS IMO, but it's history is undeniable. 

[bozon]

Ju-88 was extremely versatile, but it pales in comparison to the mosquito. The Ju-88 was being gradually pulled back from almost every role as it be came more and more vulnerable. The mosquito lasted till the end as a highly successful and contemporary plane and kept taking more and more roles. Also, no need to mention what happened when mosquitoes ran into Ju-88s in the air...

[Baumer]

I'd like to start a discussion on what you think was the most versatile aircraft of World War 2?

My vote goes to the Mossie.

From Merriaum-Webster;

Main Entry: ver·sa·tile

1 : changing or fluctuating readily : variable <a versatile disposition>
2 : embracing a variety of subjects, fields, or skills; also : turning with ease from one thing to another
3 a (1) : capable of turning forward or backward : reversible <a versatile toe of a bird> (2) : capable of moving laterally and up and down <versatile antennae> b of an anther : having the filaments attached at or near the middle so as to swing freely
4 : having many uses or applications <versatile building material>

Given that definition of versatile, I do not see how the course of the war should diminish the versatility of the Ju88 or improve the Mosquito.

[Angus]

Was there a role that the Ju88 could fulfill while the Mossie could not?

[Delirium]

P38, without a doubt.

It was built before WWII started and was flying in one form or another until the end.

It could as far as the longest legged fighters with the correct engine settings.

It flew as a fighter, Recon platform, Droopsnoot, and after the war it was doing surveys for civilian companies.

It could carry much more ord than recommended through the use of sway bars. It was even tested to carry 2 torpedos.

It was even functionally tested with skis instead of wheels.

It flew in Europe, the Pacific, Africa, and the CBI theaters

Need I go on?

The mossie is up there as well. Anytime you marry a twin engined a/c in something smaller than a medium bomber (like the Ju88) you have room to alter the original design/concept without making it a death trap.

[Baumer]

Here's a couple of questions for you guys that have more Mosquito information than I do.

1.) Was the Mosquito ever used (during WW2) to launch and control guided rockets or guided bombs?
2.) Was there ever a design requirement for high angle dive bombing?
3.) Was the Mosquito ever used in a configuration / manner like the Mistel?

If we are going to include the discussion of length of service as criteria for versatility then I have a few more questions.

4.) Did the Mosquito participate in the Battle of France?
5.) Did the Mosquito participate in the Battle of Britain?   

If I was given a choice about which plane I'd rather fly in combat it would easily be the Mosquito, but I still think the Ju 88 was a more versatile aircraft.

[Ack-Ack]

allied- P-47 in all their variants IMO

How was the P-47 more versatile than let's say the P-38 or the P-51 or even the F6F?  Not to make an argument for the Lightning but if was far more versatile than the Jug ever was.  The Jug only served as a fighter and ground attack aircraft, the P-38 performed the same rolls in addition to being a night fighter, pathfinder, level bomber, photo/recce just to name a few.


ack-ack

[Lusche]

1.) Was the Mosquito ever used (during WW2) to launch and control guided rockets or guided bombs?

Did the Ju 88?

[Krusty]

Calling the Ju-88 a heavy day fighter is like calling the Beaufighter a fighter. It was really an attack platform. You wouldn't call the IL2 a fighter, right?

IMO, Probably the 109. Not just for sheer modifications to the airframe like some are listing here, but because it was used everywhere for everything.

It started as a simple continental fighter. Moved on to be used over Britain, the Med, in Africa, the middle east, the Soviet Union. It had everything from all MGs to MGs removed and only cannons, to no cannons and cameras. They even had carrier-capable variants (never mind that the carriers never developed). the airframe was not the best, but it was used everywhere and for everything. One version even carried a bomb so big they had to stick and extension tail gear under the fuselage to lift it up. Once airborn thise parachuted down. The plane dropped the bomb and landed with its normal tail gear. The plane was responsible for most of the RAF losses on the western front for a long time, even after Fw190s started showing up.

Of course it had its major failings. At first range was too short without a drop tank (rather, it was too short for the military doctrine of the BOB), and armament was always an issue after the E, hence the additions of higher-caliber nose cannon and wing gondolas, but these wouldn't be the same as other aircraft.


I think that many planes fit the bill, definitely the P-47 ranks up there as the plane that broke the back of the Luftwaffe and wiped the ground with the IJA in the pacific. I think the P-51 counts if you include its post-war record but during WW2 it was mostly just used for long range escort (unless you count the limited allison ground attack versions?). Then there was the bomber used extensively for fighter sweeps, the P-38 (*ducks, runs, hides*).

Overall, lots of choices, but out of stupid blindness, out of limited options, out of political restrictions, and out of the utter non-flexability of the german war machine industry, they just used that 109 for EVERY thing they needed. Not necessarily the best at every role, but I'd think the most versatile for sure.

[Lusche]

Calling the Ju-88 a heavy day fighter is like calling the Beaufighter a fighter. It was really an attack platform. You wouldn't call the IL2 a fighter, right?

Unlike the Il-2 the Ju 88 had variants purposely bulit for a heavy and long range fighter role, and they were designated as such.

[Karnak]

I think it comes down to this.

If you had to fight a WWII era war, but were only allowed to have a single airframe, which would you take?

Lets look at the suggested aircraft in this thread and the roles they could do:

Spitfire:
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: no
Carrier fighter: yes
Night fighter: no
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: yes
Torpedo bomber: no

P-47:
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: no
Night fighter: no
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: no
Torpedo bomber: no

Hurricane:
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: no
Carrier fighter: yes
Night fighter: no
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: no
Torpedo bomber: no

P-51:
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: no
Night fighter: no
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: no
Torpedo bomber: no

F4U
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: no
Carrier fighter: yes
Night fighter: yes
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: no
Torpedo bomber: no

P-38:
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: no
Night fighter: yes
Bomber: yes
PR aircraft: yes
Torpedo bomber: no

Beaufighter
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: no
Night fighter: yes
Bomber: no
PR aircraft: no
Torpedo bomber: yes

Ju88
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: no
Night fighter: yes
Bomber: yes
PR aircraft: yes
Torpedo bomber: yes

Mosquito
Interceptor: yes
Strike aircraft: yes
Long range fighter: yes
Carrier fighter: yes
Night fighter: yes
Bomber: yes
PR aircraft: yes
Torpedo bomber: yes


Only one airframe could answer "yes" to all of the core duties needed for a WWII conflict.  None of these will be best at all the categories they can fill, there is no way a Beaufighter or Ju88 fighter will match a Spitfire as an interceptor for example, but they could be used in all the roles listed and marked "yes".