Most Versatile Aircraft of WW2?

[Wmaker]

Karnak must work with statistics a lot... Select only the roles the Mosquito can fill and compare with other aircraft, regardless of other roles that other aircraft can fill. Declare Mosquito the winner.

Yep.  Particularly funny was the vague "strike aircraft"-category" which conviniently forgets the fact that Ju-88 was a dive bomber fitted with dive brakes and very accurate dive bomb sight.

[Die Hard]

If we consider Smoe's argument for a moment, which WWII aircraft was the most versatile with little or no modification? I think the Me 410 would be a strong contender with that multi-purpose bomb bay and huge number of field kits available.

[Masherbrum]

[Karnak]

Yep.  Particularly funny was the vague "strike aircraft"-category" which conviniently forgets the fact that Ju-88 was a dive bomber fitted with dive brakes and very accurate dive bomb sight.

That is one of the reasons I said "Yes" to the Ju88 in that category.  Your objection confuses me, honestly.  I just listed the core tasks aircraft in WWII had to fill.

[Karnak]

If we consider Smoe's argument for a moment, which WWII aircraft was the most versatile with little or no modification? I think the Me 410 would be a strong contender with that multi-purpose bomb bay and huge number of field kits available.

Mossie 6.  Me410 was crap in comparison.

[Wmaker]

Your objection confuses me, honestly.

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.

[SlapShot]

The P-38 was by far the dominant USAAF fighter in the PTO and it was the USAAF fighter in that theater that broke the IJAF's back and wiped the ground with the IJA, not the Jug or the Mustang.

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.

[IrishOne]

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.

most the japanese pilots that knew anything about flying were dead by the time the hellcat showed up. 

[SlapShot]

most the japanese pilots that knew anything about flying were dead by the time the hellcat showed up. 

LOL ... so all the good ones were dead by September 1 of 1943 ... too funny.

[IrishOne]

LOL ... so all the good ones were dead by September 1 of 1943 ... too funny.

when did I say all?

[Die Hard]

Mossie 6.  Me410 was crap in comparison.

We're not discussing which aircraft performed best in each role, just which was the most versatile. You seem to be hopelessly in love with the Mossie, which is quite understandable; it is a beautiful and capable aircraft.

Could the Mosquito Mk. VI carry torpedoes? Could it dive-bomb? Could it carry an anti-tank cannon? (Me 410 could carry the BK 37 and BK 50) Could it carry a variety of gun packages?

Again we're not discussing performance, but versatility; and the Me 410 was certainly competitive enough to be successful in the various roles it was assigned.

[Scherf]

*sigh*

The VI didn't carry torpedoes, naval Mosquitos did post-war.

Mosquitos could and did dive-bomb, though it was not normal practice, and at high angles it was recommended to attack with wing-bombs only.

Of course it could carry an anti-tank cannon, though in practice the Molins was used vs. surface vessels and U-boats.

[Die Hard]

Those were different versions... not the VI. Remember we're discussing the most versatile single aircraft version, not multiple versions.

[Wildcat1]

ehm...




i mean, seriously, it can do anything 

[Scherf]

Those were different versions... not the VI. Remember we're discussing the most versatile single aircraft version, not multiple versions.

Which version of the Ju 88 was able to carry both torps and an anti-tank gun then?