How AHII has conditioned my understanding of history...

[muzik]

As for the second, you sarcastically make my point well enough to at least mildly annoy Wiley, with whom I was having a civil discourse. I agree but you get a style deduction.

I am using the BBS Justice League tactic of beating first, asking questions later.

[PJ_Godzilla]

Overall it seems the American planes were built much like the muscle cars of the late 60's, big, heavy and fast in the straight away but overall poor performers which led to the bnz tactics the American pilots adopted. The British Spitfire is built like a sports car, it's fast and highly maneuverable. Seems to be good at everything. My pick for best overall fighter of WW2 followed by the Zero and 109.

Badboy's thesis on the E-M, IIRC, supports your opinion w/r American tin. Also agreed on Spitty, but that doesn't mean I want to fly one all the time (where's the fun, where's the challenge, where are the big brass ones?).

Next Caller...

[Rob52240]

Before Aces High I thought it took 1 Person to fly each bomber in a formation.  Boy was I ever wrong.

[PJ_Godzilla]

Before Aces High I thought it took 1 Person to fly each bomber in a formation.  Boy was I ever wrong.

That's nothing. I thought getting splattered on a windscreen like lasagna, then incinerated in a fireball might actually hurt, or at least be mildly inconvenient. Instead, it turns out that people are just like PunkinPuss in the old Hannah Barbera cartoon.

My mom used to tell me not to pull those three stooges moves on the siblings. She obviously didn't know anything about history.

[Rob52240]

You mean that's not Lasagna that splatters all over the canopy after I get those weird check 6 thingies from that guy who must suffer from gigantism and turret's syndrome?

[Guppy35]

Before Aces High I thought it took 1 Person to fly each bomber in a formation.  Boy was I ever wrong.

I always thought it took two pilots, a navigator, bombardier and gunners

[Karnak]

I always thought it took two pilots, a navigator, bombardier and gunners

What are gunners, why do you have two guys to fly the airplane (isn't that a bit cramped?) and why do you have two guys to navigate and aim the bombs?

[Guppy35]

What are gunners, why do you have two guys to fly the airplane (isn't that a bit cramped?) and why do you have two guys to navigate and aim the bombs?

You ever seen me fly?  You bet I need another pilot.  Seen my shooting?  I sure do need gunners.  Navigate and drop a bomb?  Need I say more?

[Noir]

AH taught me that the UK was the only airplane supplier for the allies in WWI.

[Rich52]

There are times the game resembles actually history. 1 on 1s with pilots of equal skill, each using the strengths of the airframes is one of them. Another, my favorite example, is the historical recreations that uses actual period/theater aircraft on actual historical accurate operations.

But generally ? Most people would rather have fun then play strict history. Still if you up against an enemy in a strong position, against a stick who knows how to use his strengths against your weaknesses ? You will probably have a historically accurate problem. 

[Vinkman]

The Hellcat was not as good a performer as its 17:1 kill ratio implies.

The U.S.Navy really underestimated the need for rearward visiblity, and got the message much later than the Army Aircorps did.

The Pony is an over-rated dog fighter, but I can see why it was such a great overall combat aircraft. [range, speed, firepower, payload]

The 190 is an over-rated dog fighter.

Flight style for fun vs. Flight style for a real war: It's clear that in the real war, very little dog fighting took place and most kills were racked up sneaking up on unsuspecting aircraft. As a result, fast planes, that dove well, and had lots of firepower gained reputaions as great planes. But AH really makes clear that these planes had severe limitations. And by showing these limitations, confirms that action in the real war was nothing like the "jump in and mix it up all the time" style of most AH players.

Explained why P-38 were removed from the European theater.


Rall, Hartmann, Gabreski, Bong, or Campbell wouldn't stand a chance against Grizz or Bruv119.     

[PJ_Godzilla]

Good points re: USN. Let's face it, they had the horde and probably, in many cases (though not all - see Sakae's gripping account of being attacked by 16 HellKitties) , even the skill level on their side by late war. What a steamroller. Had they been mixing it up 1:1 against experienced Japanese pilots all flying Ki-84s and N1K2's, a different ratio might've obtained.

Also: totally agreed on the USN 6 view <play sucking sound here>.

As for the bnz, I suspect most "statistics" never saw it coming.

[Oldman731]

Flight style for fun vs. Flight style for a real war: It's clear that in the real war, very little dog fighting took place and most kills were racked up sneaking up on unsuspecting aircraft. As a result, fast planes, that dove well, and had lots of firepower gained reputaions as great planes. But AH really makes clear that these planes had severe limitations. And by showing these limitations, confirms that action in the real war was nothing like the "jump in and mix it up all the time" style of most AH players.

This.

- oldman

[Rich52]

The Hellcat killed more enemy airplanes then any other. Certainly there were other factors, so many it would be hard to compare them against any Jap fighter. Most of all land based ones.

The Japanese started a war against an Industrial juggernaught that roll out super carriers and airplanes like so many sausages. That could give an unending line of Pilot candidates hundreds of training air hours before putting them in combat.

While the KI-84 was a problematic design I'd agree to a point with you with the N1k2. This was an impressive design and all things being equal it could fight with any of the best US fighters. But all things werent perfect. Jap industry had a lot of problems building and maintaining its top end fighters, let alone building enough of them. Even still I'd be willing to bet the Hellcats and Corsairs did better then 1 to 1 against the N1k, which was only flown by the best IJN sticks still breathing.

Very interesting opinion PJ. Actually I'd love to see the film of AHs 20 best Hellcat and Corsair sticks going against AHs 20 best N1k and KI-84 sticks. 

[W7LPNRICK]

One aircraft alone is a liablilty, 2 or more aircraft is an asset.

ABC, Always be Climbing.

It is easier to lose E then gain it.

Make your kills quickly.

You can tell in one turn if your apponent is competant.

You only have too much fuel if you are on fire.
(I likey this thread PJ)
or taking off in Lancasters(Too Much Gas).