Spitdweeb: Or, what's wrong with flying the Spit?

[hotard]

Col. Steve Pisanos put it this way when we talked a couple of years ago in Denver: " If I had to defend the airspace here, I'd choose a Spitfire. If I had to escort bombers to LA, I'd choose the Mustang. If the mission called for a fighter-bomber, I'd choose the P-47.

[clerick]

Col. Steve Pisanos put it this way when we talked a couple of years ago in Denver: " If I had to defend the airspace here, I'd choose a Spitfire. If I had to escort bombers to LA, I'd choose the Mustang. If the mission called for a fighter-bomber, I'd choose the P-47.

If I wanted to do all those things I'd choose a P38

[hotard]

If I wanted to do all those things I'd choose a P38

If you wanted to do all of those things, and none of them well.

[Guppy35]

Col. Steve Pisanos put it this way when we talked a couple of years ago in Denver: " If I had to defend the airspace here, I'd choose a Spitfire. If I had to escort bombers to LA, I'd choose the Mustang. If the mission called for a fighter-bomber, I'd choose the P-47.

Actually great truth to this.  Adding that if it's in the Pacific, over lots of water, he'd want a P38.  That second engine was a big deal in that case.

[clerick]

If you wanted to do all of those things, and none of them well.

The 38 would do them well. Perhaps not as well as the dedicated planes did one job.  It had nearly the range (or the same according to some sources) as the P51, could haul ord and do ground attack very well and managed to handle the best Axis aircraft.

[Oldman731]

and managed to handle the best Axis aircraft.

And here is where reasonable minds may differ.

- oldman

[wil3ur]

And here is where reasonable minds may differ.

- oldman

...It wasn't the Americans that nicknamed it the Fork Tailed Devil.

[cactuskooler]

A 38 can dry a helluva lot more laundry than its single-engine competitors.  That'd probably snap the wings right off a Spit.



And, as if it even needs to be mentioned...



It's all about priorities.

[Der Jude]

Hardest part of flying a spit is the gunnery.

It is easy. Recovers quickly if you make a mistake turns nicely does all things either good or ok.

If I have a friend who tries aces for the first time I tell him to fly a spit.

...he added non chilantly as if he cared. or however its spelled. paging comrade question.

[clerick]

A 38 can dry a helluva lot more laundry than its single-engine competitors.  That'd probably snap the wings right off a Spit.

(Image removed from quote.)

And, as if it even needs to be mentioned...

(Image removed from quote.)

It's all about priorities.

LOL

Cactus, can you please please please make me a laundry skinned 38??

[Oldman731]

...It wasn't the Americans that nicknamed it the Fork Tailed Devil.

Well, yes, it probably was.

- oldman

[wil3ur]

Well, yes, it probably was.

- oldman

Easiest search, but by far not the only one from wikipedia:

Lightnings escorted a group of B-17 Flying Fortress bombers on a raid over Tunis. On 5 April 1943, 26 P-38Fs of the 82nd claimed 31 enemy aircraft destroyed, helping to establish air superiority in the area, and earning it the German nickname "der Gabelschwanzteufel" – the Fork-Tailed Devil.

[Oldman731]

Easiest search, but by far not the only one from wikipedia:

You ever see an actual quote from an Axis person using that term?

- oldman

[Kazaa]

I miss my Spitfire.

[Midway]

I miss my Spitfire.

It's waiting for you, as am I to shoot your rusty self out of the sky.