Best Single Engine fighter-Bomber(Prop Driven)

[colmbo]

and who is that?

Icepac's Dad flew Skyraiders in Vietnam.  He shared a Mig-17 kill with another pilot from VA-25.

[Blinder]

This state of the art piece of machinery was by far thee best fighter-bomber ever. 

[J.A.W.]

Well, if that is the moteur-cannon equipped Spad, then you're onto something..

Or - if it is only a lousy flyweight Nieuport - then maybe you're on something,
-or need to be.. 

[Blinder]

Well, if that is the moteur-cannon equipped Spad, then you're onto something..

Or - if it is only a lousy flyweight Nieuport - then maybe you're on something,
-or need to be.. 

Wrong and wrong. Guess again. 

[J.A.W.]

Snipe?

[Blinder]

Snipe?

Correct! 

I read a book years ago written by a Snipe pilot who spoke of dropping 25 pound bombs on the trenches and during German charges in no man's land. He said it wasn't the fastest or best performer but it was manuverable and stable for shallow angle bombing. It was probably one of the least known pioneers of the close support fighter-bomber role that eventually lead to all of your much celebrated Corsair's Thunderbolts and 190s.

[LCADolby]

Spit16

[J.A.W.]

Were Snipes used in the famous occasion at Nablus in Palestine on 21st Sept
1918 - where for the 1st time..[P. 57 Guinness History of Air Warfare]

 '...a major ground force was virtually annihilated by aircraft alone.'

'The RAF found the Turkish 7th Army retreating on the Tulkeram-Nablus road
...& strafed it with great effect'.

...'The road was bordered by steep ravines, & the RAF's attack continued all day, 2 aircraft appearing every 3 minutes, with an additional 1/2 doz each 1/2 hour. Initial attacks blocked the head of the column, & thereafter chaos ensued
& multiplied.
By the end of the day the 7th Army had to all intents & purposes ceased to exist, & it was only necessary for the advancing British troops to round up the prisoners.'

A prototype for the Falaise Gap/Gulf War Iraqi retreat from Kuwait strafings..

[J.A.W.]

& 'bout ~30 years later, the RAF were getting busy in the same region,
flying the potent prop fighter-bomber Tempest F6..

See here, paragraph 21..

http://www.hawkertempest.se/Tempests19471949.htm

[earl1937]

Which, in your opinion, was the best fighter-bomber of all time? It flew in 2 "wars" and 1 police action....just wondering what you guys think!

The "Skyraider" was the best all around fighter bomber, single engine, prop propelled aircraft of all time. I am basing that on history reports, personal stories from pilots who flew them. It could deliever more ords than a B-17 or B-24 did in the second world war. It could take more ground ack than F4U's, P-47D40's, "Nancy" jugs and all of the German single engine aircraft which flew in WW2. And last but not least, could loiter over target area longer than practically all other fighter-bomber aircraft.
The one thing which must be taken into consideration is the "useful" load! The AD-7, final variant of 40 variants built, could carry 8,000 lbs of ords, only 72 were built, powered by the same engine as the B-29C, P&W R-3350-26wb and had 4 20MM, M2 cannon.
A wing load of ords!

 

As far as defending itself in a "dog fight", against other aircraft build as fighter-bombers, such as the D40 Jug, I believe it could prevail because of the cannon.

For true stories of this great aircraft visit this web site listed below. True stories from the guys who flew the "Skyraider"

http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/index.htm

BTW, everyone agrees that the F8F was a top notch Navy fighter in its day, but check out this dog fight between the "Sandy" and an F8F
http://www.skyraider.org/skyassn/warstor/Grishamwarstor.htm#anchor279778

[GScholz]

In my honest opinion the Skyraider fails in the "fighter" category. A 1940 Spitfire I or 109E could run it down and kill it.

[Saxman]

Didn't we have that discussion about the Skyraider before?

Yes, it was a supreme mud mover, and probably the best CAS aircraft in history until the A-10 was introduced, but the Skyraider was in NO WAY a fighter. It was a bomber that could protect itself in a pinch, pure and simple.

[Karnak]

Skyraider was not a fighter-bomber, thus is not in contention.  A fighter-bomber must be able to fill the fighter role with a realistic chance of success that doesn't rely entirely on the incompetence of the opposition.

A squadron of Mosquito FB.Mk VIs (the FB means fighter-bomber) were attacked by a staffel of Fw190s.  End result was four Mossies and four Fw190s lost.  Would the A-1 manage that against a contemporary fighter?

[earl1937]

In my honest opinion the Skyraider fails in the "fighter" category. A 1940 Spitfire I or 109E could run it down and kill it.

Neither aircraft you mention are true fighter-bombers! fighters, yes, but ground attack aircraft no!

[earl1937]

Didn't we have that discussion about the Skyraider before?

Yes, it was a supreme mud mover, and probably the best CAS aircraft in history until the A-10 was introduced, but the Skyraider was in NO WAY a fighter. It was a bomber that could protect itself in a pinch, pure and simple.

A quote from Columbo: Icepac's Dad flew Skyraiders in Vietnam.  He shared a Mig-17 kill with another pilot from VA-25. What you are over looking is the capibilty of being both a bomber and a fighter. The A-10 was a great aircraft, but not in class we are talking about!