Author Topic: P-47 (Read 6235 times)

bockko · « **Reply #60 on:** May 16, 2003, 11:52:56 PM »

plus the skyraiders were still in warranty

davidpt40 · « **Reply #61 on:** May 17, 2003, 03:17:56 AM »

Did some searching, apparently a ground attack variant of the F4U was made, but it was a dog. Called the F4AU-1

Quote

AU-1

The AU-1 was a ground-attack version based on the -5NL. It had a R-2800-83WA producing 2800Hp. It featured increased armor overall, and carried 4 20-mm cannon, each with 231 rounds. Additionally, 10 stub pylons, up from 8, were fitted under the outer wing panels for the carriage of 5 inch rockets. However, it was a poor flyer, and 111 were built during production from February to October 1952.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #62 on:** May 17, 2003, 05:22:37 AM »

Let me see the P38 out turns out accelerates and out climbs Jug.

How does it win handsdown from a P38?

Must have been the pilot i guess.

Urchin · « **Reply #63 on:** May 17, 2003, 10:16:34 AM »

I think in game a P-38 is better, it might not be better up really high (like 30k), but lower it is better.

But the P-47 is cooler

.

-ammo- · « **Reply #64 on:** May 17, 2003, 12:52:57 PM »

Its also beter looking than the P-38. Additionally, its WW2 history is deeper than that of the P-38 (step child sent to Afrika).

Urchin · « **Reply #65 on:** May 17, 2003, 01:09:48 PM »

I'd say different, don't know about deeper. The P-38 was a great plane in the Pacific, the P-47 was mainly Europe.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #66 on:** May 17, 2003, 08:27:15 PM »

What place stands the first P47 ace in USA WO2 ranking?

At least the first two where P38 pilots and ground kills didn't count on them.

Guppy · « **Reply #67 on:** May 17, 2003, 08:53:38 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by BUG_EAF322
What place stands the first P47 ace in USA WO2 ranking?

At least the first two where P38 pilots and ground kills didn't count on them.

Gabreski comes in third, I think, with 28 (30.5 or 31 including ground kills - not sure on that one).

Charles MacDonald (P-38) and Robert Johnson (P-47) tied in fourth with 27.

bockko · « **Reply #68 on:** May 17, 2003, 09:17:47 PM »

as far as ace standings between planes, not a good comparison by itself. At the time guys like gabreski and johson were slugging it out the the luftwaffe the p38 had already been shown to be the wrong plane in the wrong theatre. Out in the pacific the 38 scored well because its range was superior to the 47 and the opposition was far outclassed by the p38's speed and alt performance. Another reason the 38 was appreciated in the pac was the insurance policy of the 2cnd engine, although takeoff and landing on one engine was apparently a real trick.

Guppy · « **Reply #69 on:** May 17, 2003, 10:00:55 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by bockko
At the time guys like gabreski and johson were slugging it out the the luftwaffe the p38 had already been shown to be the wrong plane in the wrong theatre.

I don't know about that on either count.

Gabreski and Johnson both started their P-47 careers against the Luftwaffe in mid-1943, well before the ETO P-38 Groups (20th and 55th) went active.

As for "the wrong plane in the wrong theatre" - the P-51 certainly proved itself a better aircraft for 8th Air Force, but 9th Air Force's P-38s did good work well into 1945. 474th FG in particular specifically insisted on keeping the Lightning, and flew the type up until V-E Day.

-ammo- · « **Reply #70 on:** May 17, 2003, 11:33:44 PM »

Actually P-38's were in the ETO in mid 43 along with the first P-47's. Gen Eaker made a descision to send them to Afrika. There was a huge push to defeat Rommel there and it was given priority. It was a matter of circumstance and politics why the P-38's were sent south as opposed to the P-47s.

Guppy · « **Reply #71 on:** May 18, 2003, 12:07:43 AM »

Quote

Originally posted by -ammo-
Actually P-38's were in the ETO in mid 43 along with the first P-47's. Gen Eaker made a descision to send them to Afrika.

Are you sure about that mid-43 part? The 1st, 14th and 82nd FGs deployed to England in 1942 with P-38Fs, but all were transferred to North Africa by the end of the year.

The 78th FG remained in England with P-38s, but by the end of January had converted to P-47s, their Lightnings sent to North Africa to fill the shortage.

In any case, it was not until the 20th and 55th FGs went active that the well-known problems with the Lightning in the ETO (which bockko commented on) were realised.

-ammo- · « **Reply #72 on:** May 18, 2003, 01:27:53 PM »

I think you are more correct than I am. I do know that P-38's were in the ETO prior to and at the time the P-47 arrived in England.

BUG_EAF322 · « **Reply #73 on:** May 18, 2003, 07:15:56 PM »

O yeah and first USAF fighter over berlin.

frank3 · « **Reply #74 on:** May 19, 2003, 09:35:30 AM »

The P38 meight be better, but in the war there just where to few planes, he biggest part of all the kills was made by the Thunderbolts