Author Topic: Which fighter scored the most kills in history of air combat? (Read 1724 times)

R4M · « **Reply #15 on:** September 29, 2001, 08:27:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by Asmodan:
Bf 109 - for sure
andthebest pilot was Erich Hartmann with he`s 352 confirmed kills.

Allow me to disagree, Asmo. The best fighter pilot of the 109 (and possibly the best air gunner of the war) was Jochen Marseille

Karnak · « **Reply #16 on:** September 29, 2001, 09:07:00 PM »

LtHans,

No, the B-17 did not.

If B-17 gunner's claims were accurate it would be true, but in fact they massively overclaimed kills, 10 or 20 claims for every real kill, IIRC.

Wotan · « **Reply #17 on:** September 30, 2001, 12:46:00 AM »

also Karnak I've read where different gunners claimed the same kill.

Is that correct or did the kill goto the Bomber itself?

Urchin · « **Reply #18 on:** September 30, 2001, 12:56:00 AM »

ubb bug...

Voss · « **Reply #19 on:** September 30, 2001, 01:29:00 AM »

P-51 Mustang.

It fought against the Japanese, too. I bet the F4U and P-38 competed with it in the Pacific, but overall I think the Mustang comes out ahead (even against the luftwobble plane). You can't forget, it fought in Africa (A-36 and P51 early variants), China, Europe, the Pacific, Korea, and South America later.

GRUNHERZ · « **Reply #20 on:** September 30, 2001, 07:10:00 AM »

LtHans:

I have read accounts of a B17s flight gunners claims for a single raid over France that exceeded the TOTAL numbers of LW fighters based in the region at the time. Yes thats right the gunners claimed to have shot down more LW fighters in one single raid than existed in the area. IIRC this was from the two volume JG26 combat diary, in which the author checked allied/axis claims throughout the whole war day by day.

Nashwan · « **Reply #21 on:** September 30, 2001, 08:44:00 AM »

During one raid on Lille in Oct 42, B-17 gunners claimed 56 destroyed, 26 probables, 20 damaged. Post war analysis of German fighter losses indicates probably 1 Luftwaffe fighter lost.
On the first Schweinfurt raid, US bomber gunners claimed 148 enemy fighters shot down, 18 probably shot down. The escort fighters claimed claimed 19 kills. Actual German losses 25. The fighter kill claims were on average twice real kills, so around 10 fighters shot down by the escorts, 15 by the bombers.
These are just a couple of examples, but it's easy to see why bomber claims were so inflated. Any fighter attacking a bombing formation is going to have many guns shooting at him at the same time. If the fighter is destroyed, all those gunners will file a kill claim.
I've seen the figure of around 1000 fighters as an estimate of the numbers shot down by USAAF heavy bombers over Europe, which includes the B24 as well. To put that in context, That's about the same number the 109 or Hurricane claimed in the BoB alone.

NineZ · « **Reply #22 on:** September 30, 2001, 10:37:00 AM »

P51, Oh man. You can add up the total kills from maybe a couple of German Aces and it would most likely total more kills then the mustang brought down during the whole war.

Tac · « **Reply #23 on:** September 30, 2001, 11:18:00 AM »

someone dig up the kills of the P-38 and the kills of the P-51 please.

Would be interesting!

Voss · « **Reply #24 on:** September 30, 2001, 03:01:00 PM »

NineZ needs a nap.

NineZ · « **Reply #25 on:** September 30, 2001, 04:34:00 PM »

Was just fanning the flames a bit, and your right, I need a nap. hehee

I dont have the foggiest how many kills the mustang racked up.

Grimm · « **Reply #26 on:** September 30, 2001, 04:49:00 PM »

Quote

Originally posted by LtHans:

For the highest kill to death ratio, that is the Corsair.

[ 09-29-2001: Message edited by: LtHans ]

Im Curious on this one. The F6F Hellcat had a 19:1 K/D. What was the F4Us? I was under the impression the Hellcats was top. Im relying on a Hellcat History Video tape for the info, but maybe its wrong.

Rebel · « **Reply #27 on:** September 30, 2001, 06:01:00 PM »

Highest K to D ratio ever....

F-15 Eagle, baby.

100:0

[ 09-30-2001: Message edited by: Rebel ]

DanielMcIntyre · « **Reply #28 on:** October 01, 2001, 03:19:00 AM »

There were less P38's built then either the P47 and P51, however the P38 had more kills on japanese aircraft then either of these two fighters and more then any of the other fighters that served in the PAC. The P38 kicked bellybutton bigtime in RL.

Most kills, have to go for 109 too:

Over 21,000 109G submarks were built + all the other marks prior to the G model, which would easily put this fighter in the 30000+ catagory and as mentioned the 109 was a superlative fighter used in all theatres in WW2 and also saw combat prior to WW2. German fighter aces easily eclipsed the British, Japanese and American aces in regards to kill tally's and unlike the Allies, the Germans got to literally vulch an enemy fielding initally antiquated and and inferior aircraft flown by inferior pilots with outdated inferior tactics AKA the Russians.

BlauK · « **Reply #29 on:** October 01, 2001, 03:41:00 AM »

Howabout the highest scoring individual plane.. not just model or type???

FAF Bf109G-2 marked MT-201 was flown by three different aces, and scored 32 1/2 victories.

Any higher scores for one plane?