”. A. 283. The Warhawk was used by most Allied powers during World War II,. SBD Dauntless. Russian military aircraft, as well as Russian Trawlers, are. It could outturn all VVS fighters except the Yak-3. 1. A dozen Hawker Typhoons were to provide fighter escort. stick with the bombers, because if the fighter escorts chased after enemy fighter decoys and left the bombers un-protected, the B–17s and later B–24s became easy pickings for other enemy fighters lurking nearby. In it's main role, the Mustang proved itself as a superb escort fighter in Allied bombing raids over Germany. 92mm machine guns in the nose and two 20mm cannons in the wings; this heavy armament made it a formidable threat to other fighters. 1941. Designed and initially manufactured by Chance Vought, the Corsair was soon in great. What's new. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). Escort fighter. INTRODUCTION. Oct 15, 2005 #336 JonJGoldberg. 19. Everybody seems to be forgetting the F6F Hellcat, I guess because it was carrier based people tend to think it was small, but it wasn't. On the afternoon of July 12, 1942, four newly deployed pilots of the U. The Mitsubishi A6M Zero fighter aircraft was a formidable fighter aircraft during WWII and held the title of the best carrier-based fighter in the world for several years. As if this wasn’t enough, Hitler even ordered frightening measures like loud sirens and machine guns to the design making it one of the most feared bombers during the war. Theater of operations doesn't really matter, nor does the nation who operated the type, or the service arm. Westland Welkin. It was designed to attack bombers whilst Hurricanes dealt with the fighter escort. A latecomer to World War. Between October 8 and 14, 1943, the Eighth Air Force flew 1,342 heavy bomber sorties, losing a total of 152 bombers (11. Sign Up; Reviews; Browse. High-ranking officers who had flown during World War I were accustomed to open cockpits, fixed wheels, struts and supporting cables. The FW 190 was heavily armed, with two 7. They even divided the job of kicking Axis ass between them by the end of the war. 9 Aug 1943. The Germans felt that while the P-47 was inescapable in a dive, they could both out climb it and out turn it. F4U-2 – Experimental carrier-based night-time fighter. Setting the world speed record in 1941, it superseded its own record 3 years later during a dive at 702 mph. In 2004, Mr. It was also used to escort heavy bombers in Germany, and it greatly contributed to the Allied Power air superiority in World War II. Along with its use as a general fighter, the P-38 served in various aerial combat roles, night fighter, long-range escort fighter (with drop tanks), pathfinder, and as a fighter-bomber. International tensions were rising, and the Navy awarded Grumman a contract for 600 Wildcats by the close of 1940. g. Western nations accepted that by the end of World War II that fighters had to be capable of being air superiority fighters, interceptors, close support aircraft and, if need be, escort or recon aircraft. The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk is an American single-engined, single-seat, all-metal fighter-bomber that first flew in 1938. It saw action in the Pacific War against Japan. 7 millimeter m2 browning machine guns with 400 rounds each gun, making it the most formidable American fighter of World War II. Sep 10, 2005. Years of service: 1943 – 1952. The P-51 was the first single-engine fighter with the range to escort bombers all the way to their target and back, and subsequently to establish air superiority over Germany itself. Aeronautica Umbra Trojani AUT. 123 B-17s bombed the primary target while the rest bombed secondary targets. This was the Tuskegee Airmen experiment—a small step in the long-term process in integrating all races into the American armed forces. While annoying, I think its a valid point that has to be made. Forums; Staff; Online Users; More . US war decisive World War 2 long-range escort fighter plane. But by 1943, the US had evolved its tactics to hunt and kill U-boats. All told, the XP-83 would see a top speed of 522 miles per hour and range was 1,700 miles on. The Best Fighter Planes of World War II The Bf 109, Spitfire, FW 190, P-51, Yak-3, A6M Zero, P-38, F4U and Ki-84. It boasted of speed and impressive endurance. As it was, the toughness and defensive firepower of the B-17 and the B-24 made the job of fighter escorts easier. The great U. Davis urged his men to prove themselves in combat as the best reply to racism. . Bigger WWII bombers like e. A very versatile aircraft, the Lightning was also used for dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo reconnaissance missions. The misconception that the Tuskegee Airmen were the first to implement a “stick with the bombers” policy 13. Because World War 2 was such a global affair, it is not surprising that planes produced by American companies ended up in service all around the world. The Focke-Wulf FW-190 was widely believed to be the best fighter aircraft of World War II. IIRC half the Mustangs produced never left the continental USA to reach any combat zone, so the Mustang must have been more expensive as two Mustangs cost more than one Lightning, and required 2 pilots. It was ten percent stronger than the “D” and 700 pounds lighter. I'd fly the Spitfire Mk. Army Air Corps (AAC), a precursor of the U. 5. Hmmm, anyone know how the Hellcat could dive bomb? Its performance was apparently very similar to that of the common Corsair models* and it was considered more survivable when it came to taking battle damage which seems like an important consideration when talking about a fighter-bomber that. A fighter would fly from an Allied airbase and attack the enemy country. Armed with 5 X 12,7mm guns, with the starboard gun being replaced by an Airborne Intercept radome containing a radar. At this task, as admitted by all it was the best. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW. An all-metal monocoque construction, retractable undercarriage, and enclosed canopy influenced. The American World War II bomber "Sally B" Boeing B-17G and escort fighters. 32 books — 10 voters. The plane’s design was. Davis, Jr. Shortly after flying out over the English Channel, four of the Mosquitoes were separated from the group and were forced to return to base, while a fifth developed engine troubles. 311 in) and 2 wing-mounted 2 x 13. Known as the workhorse of World War Two, the Hawker Hurricane was part of the reason Allied forces were able to gain victory. Strasbourg/Entzheim Airport. Defiants, with rear guns only, were sitting ducks when it came to dogfights. Army Air Forces during World War II. 1944. During the First World War the performance of bombers often exceeded theNew fighter groups were organized in the United States and equipped with P-38s, then moved to England for escort duty with the Eighth Fighter Command. Jul 24, 2005. Object Number - FRE 7556 - A ground crewman of the 332nd Fighter Group, 15th Air Force on the tail of a P-51 Mustang. Each plane required eight. Our priority was fast climbing hard hitting interceptors, not gallivanting over the French countryside hoping some pretty mademoiselle was going to wave at us. 2. W. W. This snub-nosed compact carrier-based plane was named the "Zero. Raptor Aviation. Following the war, the P-51 was retained as the USAAF's standard piston-engine fighter. While the P-38 did not do well as a bomber escort, forced to fly close escort, when released to range ahead of the bomber formations and actively hunt German fighters, it was able to pick its. Aircraft developed but not used operationally in the war are in the prototypes section at the end. First combat for the F4F was not with the U. I thought most of the problem was political, you don't get long range escort fighters until you ask for them and many insisted that bombers didn't need them for far too long. 5,601. 20. A couple years back, I was reading an essay about escort fighters in WW2 and what constituted the most important qualities. Best photo reconnaisance fighter: Spitfire Mark XIX 7. In fact, the P-51 Mustang played a pivotal role in World War II, primarily serving as a long-range escort fighter for Allied bomber formations. To do so, Hamas official Basem Naim said, would go against its founding Islamic principles. The remaining aircraft flew on at treetop level to Amiens and reached their target at exactly noon. While a sound idea at the time, the 110 was, when finally in combat against other modern fighters like Spitfires and Hurricanes… sadly outclassed by 1940 and was in need of fighter escort itself in many cases. Marmaduke 'Pat' Pattle, the highest scoring United Kingdom and Empire ace. Philip Howard Leckrone was from Salem, Illinois, in the United States. This forum contains affiliate links to products on Amazon and eBay. (Paul Bowen Photography)His status as the top-scoring Mustang ace of the war—with a total of 27 1/2 confirmed aerial kills—crystallized his standing as one of America’s greatest war heroes. Introduced in Europe at the end of 1943, the fast, long-range P-51 Mustang became the USAAF’s ultimate escort fighter. 50 caliber M2 Browning machine guns, made it the ideal fighter for the job. 9. Bong, achieved his 40 victories in a P-38, and this was also the mount of the 2 nd and 3 rd most successful USAAF pilots, Major Thomas McGuire, and Colonel H. In 1942, flying F4F Wildcats, the Navy fighter pilots barely held their own against the Japanese Zeros. The youngsters were 1st Lt. . In March 1941 the Army began to train, in the terminology of the day, an all-Negro flying unit – the 99 th Pursuit Squadron. CVEs—the jeep carriers as they were nicknamed—were either conversions of civilian merchant ships or new. 1. Aircraft Digest. The FW 190 was heavily armed, with two 7. The list of aircraft of World War II includes all the aircraft used by those countries which were at war during World War from the period between their joining the conflict and the conflict ending for them. LIEUTENANT JOSEPH CASTELLO DROPPED HIS FM-1 WILDCAT out of the morning sky and, with a waggle of his wings, lined up on the U. J. Forums. I would go with the P-47N which was really a medium bomber in the shape of a fighter. Sign in with Twitter. 5. Erich Hartmann, Nov 30, 2000 #3. The escort fighter was a concept for a fighter aircraft designed to escort bombers to and from their targets. Forum Rules. The sleek P-51 Mustang is perhaps the best all-around fighter of World War II. I know there. American losses mounted as the bombers ranged far beyond their escorts of friendly fighters. In many ways, the aircraft mirrored Nazi. It was intended for use as an ultra-long-range escort fighter and a night fighter. S. The RAF used Mosquitos and Beaufighters as long range strike fighters - and the former as long range nocturnal escort fighters #4 By late war they had access to a superb American aircraft designed to a British Purchasing specification that had the range to escort the 2nd Tactical Airforce on its long range missions. The Focke-Wulf Fw-190 was the best all-around fighter of WWII and the first true multirole fighter. Davis, Jr. P-51’s flying above the USS Texas. That is the modern, easy, blame the generals for being stupid answer. In its P-47D-40 specification, the Thunderbolt was powered by a Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59 18-cylinder air-cooled radial engine that produced a quite staggering 2,000 hp. Bell XP-83: Bell Aircraft built the XP-83 in response to an Army Air Forces request for a more fuel-efficient fighter. ‘A few designs were in the wings with the potential to squeeze another. Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet (Comet)Single-Seat Rocket-Powered Interceptor Aircraft. The difference between Big Week and the. Grumman F6F-5 Hellcat. Gunther Raal is on record saying Luftwaffe pilots feared the P-51 the most, and felt it was the more dangerous escort fighter of the two. Possessing excellent range and maneuverability, the P-51 operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and also as a ground attack fighter-bomber. Without further ado, here are AeroTime’s Top 10 best fighter jets in the world in 2023! 10. drgondog. cold, accidents and everything else. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the U. fighter plane models then in use could get the job done. It could attain a speed of 425 MPH at an altitude of 21,710 ft. 72 P-38s, 38 P-47s and 57 P-51s escorted the bombers to the target, the synthetic oil plant at Ruhland, Germany. There could be a number of reasons why a plane didn't get built in numbers. Editorial Team Brewster F2A Buffalo. The identification numbers have been whited out of the photo by military censors. . The FW 190 was used in. Hmm. Forums; StaffWith six machine guns, great visibility, and a top speed of 437 mph, the P-51D Mustang was one of the best fighters of the war. Max Speed – 290 mph (467 km/h) Introduction – 1937. Mato Dukovac, the highest scoring Croatian ace. The Germans felt that while the P-47 was inescapable in a dive, they could both out climb it and out turn it. Escort fighter. It had been conceived as an interceptor, although later models were developed to fulfill multiple tasks, serving as bomber escort, fighter-bomber, day-, night-, all-weather fighter, ground-attack aircraft,. -built fighter, and in many respects it was the most capable. Fast, technologically advanced airplanes like the P-51 Mustang or the P-38 Lightning are almost certain to make such lists. During the last year and a half of the war, P-47s represented nearly half of all U. While the 200+ kill Luftwaffe experten flew on the Eastern Front, many of their Western Front comrades scored over 100 kills. Watch the film Empire of the Sun. The Grumman F4F Wildcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet. In October he transferred to No. But what the Allies needed, more than any other ‘fighter type’ in order to see their strategies succeed, was a proper fighter escort. It was the fighter that could escort the bombers to Germany and back, while the Spitfires and P47's were forced to turn back early. Search titles onlyIronically, the 4th Fighter Group continued to operate under RAF Fighter Command for a time, while RAF Spitfires served as the primary escort fighters for VIII Bomber Command throughout 1942. How many B-17s or B-24s were available in 1941? In order to require long-range escort, you need long-range bombers. Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet – (702 mph) Top speed: 610 knots / 702 mph. Lockheed P-38 Lightning. The project was canceled in 1947. The British. Resp: Until Pearl Harbor, it would have been political suicide for the US Govt to enter into a second WW. S. Its navy aviators recorded an 11 is to 1 kill ratio. It was the fastest—490 mph—most maneuverable, highest, and fastest-climbing and the longest-ranged (2,000 miles) Mustang. Fast, technologically advanced airplanes like the P-51 Mustang or the P-38 Lightning are almost certain to make such lists. 7 mm. Welkin means ‘vault of heaven,’ identifying the aircraft’s high-altitude flight. Goodfon. The Casablanca class was the most numerous class of. Its first flight came in February of 1945. Find results that contain. It had a somewhat limited range of 521. Sources. In the Atlantic, the Mediterranean, the Pacific, and the Arctic, they shepherded convoys, hunted submarines, supported amphibious landings, and ferried men and planes. The Tuskegee Airmen were the first Black military aviators in the U. The youngsters were 1st Lt. Search first posts only. NASM. A single-seat, single-engine fighter, the P-51 (“P” for pursuit) became a key aircraft for the U. Engine – Pratt & Whitney R-1830-45 Twin Wasp radial engine, 1,050 hp (783 kW) Configuration – Single engine, single-seat.