Welcome to the WWII Forums! Log in or Sign up to interact with the community.

Pick your Airforce

Discussion in 'Aircraft' started by Thor, Jan 9, 2007.

  1. Thor

    Thor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    We did this on another WWII site and had a lot of fun with it, so I thought I'd post it here and let you guys have a go.

    Here are the rules.
    1. No more than 9 aircraft
    2. Must have saw combat service during WWII
    3. You can pick from any country.
    4. You must have 1 trainer and 1 transport

    I'll start.....

    Trainer: AT-6 Texan
    Transport: C-47
    High Altitude Fighter: Ta-152H
    Fighter/Naval Fighter: F4U-4 Corsair
    Heavy Bomber: B-29
    Medium Bomber/Attack: B-25 Mitchell
    Night Fighter: P-61 Black Widow
    Recon: PBY Catalina
    Attack/Fighter: P-47N

    So......what would yours be?
     
  2. MARNE

    MARNE Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    4
    Heres my Army Air Corps.

    Trainer: BT-13
    Transport: C-46 "Commando"
    High Altitude Fighter: P-51D "Mustang"
    Fighter/Naval Fighter: F6F "Hellcat"
    Heavy Bomber: B-29 Superfortress
    Medium Bomber/Attack: B-25 "Mitchell"
    Night Fighter: De Havilland Mosquito Mk. IV "Mossy"
    Recon: PBM Mariner "Flying Gas Tank"
    Attack/Fighter: Hawker "Hurricane" MK IIB

    Regards,
    MARNE
     
  3. Thor

    Thor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    All good planes MARNE....There are no wrong answers, just curious why you choose the Hurricane? There are many many very good to great attack planes. I'm not aware of the Hurricane being one of them. Am I wrong?

    Oh yeah, you don't have to pick the same types as me, I just listed them out. If you want, you can pick 1 trainer, 1 transport and all fighters. (But I'm going to bomb your airfields to hell and back) :D
     
  4. MARNE

    MARNE Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    4
    Hey Thor,

    I chose the Hurricane on its two major merits that it has more than a lot of other aircraft....Survivability, you can shoot through it all day long and probably won't bring it down...due to it being mostly fabric in a lot of places...LOL... The other is weaponry the Mk IIB had four (20mm Cannons) for the ground attack role. Monty used them to great affect in North Africa raiding Rommels supply lines and harassing his armored units.

    As for your Air Force vs. my Army Air Corp...hmmm...pretty evenly matched but, your bombers are goin to be pretty chewed up by my fighters the P-51 and the F6F! Remember the F6F holds the title of massing the most kills of any aircraft during WWII and its survivability rate was astonishing.

    I know you'll bring up the Ta-152H, however, although my fighters can't reach that altitude...the only thing is you have to come down sooner or later!...LOL...

    As for reconnaissance I've got a slight advantage with the Mariner, and the Mossy... I've deifintely got you at night light, fast, and manuverable...LOL...

    Regards,
    MARNE
     
  5. Thor

    Thor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    Ah....a challenge.

    Attack planes
    Hurricane vs P-47N. First round TKO. Hurricane is way overmatched.

    Night Fighter
    Mossy vs Black Widow. I'll give it to ya, but don't let me stay behind you too long. I've got 8 .50 cals that say I would win.

    High Alt Fighter
    P-51 vs Ta-152. I'm going to take this one because the P-51 can't absorb damage and my cannons are going to creme you. If you get behind me, you won't catch me.

    Fighter
    F6F vs Corsair. Total wash. Yeah, the F6F had a very impressive kill ratio against FAR outclassed planes and pilots. Yes the Corsair was going up against the same planes, but there were more Hellcats than Corsairs (I think). Plus the Corsairs could also be used as an attack plane, a role it excelled in.
     
  6. skunk works

    skunk works Ace

    Joined:
    Nov 12, 2005
    Messages:
    2,156
    Likes Received:
    104
    P-47N @ Corsair...attack
    P-61 @ Mozzie...night fighter
    Ta-152 @ Mustang...high altitude
    Corsair @ Hellcat...fighter
    PBY @ Sunderland...observation
    B-25 @ Ju-88...attack bomber
    B-29 @ Lancaster...heavy bomber
    Texan*...trainer
    C-47*...transport
    *= only choice
    @= toss-up
     
  7. Seadog

    Seadog Member

    Joined:
    Oct 23, 2006
    Messages:
    355
    Likes Received:
    11
    I would go with the A-26 for attack/medium bomber. I would agree with most of the remainder of calls. P-51/P-61/C-47/T-6. While it is not an amphibian, the Condor has virtues as a recon plane, but would not be useful for recovery of pilots. I would also have a tendency to go with the B17G+ for a bomber. I don't like the Lanc for daytime bombing and the B-29 had too many support needs to be an only bomber.
     
  8. FramerT

    FramerT Ace

    Joined:
    Dec 25, 2003
    Messages:
    1,570
    Likes Received:
    37
    P 38 Lightning

    Catalina as a "recon" aircraft.

    Mossie.


    IIL-2 as a tank buster

    C-47 as Transport.

    B-29 heavy bomber.

    Texan as a Trainer.

    [ 10. January 2007, 07:36 AM: Message edited by: FramerT ]
     
  9. T. A. Gardner

    T. A. Gardner Genuine Chief

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2003
    Messages:
    6,131
    Likes Received:
    894
    Location:
    Phoenix Arizona
    Ok, I'll bite.

    Trainer: AT 6 Texan I think this one is hard to beat for an advanced trainer.

    Transport: Lockheed C-69 Constellation The world standard in piston engined transport for almost 3 decades. While the C-47 out lasted it, the C-69 hauls far more far further. The first truly transcontinental transport aircraft. Plus you can get an AEW aircraft out of it.

    Fighter, land based: P-51D Mustang Range counts. If you want to win you have to take the fight to the enemy. The Ta 152H and some other late war aircraft might be a bit better (that's debatable but for another thread) but if you can't get to the fight your fighter is worthless. See the Me 109 or Spitfire for excellent proof of this. More recently, Mig 21 or F-104 both of which proved of very limited value offensively.

    Fighter bomber, land and naval: F4U-3 or 4 Corsair Nothing comes close in this dual role.

    Heavy bomber: B-29 Superfortress In a category of its own. A generation earlier I'd have taken the Lancaster.

    Attack bomber: FB various Mks Mosquito 2000 lbs or more of bombs, lots of guns up front (when mounted), and 400 mph. The Nazi wet dream they could never quite duplicate.

    Maritime patrol: PB4Y Privateer More range, electronics, bombload, guns, and armor than anything else in the category. The ulitmate WW 2 patrol bomber.

    Nightfighter: NF 30 Mosquito US electronics equal to none mounted on what had to be the best aircraft for the job. The side-by-side seating, great view, heavy armament, speed, and maneuverability to get the job done like nothing else. The P-61 is a flying dump truck by comparison.
     
  10. chromeboomerang

    chromeboomerang New Member

    Joined:
    May 31, 2004
    Messages:
    1,045
    Likes Received:
    4
    109 & Spit had no prob finding a fight for the most part in the war. Spit found it in BoB, cross channel Rhubarbs, North Africa, Med, Pacific near Australia, Burma, & even after Normandy invasion. True it couldn't follow bombers all the way to Berlin, but most campaigns it did just fine finding a fight.
     
  11. TA152

    TA152 Ace

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2002
    Messages:
    3,423
    Likes Received:
    120
    Tigermoth
    Ju-52
    Ta-152
    Halifax, Hurcules powered
    Kawanishi H8K, long range recon
    Fw-190A , ground attack
    Westland Whirlwind, looks nice :D
    Dewoitine 520 had lots of potential
    B-25 , med bomber and attack bomber
     
  12. MARNE

    MARNE Member

    Joined:
    Jun 29, 2006
    Messages:
    199
    Likes Received:
    4
    Thor,

    Since my first post I've thought about it and heres what my boys at Avro, Boeing, Consolidated, Curtiss, De Havilland, Douglas, Gloster, Grumman, Hawker, Lockheed, Martin, Messerschmitt, North American, Republic, Vought, and Vultee has cooked up for me...

    Army Air Force:

    Trainers:
    Boeing PT-13 "Stearman"
    North American AT-6 "Texan"
    Vultee BT-13 "Valiant"

    Fighters:
    Messerschmitt Me-262 "Hornet"
    Lockheed P-80 "Shooting Star"
    Gloster "Meteor" Mk. I
    North American P-51D "Mustang"

    Night Attack Aircraft:
    North American P-82 "Twin Mustang"
    De Havilland "Mosquito" Mk. IVFB

    Ground Attack Aircraft:
    Republic P-47 "Thunderbolt"
    North American A-36 "Apache"
    Hawker "Hurricane" Mk. IIB

    Medium Bombers:
    North American B-25 "Mitchell"
    Douglas A-26 "Invader"

    Heavy Bombers:
    Boeing B-17 "Flying Fortress"
    Boeing B-29 "Superfortress"
    Avro "Lancaster"

    Reconnaissance Aircraft:
    Lockheed F-5 "Lightning"
    North American F-6 "Mustang"
    Consolidated F-7 "Liberator"

    Cargo/Transport Aircraft:
    Curtiss C-46 "Commando"
    Douglas C-47 "Skytrain"
    Douglas C-54 "Skymaster"

    Navy/Marine Air Arm:

    Trainers:
    Boeing N2S "Stearman"
    Douglas SNJ "Texan"
    Vultee SNV "Valiant"

    Fighters:
    Grumman F6F "Hellcat"
    Grumman F8F "Bearcat"
    Vought F-4U "Corsair"

    Bombers:
    Consolidated PB4Y "Liberator"
    Consolidated PB4Y-2 "Privateer"

    Torpedo Bombers:
    Grumman TBM/TBF "Avenger"

    High Level Dive Bombers:
    Douglas SBD2 "Helldiver"

    Reconnaissance Aircraft:
    Martin PBM "Mariner"
    Consolidated PBY "Catalina"

    Regards,
    MARNE
     
  13. chocapic

    chocapic Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
    Messages:
    723
    Likes Received:
    48
    High alt / escort fighter : P-51D (TA152 has better performances at high alt, but too few were used, P-51 has more than proved its qualities).

    Interceptor : Me 262 : fast, efficient weapons against heavies (way better in this role than .50), could have been improved for better reliability, gotta be used with an efficient ground control interception net tho

    Jack of all trades fighters : F-4 U / F6 F / La-7 / Late Spifire / FW 190 D / Late Bf 109 G (no particular order) : good performances, good maneuverability, good weapons (the US fighter being less versatile in this domain) in a very wide range of speeds, alts and situations and all more than proven designs.

    Heavy bomber : B-17 (B29 is better but in a WWII context, I'm not sure it's more cost effective than the B-17, if it's the case, I'd go for the B-29. the Lancaster is pretty close)

    Attack : IL-10 : great firepower and performances. I for sure don't want to fly over the battelfield in a Hurricane, with paper armor, limited payload and a garden snail topspeed (without external bombs or rockets that is !!)

    Transport : C-47, if you give me another plane, I'll resign from my Air Commander job.

    Floatplane : HK8

    Trainer : Yak7 is a no brainer, you train then fight in the same plane.

    Dive bomber : Pe-2. Stuka was maybe better because of excelent flying caracteristics providing unmatched accuracy in dive bombing. SBD flew like the pregnant crate it looks like. Aichi Val was already old in 41 ! SB2 was a design failure, it owes its success to the number built.

    Medium bomber : A-20 (Ju-88 and B-25 were good but got old and slow, in a 1940-41 context I'd pick the Ju-88 I believe.)

    Torpedo plane : TBF Avenger : I like my torpedo planes to be carrier based, this one was a very innovative design, before it went operational, the Japanese B5 was the best.

    Fighter/bomber : P47D / FW 190 (mostly F) / Tempest (over the typhoon)

    I forgot Night fighter and Recon : Mosquito for sure !

    [ 12. January 2007, 05:15 AM: Message edited by: chocapic ]
     
  14. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    Right - here's the BAF :-

    Trainer : Me262B-1a
    Transport : Ju52
    High-altitude fighter : P-51D
    Fighter : Spitfire MkIX
    Heavy Bomber : Lancaster / B-17 ( sorry ! [​IMG] I love 'em both equally..... )
    Medium Bomber/Attack : Mosquito FBVI.
    Night Fighter : Heinkel He219
    Reconnaissance : Mosquito PRXVI
    Attack/Fighter : Hawker Typhoon.

    NB : This list is PURELY SUBJECTIVE. I just plain like these aircraft and would be very happy to have them all in my own personal collection at Duxford airfield.....
     
  15. TA152

    TA152 Ace

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2002
    Messages:
    3,423
    Likes Received:
    120
    MARTINS SCHOOL OF PILOT TRAINING

    Why learn to fly in a biplane when you can start off in a jet ! Fly with the eagles ! Sign up today and have a thrill of the life time !

    (disclaimer, only three pilots have survived so far but don't let that fool you. The other three are now safe and warm on the Russian front.)
     
  16. chocapic

    chocapic Member

    Joined:
    Feb 27, 2006
    Messages:
    723
    Likes Received:
    48
    I forgot to include the Ki-84 Frank into my list.
     
  17. Ali Morshead

    Ali Morshead Member

    Joined:
    Feb 12, 2004
    Messages:
    393
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trainer CAC Wirraway

    Fighters Spitfire XIV
    Mustang P-51D
    Me-262

    Lt Bomber Mosquito FB VI

    Med Bomber Mitchell B25J

    Hvy Bomber B-29A

    Maritime Sunderland

    Transport C-46 Commando
     
  18. Martin Bull

    Martin Bull Acting Wg. Cdr

    Joined:
    Jun 20, 2002
    Messages:
    13,578
    Likes Received:
    1,487
    Location:
    London, England.
    I just had to fit the Me262 into my list somewhere ! [​IMG]
     
  19. Thor

    Thor Member

    Joined:
    Dec 6, 2006
    Messages:
    14
    Likes Received:
    0
    MARNE,

    Uhhhh, I think the rules state to pick no more than 9 airplanes, not nine from each country!!! ha
     
  20. Erich

    Erich Alte Hase

    Joined:
    May 13, 2001
    Messages:
    14,439
    Likes Received:
    617
    I see you have been blinded by un-natural elements Martin

    you have picked the ill fated Uhu again as night fighter ....... arg with a capital A

    think Ju 88G-6 superior in almost every way, or better yet the Me 262 :cool:

    well I am jerked almost off the face of the earth my two volumes on the moskito hunters is on definate hold but I will continue to pursue my " Im Schatten des Mondes liegen "

    Ich bein ein Geist !
     

Share This Page