Mitsubishi Stuka and Thunderbolt

[Pursuivant]

Originally Posted by RPS69

If germans tried to take down american bombers as any other single flying aircraft, they will probably got serious losses. Even if they look dumb on holywood films, they played smart with their resources, and instead of making extremely daring attacks on bombers, by single engined fighters, they picked them with heavy two engined fighters and with long range devices. Those bombers forced to fall back, were then to be finished by single engined fighters.

Basically correct. And, the Luftwaffe commanders weren't stupid, just overmatched. (As an aside, it's interesting to read Adolf Galland's memoir from the 1960s, originally written for a German audience, where he claims that he was trying to get all the planes and pilots he could get to defend Germany. Of course, that strategy would have completely deprived the German army of air support, especially on the Russian Front.)

But, the German strategy of heavy fighters was countered by long-ranged U.S. single-engined fighters which could easily defeat twin-engined fighters loaded with aerial mortars, bombs or cannon gondolas.

And, once the Americans were able to get drop-tank equipped P-47 and P-51 over German in sufficient numbers, the end was inevitable. Arguably, the most important invention in the American bomber offensive was the humble waxed-paper 110-gallon drop tank!

It all goes to show that ultimately, WW2 wasn't about individual heroism or vision, it boiled down to bloody attrition and economics. Big economy + large population (e.g., the U.S. and the British Commonwealth) meant that you came through the war in pretty good shape (overall - the UK itself got hurt quite badly). Big population but smaller economy (e.g., China or Russia) means that your country survived, but a shocking number of your people didn't. Middling population and/or economy (e.g., Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Poland) meant that your country was defeated.

[RPS69]

Originally Posted by Pursuivant

Basically correct. And, the Luftwaffe commanders weren't stupid, just overmatched.

(As an aside, it's interesting to read Adolf Galland's memoir from the 1960s, originally written for a German audience, where he claims that he was trying to get all the planes and pilots he could get to defend Germany. Of course, that strategy would have completely deprived the German army of air support, especially on the Russian Front.)

Just for your knowledge, that was what actually they were FORCED to do...

It all goes to show that ultimately, WW2 wasn't about individual heroism or vision, it boiled down to bloody attrition and economics. Big economy + large population (e.g., the U.S. and the British Commonwealth) meant that you came through the war in pretty good shape (overall - the UK itself got hurt quite badly). Big population but smaller economy (e.g., China or Russia) means that your country survived, but a shocking number of your people didn't. Middling population and/or economy (e.g., Italy, France, Germany, Japan, Poland) meant that your country was defeated.

Your perception of economics is funny, I may agree with part of it, but on the outcome, surelly not.