Spitfire why so popular??

[David603]

Originally Posted by redtiger02

Thanks for proving my point. Next question Soviet Ace, what all American planes did the Russians use in WW II? I saw that they also used the P-40 somewhere, but it almost seems like the Russians are deliberately trying to dissuade people from learning about their use of foreign fighters in favor of promoting the Soviets planes. I applaud their sense of nationalism but it makes it a pain in the ass to learn more about their role in the war.

Here is an interesting article about the Spitfire Vbs operated by the 57h GIAP. If you have been looking around you will probably have come across this anyway but here is the link http://lend-lease.airforce.ru/englis...spit/index.htm.

[redtiger02]

Originally Posted by skullblits

Oh oh ive got a good question, What planes did france use during WW2?

Me and my american friend were wondering, I dont think they had any of there own because they got put out off the war Thats what i think.

FIGHTERS
Dewoitine D.520
Morane Saulnier MS.406
Arsenal VG 33
Bloch MB 152

BOMBERS
Amiot 350 Series

ATTACK
Breguet 690 Series

RECON & PATROL
Bloch M.B.174

TRANSPORT
Caudron C.440 Seagull

LIAISON DUTY
Breguet Bre.19

TRAINERS
Caudron Sandstorm
Caudron C.690

The French contracted with Curtiss for 140 P-40B's, but surrendered before they could be delivered. These were then diverted to the RAF. The Free French operating out of bases in southern England used a variety of planes, though they mainly flew Spitfires, P-51B Mustangs and operated two squadrons of A-20 Havocs carrying both British and Free French markings.

The vichy (nazi collaborating bastards) French generally flew Dewoitine D.520 fighters with bright yellow tail sections, excluding the rudder, to identify them to Luftwaffe pilots. The markings were later changed to red and yellow horizontal stripes. The majority of the vichy air force was annihilated by American F-4F's operating from the USS Ranger during Operation Torch.

[Soviet Ace]

This should help with some planes, most of them anyway.

Military Factory

[mondo]

Originally Posted by skullblits

Ive seen a few history shows about the spitfire's, They didnt build as many as they did hurricanes, and the designs 4 the spitfire's, were Rejected a few times.

I know this isnt alot to go by, But in Flight Sims I found it very hard to controll, But the hurricane was easy. Just wondering why the spitfire get's all the credit

Its because the Hurricane was phased out to secondary roles due to its older design quite early on while the Spit was further improved. Allot more Spits were built than Hurricanes. A simple trip to Wikipedia will answer your questions and give you some more accurate facts

Originally Posted by Soviet Ace

David likes to talk about the Spitfire MkXIV being the best, but really the MkIX was the best. It still had the Merlin engine, and even though slower, was a good opponent against 109F and G's. Even some of the 190s were outclassed in some ways by it. The Griffon was a good engine, but it just lacked the feel that the Spitfire had.

Thats odd as Geoffrey Quill and Eric Brown both agreed that the Mk XII was the nicest of all Spits to fly

[mondo]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

its quite simple - if the hurricane was THAT obsolete and THAT bad at everything like you seem to say, then why produce it until wars end??

dont say because it was cheap and easy!!

if it was so bad then why not produce more spifires, then cancel the hurricanes and concentrate on typhoon/tempest instead.

You know your stuff i'll give you that, but you seem to argue alot against the hurricane.

They did cancel it before wars end, in 1944. They did produce more Spits, allot more and production was moved to Typhoons and Tempests.

In Europe the RAF had mostly phased them out by 1943. By 1944 most by that time had been scrapped (older models), given to Russia, shipped to the far east or used in secondary roles like mail runners. By the time of d-day no Hurricanes were being used in the RAF 2nd TAF in primary roles.