Unlikely Matchups: Mosquito VS. P-38

[mattmanB182]

Well I do plan to start maybe one of these threads every few days. Ironically enough, neither of these two planes are in the game. I am sure me and many others would really enjoy them.

Call me crazy, maybe its just because I am American, but I think the P-38 wins this. Something really bothers me about a wooden plane being fired at by cannons.

Another thing...I could be wrong so feel free to correct me, but is the Mosquito THAT much more manouverable than the P-38?

Firepower and speed are very close.

Could this possibly be a draw?

I know it mostly depends on the pilot, but I just wonder which would win in most cases in the hands of an average pilot.

[Rhah]

Originally Posted by FOZ_1983

EASY!!

Sopwith camel.

For a start, heat seeking missiles wouldnt work, you have no big heat source to lock onto. And the camel is that slow that the typhoon would have a nightmare trying to keep him in his sights etc.

Just look at the swordfish - "obsolete" during WW2 yet comes out smelling of roses attacking the bismark and the italian fleet at taranto.


In all seriousness though, dont write off the sopwith camel it might sound like a david and goliath set up but you never know. Anything is possible

Don't be so sure.. The typhoon is incredibly manoeverable at low speeds, plus, with a 27mm cannon all it would take would be a quick burst and the camel would be disintegrated.

Fair point about the IR missiles, but if they fail, there's always Radar guided.....


Anyway, back to the topic.... Mossie would win, purely because its cooler. And as for it being more vunerable to cannon shells due to the wood construction.... correct me if i'm wrong, but I thought that durin the BOB, Hurricanes were found to have excellent durability against the 109's cannons, as the shells tended to pass through the wood without detonating (as often)?

[DoraNine]

Since all the voting seems to be following along national lines -- I'll say the P-38 -- since I'm American...

[Armchairpilot]

Originally Posted by Spitfire23

i like the sound of this thread.

Interesting to give it a thought.

How about a sopwith camel vs Eurofighter typhoon?

In all seriousness though i really like to think of the Mosquito vs p-38

id say Mozzie but its hard to say

How about the Wright Flyer vs. 2 F-15's? The pilots would just land and chase it by foot.


I wish I could find that video on youtube. It was on an eposide of the Simpsons.

[Doktorwzzerd]

Originally Posted by Soviet Ace

That's true. But that's why I'm not sure, and it would be interesting in a mock dogfight?

Also, between a Mosquito and Lightning? It depends once again on who got the jump first? The Mosquito could turn, and the Lightning more than none would have to use BnZ tactics against the Mosquito, unless it was at a higher altitude; where the possibility of a Lightning turning with a Mosquito would be possibly more equal.

I don't know my friend, the Lightning had extremely low wing loading, I think it could probably out turn a Mosquito. Also the P-38 was extensively used as dedicated fighter with an impressive record to match (America's 1st and 2nd highest scoring Aces both flew it exclusively), whereas the Mosquito was used primarily as a hit and run attack aircraft. I actually think this argument might be the opposite of what you suggest; the Mosquito might well have the highest speed with the Lightning being the better turner. Also the Lightning had better armor, being metal, than the Wooden Wonder.

I'd pick the Lightning every time. See the episode of Dogfights that features Robin Olds to see what it could do in straight dogfights.

[Soviet Ace]

Originally Posted by Doktorwzzerd

I don't know my friend, the Lightning had extremely low wing loading, I think it could probably out turn a Mosquito. Also the P-38 was extensively used as dedicated fighter with an impressive record to match (America's 1st and 2nd highest scoring Aces both flew it exclusively), whereas the Mosquito was used primarily as a hit and run attack aircraft. I actually think this argument might be the opposite of what you suggest; the Mosquito might well have the highest speed with the Lightning being the better turner. Also the Lightning had better armor, being metal, than the Wooden Wonder.

I'd pick the Lightning every time. See the episode of Dogfights that features Robin Olds to see what it could do in straight dogfights.

Yes, but like Robin Olds said in a book about his life in WW2, the P-38 was a good plane; under the hands of a good pilot. So it depends. The P-38 was performed better in the Pacific, than it actually did in Europe. And that's why most of the P-38s were shipped over there, rather than keep many of them in Europe. So once again, it depends.

[Doktorwzzerd]

Originally Posted by Soviet Ace

Yes, but like Robin Olds said in a book about his life in WW2, the P-38 was a good plane; under the hands of a good pilot. So it depends. The P-38 was performed better in the Pacific, than it actually did in Europe. And that's why most of the P-38s were shipped over there, rather than keep many of them in Europe. So once again, it depends.

Ha, well pilot performance being equal, the Mosquito just wasn't designed to be a fighter, she was designed as a light bomber, whereas the P-38 was intended from the beginning to be a fighter. I mean just look at them, its like proposing a dogfight between a F-111 and an F-15.

Was the P-38 really used in the Pacific more extensively than the the ETO due to performance, or was it due to the USAAF's need for an aircraft with extreme range in the Pacific? Not having aircraft carriers, the P-38 is the only American aircraft, prior to the P-51D, that could get the job done in the Pacific for the USAAF.

[xNikex]

What if a B-17 crossed paths with an He-111 and they wanted to kill each other?
It would be like a naval battle in the sky. All the guns firing to one side while they circle around each other.

[Rhah]

Originally Posted by xNikex

What if a B-17 crossed paths with an He-111 and they wanted to kill each other?
It would be like a naval battle in the sky. All the guns firing to one side while they circle around each other.

That would actually be seriously cool to see..... what would be even cooler would be a squadron of both types of bomber, in a massive brawl.

My money would have to be on the B17's though... all those .50 cal's would tear the Heinkel's to shreds

[mattmanB182]

Another thing to think about possibly: Being that the Mosquio is all would, would it be able to hold together as well as the Lightning in turns? Or would it be too much stress on the airframe?




Disclaimer: Although I have national pride, most of my favorte planes are NOT American. So I am not as biased as some may think.