tips for using the p47

[FOZ_1983]

Originally Posted by Robotic Pope

I see him as a man who was dedicated to shooting down enemy planes but also had respect for the pilots who's planes he shot at. I think its clear that he didn't want to kill Johnson (he could easily have shot at the cockpit from ubove). Waving to and finaly saluting Johnson after his ammo ran out isn't something an angry, revengeful person would do.

Also he could have been each time he came alongside Johnson, giving him the chance to bail out (he didn't know he was trapped)

Hmmm maybe true

[kozzm0]

Originally Posted by Factor

I can understand where you are coming from, but, Meyer may have been thinking, if i kill this pilot, he won't be able to shoot down anymore german planes.

I imagine that replacing pilots is alot harder than replacing planes.

Plus, it is war, Meyer may have lost a great deal of friends to the Americans. His heart could of been filled with revenge. We were not there, so it is almost impossible to speculate.

The pilots were much more valuable to both sides than the planes were. Even the best German aces were shot down numerous times.

During the Battle of Britain, Göring wanted the Luftwaffe to shoot pilots who had already bailed out. Many of them wouldn't do it.

If you have an ace pinned down, it is wiser to kill them before they can bail, or they'll just get another plane and do more damage than 10 average pilots.

[gbtstr]

Moral issues aside, it makes more sense to kill the guy trying to kill you rather than let him away to try again tomorrow.

[kozzm0]

Erich Rudorffer was shot down 16 times including 9 bailouts. He ultimately racked up over 200 kills to become the #7 all-time fighter ace, even considering the different scoring systems used by Germany and other countries. No doubt the Soviets would have killed him if they could, instead of just shooting him down. He's still alive.

Günther Rall, who was the highest-scoring living ace till he died 2 months ago, was shot down 8 times and finally retired from combat when his thumb was shot off by a p-47 pilot. Though he had downed 2 p47's first. But he was returned to combat later even without his thumb. Wounding him wasn't good enough.

Adolf Galland was shot down early in his career over the English Channel but was rescued and would claim 55 spitfires and become chief of the Luftwaffe's fighter wing.

[haitch40]

yeh its true that pilots are more valuble than planes but i have this therory if it comes to a war of attrition
if its over your teratory let him bail take him prisoner prisoners are worth more than kills
if its over enemy teretory kill him so he cant go up again.
however i couldent bring myself to kill a person whether it was for my country, my family or anything pluss what comes around goes around if you let him go you may be shot down and let go rather than killed