The best fighter of WWII

[tintifaxl]

Of course it was the Tempest! Clostermann flew them.

Putting aside which airframe was superior to which, this gentleman Eric Brown had an remarkable and priviledged opportunities in his life to experience what we others barely can imagine. Simply wow!

[tools4fools]

What makes the 109 and Spit different and outstanding is those two were competitive throughout the entire war, not only during a certain period.

If you put in 'mission capability' and 'service record' the those of a P-51/P-47/Fw 190 would be zilch in 39 and 40...
++++++

[Bewolf]

Originally Posted by tools4fools

What makes the 109 and Spit different and outstanding is those two were competitive throughout the entire war, not only during a certain period.

If you put in 'mission capability' and 'service record' the those of a P-51/P-47/Fw 190 would be zilch in 39 and 40...
++++++

Agreed, those two are the "iconic adversaries" of WW2, atop of eveyplane else for the simple reason that these two planes were there from start to end. The 109 even fought in the spanish civil war. Both found their way in one form or another into Israel, which must be considered the greatest irony of all.

So maybe not the best, but certainly the most epic.

[Rumcajs]

I've found this nice article http://www.historynet.com/messerschmitt-me-109.htm . Just read the first few sentences

Few arguments are more futile–yet more perennially enticing–than the question of which was the greatest fighter of World War II. What criterion does one use to define 'great?' Performance? Versatility? Combat record? Don't ask veteran fighter pilots to settle the matter. They have their own opinions, best expressed by the late Soviet ace of aces Ivan Kozhedub's answer to the question: 'The La-7. I hope you understand why.' The Lavochkin La-7 was indisputably a great fighter. More important, it was his fighter.

[SiThSpAwN]

Originally Posted by Rumcajs

I've found this nice article http://www.historynet.com/messerschmitt-me-109.htm . Just read the first few sentences

Few arguments are more futile–yet more perennially enticing–than the question of which was the greatest fighter of World War II. What criterion does one use to define 'great?' Performance? Versatility? Combat record? Don't ask veteran fighter pilots to settle the matter. They have their own opinions, best expressed by the late Soviet ace of aces Ivan Kozhedub's answer to the question: 'The La-7. I hope you understand why.' The Lavochkin La-7 was indisputably a great fighter. More important, it was his fighter.

That quote pretty much says it all, most aces from WWII would probably say the same thing....

[Yellow14150]

That was a really interesting read! I wonder if he flew any Russian aircraft? Perhaps they weren't a joy to fly, but rugged. Although by 1943 Russian numbers probably made up for all else.

[klem]

Originally Posted by Yellow14150

That was a really interesting read! I wonder if he flew any Russian aircraft? Perhaps they weren't a joy to fly, but rugged. Although by 1943 Russian numbers probably made up for all else.

Ilyushin 2
Ilyushin 4
Lacochkin 7
Karnov 26
MiG-3
MiG-15
Mil-1
Mil-2
Mil-4
Petlyakov Pe-2
Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-16
Yakolev-1
Yakolev-9
Yakolev-11

All in his book 'Wimgs on my Sleeve'. Worth reading.

Originally Posted by klem

Ilyushin 2
Ilyushin 4
Lacochkin 7
Karnov 26
MiG-3
MiG-15
Mil-1
Mil-2
Mil-4
Petlyakov Pe-2
Polikarpov I-15
Polikarpov I-16
Yakolev-1
Yakolev-9
Yakolev-11

All in his book 'Wimgs on my Sleeve'. Worth reading.

I've read: Good food for Finnish Me 109 G-2 and G-6s. Those weren't no match for Finnish aviation combat skills. Those guys were simply wizards of air dogfighting odds 10:1 and always prevail. Simply astonishing!

[yakaddict]

While this estimation is usefully informative, we really cant take it in absolute degree due to the lack of inclusion of the Yak-9 or La-7, the latter of which was said to be directly comparable in performance to the D9, and the former has been reported by both Western and Eastern sources to have possibly been the best fighter of the war. Certainly they at least deserve a place in the top ten.