What do you feel was the best fighter plane in WWII?

SPC Mark Beard — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:15:38 -0500

think to me the best was the p-51 mustang

Response by MSgt Michael Durkee made Feb 17 at 2015 9:20 AM

MSgt Michael Durkee — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:20:30 -0500

I've always liked the Corsair, thanks to Baa Baa Black Sheep :)

Response by GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad made Feb 17 at 2015 9:25 AM

GySgt Wayne A. Ekblad — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:25:46 -0500

The North American P-51 Mustang . . .

Response by SGT Jim Z. made Feb 17 at 2015 9:28 AM

SGT Jim Z. — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:28:34 -0500

I really like both Cosair and the P-51

Response by SPC Nicholas Cureton made Feb 17 at 2015 9:29 AM

SPC Nicholas Cureton — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:29:11 -0500

P-51 would be my choice. Nimble, powerful, and rugged.

Response by SPC Benjamin Smith made Feb 17 at 2015 9:29 AM

SPC Benjamin Smith — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:29:22 -0500

The P-51D has been argued to be the greatest because of its long range capabilities and superior maneuverability, but my favorite is the P-38 Lightning. It was filling the role as long-range bomber escort way before the Mustang, and was in production for the entire war. Plus, it's twin engine, twin fuselage design are pretty unique in aviation design.

Response by 1SG Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 9:33 AM

1SG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 09:33:31 -0500

The Messershmidt 262 dominated all comers when it was introduced by the Germans. If they could have figured out how to produce them in numbers and fuel them, they would have been a game changer. It was faster, had a higher ceiling, and could just outclass anything the allies had including their early jet fighters.

Response by SFC Boots Attaway made Feb 17 at 2015 12:20 PM

SFC Boots Attaway — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:20:07 -0500

I agree with those that vote for both the Corsair and the Mustang. The F4U Corsair was the most rugged and could land on a carrier, BUT at the same time the P51D Mustang was faster and had a longer range. Therefore I would say that we have a tie, F4U/P51D. As for the P38 Lightening it was not as maneuverable as either the Corsair or the Mustang, sorry but it comes in second.

Response by CPT Jack Durish made Feb 17 at 2015 12:54 PM

CPT Jack Durish — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 12:54:29 -0500

It's interesting how most votes are quickly cast in favor of the Mustang and the Corsair. I am drawn to agree inasmuch as they appear to me (and most people, I suppose) as the most visually attractive designs. However, when judging the best aircraft, you must begin with criteria. The one that had the longest range: Mustang (though not as maneuverable as the enemy fighters, it had to depend on diving speed and durability for its fighting advantage). For speed, the Mustang is near the top, but the German Messerschmidt Me 309 was faster by 30 mph. For brute force and fire power, the P47 Thunderbolt and the Douglas A-1 Skyraider are tops. Neither will win prizes in a beauty contest, but the pilots loved them.

Ultimately, for enemy kills, no other aircraft approaches the Gruman F4F-4 Wildcat.

Response by TSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 1:55 PM

TSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:55:14 -0500

Since we're keeping it to fighter plane I'm going with the original Thunderbolt!

Because nothing beats having enemy pilots run out of bullets and turn away defeated because they couldn't shoot down your plane.

P.S. That bomber in the background was a pretty cool plane too.

Response by Cpl Brett Wagner made Feb 17 at 2015 1:59 PM

Cpl Brett Wagner — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 13:59:12 -0500

SPC Mark Beard - Logic tells me the P-51 but being a Marine my heart goes to the F4U Corsair.

Response by LTC Paul Labrador made Feb 17 at 2015 2:07 PM

LTC Paul Labrador — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:07:08 -0500

From a pure air to air perspective, the P-51 hands down. It had the speed, agility, firepower, armor and legs to make it the top dogfighter in the war. The FW190 gave it a run for it's money though.

Response by SrA Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 2:51 PM

SrA Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 14:51:46 -0500

I agree with alot of these but also liked the P-61 Black Widow just for multi use

Response by CSM Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 4:21 PM

CSM Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:21:53 -0500

P-51 for sexy. The one you wanted to date.

C-47 for workhorse. The one you could take home to Mom.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 4:32 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 16:32:30 -0500

I always liked the English Spitfire.

Response by SPC Christopher Green made Feb 17 at 2015 5:02 PM

SPC Christopher Green — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:02:47 -0500

Definitely not an area of expertise for me but at the beginning of the war as far as fighters go I would say the Japanese Zero, The Focke Wulf 190 and the Messerschmitt BF 109. Toward the end, the F4U Corsair, the Spitfire Mark IX and the P-51 Mustang and the Focke Wulf 190D.

Response by PO2 Steven Erickson made Feb 17 at 2015 5:15 PM

PO2 Steven Erickson — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:15:47 -0500

For total coolness, here's a German aircraft that didn't make it fully operational, but I thought it was just plain cool.

The Do-335, Pfiel ("Arrow")

Response by Cpl Clinton Britt made Feb 17 at 2015 5:31 PM

Cpl Clinton Britt — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 17:31:02 -0500

Corsair

Response by PO2 Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 7:34 PM

PO2 Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 19:34:25 -0500

P38 Lightning. The Germans didn't call it "The fork-tailed Devil" for no reason.

Response by SGM Mikel Dawson made Feb 17 at 2015 10:30 PM

SGM Mikel Dawson — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:30:25 -0500

I got to go with the P-38. I've always loved this warbird. It was FAST, and struck like lightening, thus it's nickname. I bet it was a blast to fly!

Response by Cpl Private RallyPoint Member made Feb 17 at 2015 10:58 PM

Cpl Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 17 Feb 2015 22:58:45 -0500

British Spitfire XII. It was faster that the mustang and not prone the the maintenance issues the Mustang had. Plus a guy I sued to work for restored a Mustang that won awards for most original. Well it fell to a maintenance issue crashed and killed 5 people as I recall

Response by MSgt Don VandeBogert made Oct 26 at 2020 10:57 PM

MSgt Don VandeBogert — Mon, 26 Oct 2020 22:57:18 -0400

Some great aircraft mentioned. My pick is the P-38. Great combination of speed, armament, range and it's just plain sexy.

It didn't shine in Europe as well as it did in the Pacific. It's also credited with shooting down the plane carrying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto, master mind of the Pearl Harbor attack. I love the Corsair, but that mission was 600 miles at wave top level (under 30 feet) plus a 400 mile return trip. The Corsair couldn't have done that mission. Supposedly, one of the pilots started to nod off and his props hit the water, waking him up. Scared the heck out of him and he apparently didn't sleep well for a few days after.

V/R
Bogie

Response by PO1 Sam Deel made Jan 28 at 2022 2:04 AM

PO1 Sam Deel — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 02:04:54 -0500

The P-51 was a dog till they fixed it right with the -D model. The Navy Hellcats and Lightnings were wildly successful. The Corsair was the king of close air support and bombing runs in the hands of Marine Pilots. The P-47 shined in the ground attack role. So many aircraft that were just excellent in certain rolls. The Germans had some excellent fighters that were never deployed in great numbers to make a difference. The misguided approaches on how they were employed by the Nazis General Staff towards the middle of the war, also decline their potential . The Russians made out like bandits with our rejected P-39 Airacobras.

While not a fighter, the B-29 Superfortress ended the War with only 2 aircraft, each on 2 separate missions. No other aircraft can match that.