Best Fighter Aircraft of WW2

[P2Vaircrewman]

A hard question. Aircraft technology grew leaps and bounds during the war. What was best at the beginning wasn't at the end. The P 51 wasn't much of a fighter escort with the Allison engine until it was fitted with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine. It had the latest in airfoil technology with it's laminar flow wing. Other than the Me 262, Germany ended the war pretty much with the aircraft they started with, so did the Japanese. The P-47 had long range and heavy armor but it was more of a ground support aircraft hence the A-10 being named the Thunderbolt II. We out built the Zero with the F6F Hellcat in numbers and pilots learned the Zero's weaknesses and forced them to fight on our terms.

[FromMyColdDeadHand]

I can’t source it, but I read somewhere that an engineer that worked on the P51 got to see the design and build of the Spitfires- and the comment was that the Spits were design and built much more lightly than American fighters. Obviously they were strong enough, but just from a materials and time, I can see the desire to make it as light as possible. IIRC, they stripped down a P51 to “British” type construction/reinforcement for a considerable weight savings.

The Japanese late war models will never get a full accounting due to pilot quality.

[Tony617]

Best Axis fighter was FW-190.

Not sure about what fighter was best. I know the P51 fighter flew to protect the B-17 squadrons and all. I have to say the P-47 Thunderbolt with it 8 .50 caliber machine guns and could be fitted with bombs or unguided missiles was a real terror for the ground and in the air.

The robustness of Republic design was very interesting of where they placed armor on the plane. Probably irritated the German fighter pilots who ran out of ammo the P-47 got their pilot home.

For the bomber I like the B-26 Marauder. It had its issues and so the wing had to be lengthened since the B-26 had to land at high speed to keep from stalling.

[polydeuces]

Not sure why the Hawker Tempest is getting so little recognition, possibly because its late arrival, and it took a while for 'management' to realize its value as a pure fighter, but all things considered it was hands down the best.
It outperformed pretty much anything else flying - as well as giving the ME262 a run for the money.

But to look at the Spitfire (any mark) is to see pure beauty.
Theres no equal.

[chadbag]

Not sure why the Hawker Tempest is getting so little recognition, possibly because its late arrival, and it took a while for 'management' to realize its value as a pure fighter, but all things considered it was hands down the best.
It outperformed pretty much anything else flying - as well as giving the ME262 a run for the money.

But to look at the Spitfire (any mark) is to see pure beauty.
Theres no equal.

one problem is the poll only allows 10 entries. The Tempest was a nice plane. I've always liked it. Not as graceful as the Spitfire. Spitfire XIV is my favorite in that regard. So hard to come up with a "best" as they all had strengths and weaknesses and different uses/applications.

[flenna]

I read that the WW2 pilots had a saying- "if you want to take a picture to send home to Mom, take one with a P-51. If you want to make it home to Mom, fly a P-47".

And my vote goes to the F6F Hellcat, which helped turn the tide in the Pacific air war.

[Red*Lion]

1. P-51 Mustang
2. ME-262
3. Tie - Spitfire and ME-109

Honorable Mention: P-47

[pag23]

P51D...speed to power ratio with the Rolls Royce....6 50 caliber machine guns, good visibility from the cockpit

I do agree with a split Axis vs Allies poll

the FW190 was very versatile to go from fighter, to fighter bomber, to ground support, to going against bombers.

Fixed the P51...- Armament

[chadbag]

P51D...speed to power ratio with the Rolls Royce....8 50 caliber machine guns, good visibility from the cockpit

I do agree with a split Axis vs Allies poll

the FW190 was very versatile to go from fighter, to fighter bomber, to ground support, to going against bombers.

P-51D only had 6 x 50 cal MG. The P-47 had 8.

The P-51D was one awesome plane with a great range with tanks, and the ability to roam and fight at range.

[pag23]

P-51D only had 6 x 50 cal MG. The P-47 had 8.

The P-51D was one awesome plane with a great range with tanks, and the ability to roam and fight at range.

Thanks I had Spitfire on the brain...