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Quoted: A-26 https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/348/1000000445-3040431.jpg https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/348/1000000444-3040432.jpg View Quote I have posted this before I knew a man that flew that airplane in WWII Korea at Vietnam. I saw the picture of him in The Army Air Corp, Air Force in blue flight suit (Korea) and camo flight suit (Vietnam) He passed away in 2002 he was 80 years old. |
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The real answer is that any of these great planes would be a thrill to fly! What those kids did with all these incredible planes back then was nothing less than skill, guts, determination, and bigger balls than we can even imagine in 2023. Those pilots were absolutely hero's of that war, their contributions to victory can never be fully appreciated today. As pilots, I'll say straight up I don't hold a candle to any of those guys, and never will. Hats off to all of your dad's, grand dad's, uncles, brothers, etc than went up to fight in these planes!
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by far the Hellcat had the highest kill ratio
for many reasons |
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Quoted: The wheels dropped off shortly after take off right? How crazy is that? View Quote no that was the ME-163 death trap Attached File |
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Quoted: Quoted: After reading about Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers in China as a child, I would pick the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. You would not last long. P40 was always one of my favorite planes. We're they not very good fighters? |
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Quoted: P40 was always one of my favorite planes. We're they not very good fighters? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: After reading about Claire Chennault's Flying Tigers in China as a child, I would pick the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk. You would not last long. P40 was always one of my favorite planes. We're they not very good fighters? I believe they performed very well once the pilots learned to fight using its strengths. |
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Well if I was to go back in time and actually go into to combat I'd pick:
P-38 or P-47 if USAAF Hellcat or Corsair if USN/USMC |
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Quoted: Maybe we can pass on their legacy to the future generation. View Quote There are organizations that do exactly this, and which you can join and/or volunteer with: https://commemorativeairforce.org/ |
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Quoted: F8F bearcat, just made the end of the war but didnt see combat. Deployed Feb 1945. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: For me, A bent wing Corsair. I would have 6 50 BMG`s at my disposal. I think that that would be fun to "Play" with. A Hell Cat would be my second choice. If I only had enough disposable cash to buy one of those air craft........................................................... One can only dream. F8F bearcat, just made the end of the war but didnt see combat. Deployed Feb 1945. My uncle flew one in the last month of the war. Didn't see any combat. |
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Quoted: Since we’re including twin-engines and interceptors, I’ll go with the P-61C. Four 20mms up front, plus four more .50s on a radar-guided dorsal turret. http://www.airwar.ru/image/idop/fww2/p61c/p61c-7.jpg If we’re restricted to single-engine, single-crewed fighters, I’ll go with something even more obscure to be contrarian: the Reggiane Re.2005 Sagittario https://i0.wp.com/www.avionslegendaires.net/wp-content/uploads/2009/01/Gre2005.jpg?ssl=1 Small, nimble, sexy as hell, and more than adequate firepower (3 20mm, 2 .50s). What’s not to love? View Quote The Italians made some nice looking aircraft with some cool camo back then. Attached File |
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Quoted: technology took off, literally, like a rocket P-40 was an advanced 1930's aircraft https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/183309/P40a-3041449.jpg View Quote They were good low altitude fighters all the way though the end of the war. Oh, and another plane I'd love to fly would be a Yak-3. A good pilot in that plane sent many a German down in flames. |
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Quoted: Yeah, it's a known quantity. It'd slow some planes down by a good bit. Iirc the warthog will lose a good amount of forward speed when that 30mm spins up. View Quote 30mm. I am sure that there are some fighter pilots here who have spooled one of those weapons up. Would be interested in hearing about their comments on firing their gun and if they felt a slow down on hitting the "Fire" switch. |
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Quoted: https://i.pinimg.com/originals/6b/51/94/6b5194d0b52a37a777a5de13ca3b4bbd.jpg Something about a dive bomber View Quote Aw Shit. Now you have done and gone it. I would have liked to have flown one of those. |
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Quoted: The F4U Corsair was one of the sexiest planes of the era (and watching Baa Baa Black Sheep as a kid didn't help lol) and the P-38 Lightning (The Fork-tailed Devil as the Luftwaffe liked to call it) was a unique and very effective plane but if I was going into combat, I'd want the best of the era and that is without a doubt the P-51 Mustang. View Quote P-51. I would get a woody if I ever got the chance to be around one. Beautiful aircraft. Why can`t us common folk have one? Let`s see. Scarce availability. Maintenance up keep.................I know that I am missing something. |
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Quoted: no that was the ME-163 death trap https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/2275/IMG_8921_jpeg-3041444.JPG View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: The wheels dropped off shortly after take off right? How crazy is that? no that was the ME-163 death trap https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/2275/IMG_8921_jpeg-3041444.JPG The fuel was highly corrosive |
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Quoted: They were good low altitude fighters all the way though the end of the war. Oh, and another plane I'd love to fly would be a Yak-3. A good pilot in that plane sent many a German down in flames. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: technology took off, literally, like a rocket P-40 was an advanced 1930's aircraft https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/183309/P40a-3041449.jpg They were good low altitude fighters all the way though the end of the war. Oh, and another plane I'd love to fly would be a Yak-3. A good pilot in that plane sent many a German down in flames. When the pool of partners can afford a Bonanza at most, that wasn't about to happen. The evolution of the airplanes derived from the Yak-3 is interesting. Such as the Yak-15 - |
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Quoted: There are organizations that do exactly this, and which you can join and/or volunteer with: https://commemorativeairforce.org/ View Quote Good outfit. I get stuff from them on a regular basis. |
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An old buddy of mine told me of a story that apparently happened of a Prop plane that took down a Mig in the Vietnam era where one flew by and thought that it was well........................I am faster and................you can`t touch me thought the Mig pilot. As soon as that happened, the American pilot opened up with all of his guns and guess what happened? `Nuff said. Mig went down in flames.
Something to be said about Prop planes and the skills those folks that had who flew them. Thanks everyone who showed up on this subject and posted comments and photos! I hope that everyone had a GREAT Thanksgiving Holiday and I wish ALL of the BEST to you and your family in the upcoming New Year! |
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Call of Duty: World at War- Mission 11: Black Cats "Veteran Mode" |
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Were the "Spooky gunships" around at that time or did they show up later?
My guess is later. I see some coming in near me every once in awhile with all 4 engines going. LOVE the sound of the Props turning! Wonder how well they would do against a Prop driven fighter from the old days. Loved the old B-17 designs from days of old. My heart warms up when I see one of those old Bombers flying. |
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My Dad’s favorite escort fighter was the Jug
I’ll take a P-47. |
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Strap me in any WW2 fighter aircraft. This 9 to 5 job is getting boring.
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Quoted: no that was the ME-163 death trap https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/2275/IMG_8921_jpeg-3041444.JPG View Quote My Dad saw a flight of Komets take off as their bombers passed, but they broke off their approach and veered to land. They only had about 5 minutes of flight time. |
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Quoted: Strap me in any WW2 fighter aircraft. This 9 to 5 job is getting boring. View Quote Commercial airline Pilot huh? Or.................... Flying a fighter all tanked up and no where to.................................. Insert comment here. No insult intended. If you are flying, at least you are in the air. You have achieved something that I have only dreamed about. |
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View Quote Was that Ammo from a Stuka Dive Bomber? |
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Quoted: Now there is another aircraft I wouldn`t mind roaring across the sky in!! View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: P-51 Mustang Now there is another aircraft I wouldn`t mind roaring across the sky in!! For me, it’s either the Lightning or Mustang. I’d consider a Spitfire but for the Lucas Electrical systems. |
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Quoted: Was that Ammo from a Stuka Dive Bomber? View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Was that Ammo from a Stuka Dive Bomber? |
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P-47 Thunderbolt.
I flew its successor, would love to have something to compare it to. |
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Quoted: For me, it’s either the Lightning or Mustang. I’d consider a Spitfire but for the Lucas Electrical systems. View Quote Don`t know much about the complaints Pilots had with the Spitfire. Perhaps some old timers could chime in who flew them. I wish that that was possible.We should never FORGET them and the machines that they flew. |
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