Fighter planes

[Y_lifter]

Apart from the fact that the F-4 was the USAF workhorse for many years, it was never really highly effective in ground attack roles, or as a fighter. It was slow, heavy and lacked sophisticated electronics. For instance, it had a difficult time going head to head with even the very old/unsophisticated mig-17 in Vietnam. Look at this aircrafts kill ratio, and its very poor. It seems the f-4 can perform many different roles, but can only perform each one to a satisfactory level at best. Im sure im going to get flamed for this, but I think the f-4 is definately not one of the best aircraft.

LOL.. Also know as the Flying Freight Train due to its speed yet lack of manuverability, and also due to it's greasy smokey engine exhaust trail that could be seen from miles away..

 

[chesty]

Well, considering it was a workhorse designed to perform many different roles and in a sense the first Joint aircraft, it did reasonably well in capable hands. Anytime you have a plane designed for multiple roles it will not be perfect in any one of them. Take for example the AV8B Harrier, it is a great ground support aircraft for Marines on the ground, as a bomber and as a moderate fighter. See where I am going with this?

 

[Spartacus]

 

[redguru]

No doubt, but by the end of the war the P-51 was technically superior to the ME-109 and the FW-190

 

[Spartacus]

No doubt, but by the end of the war the P-51 was technically superior to the ME-109 and the FW-190

I agree,the german answer was the Ta152
but it was too late same goes for the Me-262

The first Ta 152H prototypes were completed in the summer of 1944.

Several Fw 190C airframes were used in the project. The first Ta 152H-0 service test aircraft rolled off the assembly lines in October-November 1944. The Ta 152H-0s had no fuel tanks in their wings. They were joined a month later by the first production Ta 152H-1 aircraft, which had fuel tanks in the wings. The Ta 152H-1 was armed with one engine-mounted 30-mm MK 108 cannon with 90 rounds and two 20-mm MG 151 cannon in the wings with 175 rpg. 330 pounds of armor were carried for the protection of the engine and the pilot. Most production machines were delivered to Ta 152H-1/R11 bad-weather fighter standards. A MW 50 boost tank was fitted in the inboard port wing tank for use in enhancing low-altitude performance, with the GM 1 high-altitude boost tank aft of the cockpit being standard.

Approximately 150 Ta 1252H-1 fighters were manufactured between January 1, 1945 and the final abandoning of production with the arrival of Soviet forces at the Cottbus assembly plant. No Jagdgruppen ever completely converted to the type, but several Jagdstaffeln operated the Ta 152H alongside the Fw 190D and other types. Most of the Ta 152s operated in the close-support role. Others flew "top-cover" for bases from which Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighters operated, trying to protect the jets from being "bounced" by Allied fighters during takeoff or landing. It was said that no British or American fighters risked attacking an Me 262 during landing while Ta 152s were known to be circling the airfield. The large wing area of the Ta 152 made it quite easy to fly. Most of the Ta 152Hs, however, were destroyed on the ground by Allied air attacks while awaiting delivery. A few Ta 152Hs were allocated to the Mistel program.

Near the end of 1944, Kurt Tank himself had a narrow escape while flying one of his Ta 152Hs. He was flying from Langenhagen near Hannover to attend a meeting at the Focke-Wulf plant in Cottbus. His plane carried armament, but no ammunition. Shortly after takeoff, he was jumped by four Mustangs. Tank pressed the button which activated his MW 50 boost, opened the throttle wide, and quickly left the Mustangs far behind in a cloud of blue smoke.

 

[Spartacus]

 

[Spartacus]

"I was to set up a small unit to demonstrate that the Me 262 was the superior fighter that I had always claimed. A small unit only in Staffel strength was to be organized... I would have to find the aircraft myself... The unit would not be under the command of any division, corps or airfleet - I was to be totally independent."
Adolf Galland, 1945

"I admired Galland, not least because, having been unjustly 'fired' by Gцring, he didn't withdraw offended and moaning into some snail shell. Rather, he built up a flying unit, the size of a Staffel, went to the front and defended his country to the very last day. That was exemplary!"
Major Wolfgang Spдte, Kommodore JG400

"I feel great satisfaction to have been able to participate on active duty during the last turbulent months of the war. The knowledge that I led the last fighter unit in the greatest of all wars will always be one of my cherished memories."
Adolf Galland, 1945

"...the story continues to reveal a general, fallen from grace, and a handful of pilots equipped with what was claimed to have been "the most modern fighter aircraft" of the time. This "crowd of exiles", together with a few pilots from JG 7, tried to prove this claim.
Unknown to them, this was also the beginning of a new era in aviation, and WE WERE THERE!"
Generalleutnant Walter Krupinski, Adjutant JV44, 1995

 

[redguru]

From Bud Anderson

I did see ME262s but was never in a position to shoot one down. The ME262 jet fighters were about 100 knots faster than the Mustang. However, if they tried to engage the P51 in a turning dogfight they would quickly lose the advantage as we could easily out turn the ME262. Our 357th Fighter Group shot down 17 ME262’s, the most in the 8th Air Force. Even if the ME262 had been used properly in combat operations it probably would not have effected the outcome of the war. We had so many fighters we could have waited for them to land at their home base.

 

[Spartacus]

18 April - Catastrophe. Galland scrambled 6 pilots to meet an incoming US bomber formation. The runway still had some debris and small craters from bomb damage. Late in his takeoff roll Johannes Steinhoff's plane suffered an undercarriage failure likely caused by a punctured tire. Going too fast to stop and too slow to fly, Steinhoff knew he was in trouble. The plane lifted a few feet from the ground before smashing down and exploding. Incredibly, as the cockpit filled with flames and the R4M rockets began exploding, Steinhoff was able to free himself and scramble clear. He suffered severe disfiguring burns on his face and wrists. JV44 had lost an Eagle.

26 April saw JV44 scramble to attack a flight of B-26 Marauders. This was to be Galland's last mission of the war. Approaching a box of B-26s from the rear, Galland prepared to fire his R4M rockets. Return fire from the bombers was intense and probably distracted him enough that he failed to arm the rockets. When they didn't fire he quickly opened up with the 30mm cannon and a Marauder promptly exploded in front of him. Switching to another bomber in the group he proceeded to inflict heavy damage to it. Rolling his 262 to asses the damage he had inflicted, his plane took more 50 calibre hits from the defending gunners. Damaged, Galland dove his jet away from the formation. Suddenly he felt it shudder - an escorting P-47 had followed him in his dive and was riddling his plane with bullets. His engines and instrument panel had been hit and fragments from a shell had hit Galland's right knee. Although badly damaged miraculously the plane kept flying. Fearing being shot while parachuting, Galland decided to make for Mьnchen-Riem. Just as he landed he was forced to dive from the 262 to avoid a band of strafing Allied planes. Although Galland remained in overall command, Heinz Bдr took over operational command.

 

[Spartacus]

From Bud Anderson

I did see ME262s but was never in a position to shoot one down. The ME262 jet fighters were about 100 knots faster than the Mustang. However, if they tried to engage the P51 in a turning dogfight they would quickly lose the advantage as we could easily out turn the ME262. Our 357th Fighter Group shot down 17 ME262’s, the most in the 8th Air Force. Even if the ME262 had been used properly in combat operations it probably would not have effected the outcome of the war. We had so many fighters we could have waited for them to land at their home base.

indeed they shot them as they parachuted

1000 victories between 5 aces

JV 44 was the shorthand name for Jagdverband 44, a fighter unit also known as "Der Galland Zirkus" (The Galland Circus). The commander of JV 44 was General Adolf Galland (103 victories).

A special fighter squadron of top fighter ace pilots in the Luftwaffe during the last weeks of World War II, equipped with Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighters. The flying personnel in the squadron were known as "Experten". By far the most elite fighter squadron in history, if measured by the accumulated victories of its pilots, JV 44 (literally translated, means "hunter group") was established in 1945 as a jet fighter squadron of top aces. The total victory count of just the sqadron's top five aces is more than 1000 victories.