I agree that you can’t boil it down to four … and most of the fours here are all fighters. It is indeed a marketing issue more than anything else, though, so for mass marketing I’d go with:
P-51 Mustang … Glamourous Glennis
B-17 Flying Fortress - Memphis Belle
JU87 Stuka - Battle of Britain
C-47 - Normandy invasion stripes
Best known, most recognized and all very significant to history.
I seem to recall one of the aviation magazines (I think Flight Journal) published their list of the greatest fighters from WWII in the first half of 2002. If I remember correctly, their selection was the F6F Hellcat due a number of factors, including numbers produced and survivability in combat. If you can track down that issue (perhaps at a library?), it may help you sort through some of the votes above.
malibuswo,
Boy, did you ever open a can of worms!
‘Greatest’ is kind of a subjective word in this case. There are a lot of factors that can be analyzed and debated. You’d have to define a selection criteria in order for this not to become a popularity contest.
For example, I consider the P-47 as a better aircraft over the P-51 because though the P-51 is a better pure dogfighter and had a greater overall performance, the P-47 was an effective fighter and was an excellent attack aircraft that had a strong airframe and engine that could stand up to considerable damage. Once the stang’s radiator was pierced, it was just a matter of time for the engine to sieze. The Thuderbolt was an overall more diverese and effective weapon.
P-47
IL-2 Sturmovik
B-24
Fw-190
[;)]
P-51D, FW-190, Supermarine Spitfire, F4U Corsair.
Might as well add my [2c] to this discussion. While I concur with the P-51, Spitfire and Corsair, we must not forget the venerable P-38 Lightning which terrorized the Japanese pilots in the South Pacific, hence the nickname “Forked Tailed Devil”.
Regards to all,
Brian [C):-)]
He he.
I love these type of questions because the answers are so entertaining. I’m quite pleased that they’ve also been very civil.
I’m surprised to see the Me (Bf)-109 even make the list. My understanding is that it was greatly outclassed by the FW-190.
It might be possible to rank planes based on performance, numbers built, suitability to their missions. But coming up with a “greatest” aircraft is impossible.
Having said that, I’d recommend a fighter, bomber, training plane, and transport as representative of the greatest:
Regards,
For track records I’d have to say F4U Corsair and the FW 190D… If I had a choice to fly whatever I would take the advice of most pilots who flew each others aircraft post war… The FW 190D came out very popular with most who flew it… Chuck Yeager loved it.
Maybe the George or Ki 100 from Japan… Mullti Engine is Tough but the Best was the B-29… or C-47…Oh lets not forget the A-26…
To me personally, I always thought the P-47 was a better aircraft then the P-5 overall because of its durability in combat.
(In order)
I would have to agree with rds1. You need to pick some aircraft that you can market towards your intended audience. Really glamourous or identifiable planes are the best. here is my list:
P-51d mustang
Spitfire Mk1
B-17 flying fortress
F-4U corsair
everyone has either heard of or seen these at some point, each are so identifyable that the name itself just conjurs up their images in our heads. Two other planes that could be switch out with the Corsair is the P-39 Lightening or the German JU-87 stuka.
Man some of you take the cake. The dude asked us to reply to what we thought the best four aircraft of WW2 was… not a lesson on how to market (bad advice to give if you have no clue guys come on!). This is really simple and some of you have to flame and pound your own chest. If you wanna answer go ahead.
P-51D Glamorous Glennis
FW 190 (version ?) Priller
Zero Saki (sp?)
B-17F Memphis Belle
AWESOME FEEDBACK!
I’m floored by the amount of responses. Thanks to everybody for giving me an answer, even if you felt that you couldn’t narrow them down.
Some great discussion going on. I love these forums!
yeah i shoulda held that one back
I hate to correct myself (only because if I did all the time I wouldn’t do anything else.Always wrong according to my wife!) but after introspection I would have to include the venerable Fairey Swordfish.No other aircraft (except the Gladiators of Malta) did more with less.After all one hit from a Stringbags torpedo directly resulted in the Bismarck’s sinking.
I think that there are to many great planes from too many countries ot pick just 4
I’d have to say theP-51 has fared quite nicely in this debate. And since we’re all over the map, let’s speculate on a few all-time losers … no prototypes allowed. My list of four real flamers …
Polikarpov IL16 “Rat” …
That Dewoitine thing the Germans liked to burn …
Messerschmitt Gigant
ME 210
There are so many outstanding aircraft from that era! Here is my 2 cents worth.
The Spitfire.
Me 262
B - 17
The Hawker Hurricane
Cheers,
Eric
From out on the road in beautiful Denver, Colorado.
[:O] shocked to think anyone could possibly imagine you could get it down to four.
but just for the record these would be my four.
Most if not all the above listed aircraft I’d have to agree with as being some of the more recognizable aircraft of WWII.
What about the unsung heros? The airplanes that did a lion’s share of work but are always playing second fiddle to the sexier aircraft, i.e. P-51D? How about:
Just my random [2c].