THE BEST WWII FIGHTERS
Flight Journal|Annual 2020
Which was number one?
CORKY MEYER
THE BEST WWII FIGHTERS

When the editors of Flight Journal asked me to write about all the great WW II fighters and to choose one as “the best,” I thought, “What an ego trip!” The selections would be easy to dig out of my dusty flight-report files (which document my evaluations of WW II fighter types) and out of books in my aviation collection.

I test-flew several versions of these fighters during the Joint Army/Navy Fighter Conference at NAS Patuxent in October 1944 and also fighters that had been passed between Navy and Air Corps contractors for test-pilot evaluations: the F4U-1, F4U-1D, F4U-4 Corsair; P-51B, P-51D, H Mustang; P-38D, M Lightning; P-47B, P-47D, N Thunderbolt; P-40N Warhawk and P-39 Airacobra; P-63 King Cobra; F4F Wildcat; F6F Hellcat; Supermarine Seafire (a carrier version of the famous Spitfire); the Mosquito and the Japanese A6M5 Zero.

These flight evaluations weren’t merely joyrides to add hours to my logbook; they had been set up to investigate the fighters’ known good and bad flight characteristics and performance capabilities during simulated gunnery runs against other fighters and during dive-bombing runs against targets. I wrote a comprehensive report on every fighter so that Grumman engineers would be able to incorporate—or steer clear of—these features in future designs.

Picking the “best” fighter, however, went way past my experiences as a test pilot. It involved the consideration of a very complex series of operational factors. On top of that, the land-based war in Europe and the island-hopping war in Japan, in which carrier-based aviation played such a vital part, would have to be considered separately.

“BEST FIGHTER” SELECTION CRITERIA

この記事は Flight Journal の Annual 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

この記事は Flight Journal の Annual 2020 版に掲載されています。

7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。

FLIGHT JOURNALのその他の記事すべて表示
Keeping 'em Flying!- The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics
Flight Journal

Keeping 'em Flying!- The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics

The new generation of warbird pilots, restorers and mechanics. Nearly 80 years after the end of World War II, the fighters, bombers, and trainers that defended freedom continue to enthrall and inspire audiences at airshows, thanks to generations of warbird pilots, maintainers, restoration specialists and collectors. In our September, 2022 issue we introduced you to the young warbird pilots, maintainers and restorers who are already beginning to displace more "experienced" warbird fliers and fixers.

time-read
10+ 分  |
July - August 2024
The Corsair Maker- Bringing the Vought Corsair to the fleet was a daunting challenge that spanned nearly three years.
Flight Journal

The Corsair Maker- Bringing the Vought Corsair to the fleet was a daunting challenge that spanned nearly three years.

When the first production Corsairs exited the Stratford factory in June 1942, Guyton, as seen here, was tapped to manage the flight and production test program. Armament was improved to six wing-mounted .50s, displacing the wing fuel tanks now placed forward of the cockpit which necessarily was moved rearward by 32 inches. Overall length was increased, armor plate added, landing, arresting and tail gear improved, aileron control enhanced, and a new version of the R2800 engine was incorporated. But those significant improvements unearthed numerous idiosyncrasies that would take an extended period to make the Corsair acceptable for carrier operations

time-read
3 分  |
July - August 2024
STARFIRES Over Korea
Flight Journal

STARFIRES Over Korea

F-94 pilots tangle with MiGs

time-read
10 分  |
July - August 2024
Training Mission
Flight Journal

Training Mission

BY THE TIME THIS TRAINING SCENE WAS RECORDED in Canne, Italy, in July 1944, Allied Yugoslavian airmen had several years of experience working side by side with the RAF.

time-read
2 分  |
July - August 2024
KC-46A PEGASUS
Flight Journal

KC-46A PEGASUS

Next generation aerial refueler

time-read
10+ 分  |
July - August 2024
"SATAN'S ANGELS" ACE - Tales from a P-38 pilot in the South Pacific
Flight Journal

"SATAN'S ANGELS" ACE - Tales from a P-38 pilot in the South Pacific

\"AS A KID GROWING UP on the bow of my father's tugboat, hauling oil from Seattle to Alaska, I had a lot of time on my hands.

time-read
10+ 分  |
July - August 2024
WACO YKC - Stunning and Ultra Rare Golden Age Cabin Flier
Flight Journal

WACO YKC - Stunning and Ultra Rare Golden Age Cabin Flier

BETWEEN THE IMPLEMENTATION of the Air Commerce Act of 1926 and December 31, 1948, all U.S. registered flying machines sported an N-number, much as they do today, the \"N\" being an internationally recognized identifier for the United States. During that period, however, an additional letter-identifier followed the \"N.\" Depending on their category, they were registered in the NC (Commercial), NG (Glider), NL (Limited), NR (Restricted, usually meaning race airplanes), NS (State government), and, finally, NX (experimental).

time-read
2 分  |
July - August 2024
BADER'S HURRICANES
Flight Journal

BADER'S HURRICANES

Double amputee fighter ace Douglas Bader and his Battle of Britain Hurricanes

time-read
10+ 分  |
July - August 2024
Scourge of the Allied Fighters
Flight Journal

Scourge of the Allied Fighters

IT HAD TO BE THE MOST HELPLESS FEELING in the world: you're at 25,000 feet over Europe knowing that your primary function is to drop bombs-or flying escort for the bombers while being a slow-moving target for some of the world's finest shooters. However, you have John Browning's marvelous .50 caliber invention to give some degree of protection. Unfortunately, you're absolutely helpless against flak. Piloting and gunnery skills play no role in a game where sheer chance makes life and death decisions. For that reason, the Krupp 88 mm Flak 18/36/37 AA cannon could be considered WW II's ultimate stealth fighter. You never saw it coming.

time-read
3 分  |
November - December 2023
ZERO MYTH, MYSTERY, AND FACT
Flight Journal

ZERO MYTH, MYSTERY, AND FACT

A test pilot compares the A6M5 Zero to U.S. fighters

time-read
10+ 分  |
November - December 2023