P-47 vs The P-51.

Boy talk about a war of words between the P-51 and P-47 boys on the favorite fighter post. I saw alot of posts that argued which of these fighters was the best but I have to throw in my two cents on this sometimes very heated subject. I have alot of respect for the P-47 and the brave pilots that flew them they were there in the beginning fighting the mighty Luftwaffa. But the bottom line was is that the P-47 could not escourt the bombers all the way to deep targets in Germany which was a big thing if the Allied Bomb Campaign was to be successful. B-17's and B-24's were being lost at an alarming rate until the P-51 came along. Yes the P-47 was a rugged fighter and could take alot of punishment but again its range was limited and the Luftwaffa boys took advantage of its weakness. Also not all the fighter groups loved the P-47. One was the 4th fighter group. They hated the plane and if you dont believe me just ask Colonel Don Blakeslee. He would tell you what he and his boys thought of it. I have a freind that I talk to who was a member of the 354th Fighter Group "the pioneer Mustang group" and he has told me on several occasions that his group also had a big dislike for the P-47. The P-47 made its claim in the ground attack roll which it was very very good at but you want an all around fighter that could do almost everything it was asked to do it was the P-51 Mustang. Also there is all this talk about Gabreski being the best WW 2 ace in the European theater and yes he has the kills to prove it but had Major George Preddy lived and not been shot down by American ground artilery he would have come out as THE top ACE in Europe. Now if you want to talk about best pacific fighter it would be the F6F hellcat hands down. But because it wasnt beautiful like the Corsair it dont get the recognition it so well deserves. Well I've stated my veiws so feel free to argue P-47 boys!

Steve