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Which was the best muti-role aircraft during WW2

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  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: Montreal/Canada
Posted by JohnReid on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 6:29 PM
Mossie is my sentimental favorite.My Dad flew them during WW2
Guide my hand in your work today.JWRR. My goal in life is to be as good a person as my dog already thinks I am. My Photoshop: http://s6.photobucket.com/albums/y250/JohnReid/
  • Member since
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Posted by Captain Morgan on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 4:35 PM
Hi guys! I think that the best single engine plane would be the Corsair. It was after all it was carrier based, so that helps out with its versatility.
The two engined plane would have to go to the JU88.

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Posted by triumf on Tuesday, February 17, 2004 4:10 PM
Would have to say the"mossie". But shouldn`t the "beu" have a say. Nightfighter, strikefighter and torpedobomberWhistling [:-^]Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]
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Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 16, 2004 2:42 PM
Mossie! Name a role it didn't perform.
  • Member since
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  • From: USA
Posted by reluctant_wanderer on Monday, February 16, 2004 6:12 AM
My vote goes to the humble PBY.
Subhunter, Ship hunter, CSAR, courier, Nighttime Interdiction, Torpedo bomber, recon, Escort, air ambulance, cargo, Coast Guard, serving in all theaters, and used by all the allies. Fought from Pearl to V-J, taking a major role in many of the major battles. She was definitely the finest aircraft to take to the air, and the best Multi-Role aircraft of the lot.
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 8, 2004 12:26 PM
P-47 for US/allies and Fw190 for the axis.
  • Member since
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  • From: Brisbane Australia
Posted by ChrisJH666 on Sunday, February 8, 2004 12:19 PM
My vote has to go with the JU88 and Mossie, but the Mossie edges it. Day fighter, night fighter, fighter-bomber, medium bomber, reconnaisance aircraft, trainer, target tug, carrier aircraft, high speed transport (remember the ball bearing runs to sweeden?), and as well as some being fitted out with "Twin Highball" bouncing bombs, I believe some were even torpedo bombers. Sorry guys but there isnt one other aircraft of the period can match that list

In the queue: 1/48 Beech Staggerwing (RAAF), P38 (RAAF), Vultee Vengeance (RAAF), Spitfire Vb (Malta), Spitfire VIII x2 (RAAF), P39 x2 (RAAF), Martin Baltimore (Malta?), Martin Maryland (Malta), Typhoon NF1b, Hellcat x2 (FAA)

 

Chris

  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 8, 2004 11:34 AM
The P-51 all the way!Cool [8D] (even though the Fw-180 was pretty cool)Cool [8D]Cool [8D]

H. Recker
  • Member since
    January 2004
Posted by derekms on Saturday, February 7, 2004 10:22 PM
Mosquito edges the Ju-88. Both were multi-role from fighters to bombers, but the Mosquito was produce as a carrier based aircraft ( with folding wings)although in very limited numbers, therefore the tie breaker. The Mosquito also had several foreign users even after the war, Including Israel (who did not like the type very much, due to the hot climate it operated in) up until around 1956. In fact Israel used the Sea Mosquito, land based of course.
  • Member since
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  • From: Third rock from the sun.
Posted by Woody on Thursday, February 5, 2004 7:42 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Captain Caveman

got to be the Mosquitto
Skeeter for me as well.Tongue [:P]

" I wish to have no connection with any ship that does not sail fast; for I intend to go in harm's way." --John Paul Jones
  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 5, 2004 6:25 PM
Gotta be the Mosquito!

Night fighter, day fighter, maritime patrol, fast photo recce, medium bomber (With the same warload as a fully laden B-17!).

It floats my boat - big time!

Rob M.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, February 5, 2004 2:07 PM
I think we must keep things in perspective. I don't want to take anything away from the Corsair but we cannot let its' length of service cloud its' WWII service. As a multy role platform it was primarily the latter stages of the Pacific that it made the powers to be take notice. In Korea not even the Panther nor Skyraider can take away from it. This is where it hit its' stride as an earth mover. Fighter, night fighter, recon, and attack. Yes, it did these in WWII but the Navy had other acft that did them also.
  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 9:36 PM
The PO-2: A crappy biplane capable of speeds around 100 mph. Served as a courier, artillery spotter, ambulance, and hand-grenade glider/bomber.

seriously though, the JU-88's gotta be up there.
  • Member since
    January 2003
Posted by Jeff Herne on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 9:25 PM
My vote goes to the DC-3....

It carried food, fuel, paratroopers, jeeps, medical supplies, booze, women, generals, admirals, ammunition, spare parts, and even a few L-4 grasshoppers!!

Of course I'm not serious...

Most diverse is the Ju-88. Although not best suited to all the tasks fitted, she did manage to do all of them...

Night Fighter, medium bomber, ground attack, dive bomber, heavy fighter, recon, long range maritime patrol, torpedo bomber, and guided bomb (Mistel component).

Jeff Herne
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Ozarks of Arkansas
Posted by diggeraone on Tuesday, February 3, 2004 7:20 PM
Well since i am back from the rigors of the road,I have took a look about your pics.I have to say there are some good ones.The JU-88 and the Brit Mosquito were good but go and compare them to a B-25 which did low level attack an bombing,anti-shipping,
air recon,gunship for close support,pacific convoy duty and bomber from an aircarft carrier.This is a record had to beat also add in transport an medical aircraft,boy the list can grow bigger from that.Smile [:)]Cowboy [C):-)]Smile [:)]
Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton
  • Member since
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  • From: Naples, FL
Posted by tempestjohnny on Monday, January 19, 2004 8:26 AM
Ju-88 and Mosquito are the ones for me. But what about the Beaufighter heavy fighter, night fighter, torpedo bomber, coastal attacker, ground attack. All of this with 10 forward firing guns. JOHN

 

  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, January 19, 2004 6:09 AM
Gotta go with the P-47 Thunderbolt. Able to dish out an incredible amount of punishment with eight .50 cal. machine guns, and able to take even more. Bomber escort, fighter-bomber, ground support, the P-47N had a great range. What more can be said?

-Charlie
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Friday, January 16, 2004 11:14 PM
I would have to agree with the F4U Corsair, but also the B 25 Mitchell. Both performed several differnt tasks and performed them well. The corsair continued to serve in Korea only a few planes mentioned participated in two wars.
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Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, January 15, 2004 1:00 AM
Don't forget the Hurricane
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 8:47 PM
I would have to agree with Pix on this one. My vote definately goes with the JU-88. Second would have to be the Me 110.
  • Member since
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Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, January 14, 2004 7:51 PM
Three great ones come to mind if you are limited to 3 countries and one AC per. USA - the P-47, Germany - the Ju-88 and GB - the Mosquito.
  • Member since
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  • From: Littleton,CO
Posted by caine on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 12:47 PM
I would have to go with the Mosquitto hands down!
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  • From: Bicester, England
Posted by KJ200 on Wednesday, December 31, 2003 7:57 AM
It has to be a 2 horse race between the Ju88 and the Mossie.

Both expanded their CV to cover roles that their designers never concieved them capable of.

The mossie saw service after WWII, while the Ju88 evolved into the Ju188, which in turn was was used by the Armee de l'air after WWII.

Karl

Currently on the bench: AZ Models 1/72 Mig 17PF

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  • From: Aaaaah.... Alpha Apaches... A beautiful thing!
Posted by Cobrahistorian on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 9:06 AM
My vote goes to the L-4 Grasshopper! Wink [;)]

Liaison, artillery spotter, medevac, ground support (in a pinch) and I even read a story once about an L-bird going head to head with a Fieseler Storch!!
"1-6 is in hot"
  • Member since
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  • From: Kent, England
Posted by nmayhew on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 2:20 AM
hi guys,
i generally agree with what has gone before regarding the ju-88, although the mosquito edges it in the heavy fighter role (the role itself was found to be outmodedby the battle of britain, anyway, so maybe that's not so important).
regarding single engined planes, i'd say it's between the fw-190, p-51 and p-47; by the time the d-9 came along i'd say it was the 'bolt against the fw with my vote going to the p-47 simply because it's basic airframe did pretty much evreything with little/no modification, whereas the fw needed in-line engine and extended fuselage to cut it with (as?) the best fighter(s).
regards,
nick
Kind regards, Nicholas
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Posted by jetmech on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 1:29 AM
No doubt about it, the Ju.88
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Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:28 AM
The P-38 was a multi-tasker. Fighter, bomber, interceptor, close air support, night fighter, recon...

Over and out.
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Ozarks of Arkansas
Posted by diggeraone on Tuesday, December 30, 2003 12:12 AM
When you take in the meduim bombers into this role,you can only said for two that the U.S. had that were good at this job.1 the Michell,2 the Boston,then you have planes like the Tigercat,Avenger,for the Navy but nelther was as good to all purposes.Planes like the P-47,F4U,P-38,P-39 were more apted for this role.The German only had three that were good at this,1JU-88,FW190,and the Stuka.Only one was a true fighter and that was FW190 it was tought and very relible.These planes were very capible as ground,an fighter bomber roles.The Russains built a plane for each need and did not diversife what they did have. The Brittish had a quet of few planes with multi capiblities.The jappanies had very few even though they should had have many,due to the use of their
carriers.Which the U.S. was good in this,so they could load there carriers up with planes with weapon for a differant job.DiggerSmile [:)]Cowboy [C):-)]Smile [:)]
Put all your trust in the Lord,do not put confidence in man.PSALM 118:8 We are in the buisness to do the impossible..G.S.Patton
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  • From: and just won't go away.
Posted by Quagmyre on Monday, December 29, 2003 10:53 PM
Does this include variants? Cuz this could go on forever if so.

The B-24 Liberator had a few variants like C-87 (cargo/transport), PB4Y (naval variation), XB-41 (long range escort), & F-7 (reconiaissance). That's pretty diverse!

The P-38 was also the F5E used for reconaissance.

The A-36 Apache was the dive bomber version of its successor the P-51 and there was a reconnaissance version as well... can't remember the number.

Seemed the medium sized bombers were always being used or retro-fitted for something else other than bombing (i.e., towing, cargo/troop transport, etc.).


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