Debate still rages about which was the US Army Air Forces’ best fighter in the European theatre of operations. But is it even possible to reach a meaningful verdict?
Each of the P-38, P-47 and P-51 achieved greatness. Two were radically different responses to the same specification, while the third had to prove itself to American operators since it was designed for another nation’s air force, a traditional kiss of death with US services even when the aeroplane in question came from the North American factory at Mines Field, 30 miles from the Lockheed plant at Burbank Airport. Partisans point to differing operational requirements, the use of British spark plugs, and whether the aircraft were fuelled with American or British avgas to explain away alleged failures and buttress claims of success.
