P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Read the forum code of contact

Which, is the best fighter-bomber of World War II?

Original post

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 924

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Neither, it was the Mosquito !!!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,553

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Bristol Beaufighter. But then I'm biased. :)

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

I take it that you guys always think that two is better than one? That said, what if I took the bomber out of fighter-bomber what then?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Give me a P-51D anyday!!!!!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

LAST EDITED ON 03-11-01 AT 11:53 AM (GMT)[p]Hi All,
The greatest fighter bomber of WW2 is most definitely the Mosquito FBVI, without a shadow of a doubt!!! The Mossie FB VI was designed for attack bombing, the Mustang etc. were fighters with bombs added as an after thought, & their bomb load wasn't that significant, compared with the Mosquitoes. The Mustang etc were alright for close support, but anything else, no chance. The Beaufighter wasn't really a fighter bomber either. Torpedo & rocketeer, yes. But as an F-B, not really.
Regarding the Mosquito, you only have to look at a few of it's exploits- Gestapo HQ, Oslo, Shelhaus Building, Copenhagen & not forgetting the most famous of them all, Amiens Prison, to see it's F-B capabilities. I can't remember anything like this, in the Mustangs et al's histories. But if I'm wrong, I know someone will put me right.
Sorry folks but I'm very biased toward the Mosquito, most certainly best multi-role aircraft the RAF ever had, until perhaps the Tornado!
All the best,
Neilly

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Wasn't the mosquito a fast bomber with guns added? :-)

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Erm-Neilly - I really think that is isn't a 'best' fighter bomber of WWII as such. The Mosquito had it's limitations out in the Far East with the wooden structure. I am also of the opinion that unless it was in the night fighter / interdictor role it wasn't used that much as a pure fighter in the same way as the Beaufighter. Determining such a question is always going to be difficult. In terms of the original question the Mustang was a better land based fighter - bomber than the Corsair and the Corsair was a far more sturdy naval aircraft than the Mustang ever could be.
Lastly regarding the Tornado being multi- role , the original concept was for one machine i.e MRCA. We ended up with a good strike aircraft and a average fighter so it didn't quite work out!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Hi David,
I totally diagree. The Mosquito fought most German Aircraft & brought down more than it's fair share. Yes, there were problems, in the Far East, because of the type of glue used to construct the Mosquito. However, when this was changed the problem was cured (pardon the pun!).
If the Mosquito, with cannons & guns, wasn't classed as fighter- bomber then what does the FB stand for in Mosquito FB IV? I would point out that Mosquitoes roamed all over enemy territory both day & night, causing lots of damage, to both targets on the ground & in the air.
The true test of how good a weapon is, has got to be how your enemy views it. In the case of the Mosquito, if a German pilot managed to shoot a Mosquito down, then he was credited with 2 kills. I think this shows just how good this aeroplane really was.
Neilly

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

The Mosquito FB. VI should be classed as a strike aircraft. It is in my opinion a bomber with a degree of self escort. If I had to designate it, the FB. VI would become A. VI. But then that would get confused with the Radar designation!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

I've just done a quick count of how many enemy aircraft the Mosquito shot down & it comes to 662 (give or take 1 or 2) E/A destroyed in aerial combat. The list includes everything from JU 52 transports to FW 190 fighters. Add to this 650 V1 flying bombs & I think to describe the Mosquito as a bomber with guns or strike aircraft is a bit daft! But then again, it does show what a superb aeroplane the Mosquito was.
I suggest you get a book out the library called Mosquito by Martin Sharp & Michael Bowyer. This is the Mosquito bible & charts the history et al of the Mosquito, you'll find it quite enlightening.
Regards,
Neilly

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

I totally agree that the Mosquito was a fantastic aircraft! Thankyou for the book title, I'll have a look for it.

Just a point of interest for me... How many of those enemy aircraft kills were in self defence of fighter bombers?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

LAST EDITED ON 04-11-01 AT 03:36 PM (GMT)[p]The Mosquitoes went into Europe on their own on Day Ranger sorties. Mosquitoes would fly over parts of Occupied France & Germany looking for trouble. They would head for enemy airfields or pick targets, such as railway lines & go looking for trains to attack. These Mosquitoes would be mainly on their own, but ocasionally in 2's, different aircraft flying to many different targets, anything to upset the German war effort.
From the listings of E/A destroyed it would difficult to say what sort of sortie a particular Mosquito was flying, although it is possible to tell night intruders from day rangers because night intruders are listed as 2 days eg.14/15 Oct.44 239 Sqd. PZ245 shot down FW 190. There are some day ranger sorties listed, but not many. Although there are listed, some of the areas where the E/A were shot down.
Another couple of good books, which are fairly quick read, are the Osprey books: No.4 Mosquito Bomber/Fighter-Bomber Units of the RAF & No.9 Mosquito Fighter/Fighter-Bomber Units of the RAF, this one deals more with the F-B's. They are both interesting, I'll convert you, yet!
Best wishes,
Neilly

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

I'm open to fresh opinions!!! I think I'm stuck in the haze, as it were. Trying to put a designation onto an aircraft capable of performing so many roles. But hey, this is a discussion forum after all!!!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,228

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

operationally these were identical to the rhubarbs carried out by pairs of typhoons, spits, hurris and blenheims, not the same as circuses carried out by sometimes, upto whole wings, to entice the luftwaffe to fight!! very successful aircraft was the mossie just what was needed, at the right time!! FBVI of the Banff strike wing i think were particularly interesting, have seen photo's where there are upto twelve mosquitoes, in one frame attacking one ship!!!! same as with the beaufighters. anyone here have any picks of the highball aircraft????

coanda:7

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Neilly - I don't think the glue problems were really ever totally cured. The later Hornet had similar problems out in Singapore and any kind of structure made of wood is going to suffer from problems. Regards the shoot down record of the Mosquito yes it did shoot down a large number of aircraft but I would argue the point that how many of these were routine training or communications flights over the occupied territories.
My point is that I don't believe a Mosquito FB.VI would deliberately enter into dogfighting in the same way as a Spitfire IX and FW.190 would . Of course the Mosquito is a good machine but it had the advantage that at the stage of the war it entered service the Axis forces were very much fighting a defensive battle in terms of the FB.VI. The was as such no Mosquito fighter or pure one as such and I think that tends to indicate that she was considered as a jack of all trades.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

LAST EDITED ON 04-11-01 AT 06:04 PM (GMT)[p]Like all aircraft the Mosquito had it's limitations. I agree the Mosquito wouldn't go after FW 190's or the like unless it was a creep up from the rear & shoot down, but then there's no place for chivalry(?) in modern aerial warfare. The Mosquito pilots would go after targets which they had an advantage over.
Looking at the E/A that are listed as shot down there are not many transport aircraft as you put it, many are front line aircraft like JU 88's, Me 410's plus ME 109's & FW 190's. So I think wether you like it or not the Mosquito was a fighter, obviously not in the mode of Spitfire, Mustang etc. but it could & did 'mix it' with the best of Axis aircraft.
I don't know what your definition of a fighter is, but I would be interested?
As for the glue problem, I thought de Havilland had sorted it out with the Far East Mosquitoes. I'm not really familar with the Hornet (I'll do some reading & investigate. I'll let you know).
All the best to you all,
Neilly

ps The total of E/A shot down is higher than 662, I didn't notice that some Mosquitoes had shot more than 1 E/A on a sortie.
eg 01/11/44 85 Sqd VY-N shot down a JU88, JU188 & Bf110. Not a bad days work!
N.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 1,121

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

What is your definition of a fighter neilly?

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 469

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Neilly- My definition of a fighter would be an aircraft developed and used purely for that role. As an example the Nimrod MR.1 was fitted with Sidewinder` during the Falklands war for defensive purposes but few would argue that that makes it a fighter. The can be no fine line over which a type cannot pass
but most would agree that the Spitfire was more of a fighter than it was a fighter bomber. That in no way denegrates it's ability but the isn't a perfect machine for any one role as WWII
showed.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 781

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

Hi All,
Coanda, if you want Pictures & information on Highball, try getting hold of a book called, A Most Secret Squadron by Des Curtis DFC. It's all about 618 Squadron & the developement of Highball & Tsetse Mosquitoes.
My definition of a fighter would be: An aircraft used in an offensive role against enemy aircraft. This is slightly vague, but I think it's difficult to cover the whole range of what is or isn't a particular type of fighter, bomber etc. It's easy to say, yes a Spitfire or Mustang is a fighter, but the likes of the Mosquito or similar type,which is on the perifery, must be down to how we perceive them in action. I do think, however, if the RAF (or what ever air force), wants to put certain aircraft into a particular group/catagory, then who are we to argue!
The original concept of the Mosquito was an unarmed bomber, but because the design was good enough to allow guns & cannons to be added,the fighter version should not be condemned to a bomber with guns! A most unfair statement. The fighter was a different variant in it's own right. If we use a similar arguement, ie looking at original prototype design & then look at the origin Mustang, with it's razorback & Alison engine are we to say this aeroplane should not have been converted to a Merlin powerplant, which turn it into a formidable aircraft. Very few people look back & condemn the original Mustang & later R-R Mustangs, even though their origins started on the same drawing board, just like the Mosquito Bomber & Fighter etc.
Now I've not seen much evidense to convince me, yet, that the Mustang or whatever aircraft was a better fighter-bomber than the Mosquito. So over to you!

Looking forwrd to your next post,
Neilly.

ps I read something about the Nimrod & sidewinders, sometime ago, but put it down to a bit of bulls##t. If it's true, I think for the ammout of use they'd be in defending such an aircraft, it would've been cheaper, & just as effective, to cut a hole in the roof & stick an airman with a shot gun there!!!
N.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 2,228

RE: P-51D Mustang vs F4U-4 Corsair

yes the nimrod story is true. There was no sight in the cockpit,and it depended on the sidewinder locking on to somthing itself, and hoping it was the right target!!

a fighter can be defined as, any such aircraft that is given the task of defence as its primary role within an airforce. This includes dog fighters and superiority fighters, please note the difference. the mosquito's PRIMARY mision was that of bomber, except for the ten or so marks which were built as night fighters, and specific to the task of night air defence and interdiction. The FBVI is the one type which joins the aircrafts bombing role, with the fighter role. this aircraft might better be defined as an interdiction type, in that it is primarily used to strike ground targets, but also has a well defined capability as an air defence asset.

coanda
PS thanks for the book!!!