The Plane That Saved Britain

[scotty123]

That accolade should go to the Hurricane as it kept us in the war despite the Spitfire being the darling of the BoB.

No it didn't, the Spitfire shot down more Bf 109s than the Hurricane. So, if any aircraft deserves it, it IS the Spitfire. However, the reality is that a successful invasion of Britain would have been improbable.

In the Battle of Britain, Hurricanes scored the highest number of RAF victories, accounting for 1,593 out of the 2,739 total claimed. So although the spitfires claimed more 109s it was the bomber kills that did for fritz.

But it's a moot point and not one worth arguing about. I've had this discussion with RAF historians several times and the argument is always circular.

Which Allied piston engine fighter would you all say was the best of WW2?
Only asking as a couple of years ago i was talking to a veteran RAF WW2 fighter pilot at an airshow and asked him the same question, he looked a bit sheepish and said in a low voice so the other vets couldnt hear him ''The Yank Mustang''
Cannot really say i was shocked as i believe it was a superb aircraft

 

[Helmet Cole]

I've had the privilege of asking a WWII pilot that flew both the Hurricane and Spitfire which was best. He said once in the air the Spitfire was, but the Hurricane could land and take off from anywhere in comparison which made it more versatile.

 

[yerwot?]

the mustang had the benefit of several years of knowledge gleaned from the likes of the spitfire and captured 109s as a base, and developments in wing sections from wind tunnels, also the fact it was all aluminium thanks to the american metal foundries. Cadillac of the skies

 

[Patientman63]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

 

[scotty123]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

Sounds like the Yank Mustang isnt Yank at all then, more of a hybrid

 

[i kne albert davy]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

Sounds like the Yank Mustang isnt Yank at all then, more of a hybrid

Think the yanks built the Rolls Royce Merlins for their Mustangs under licence as our factories were a tad over stretched.

 

[Patientman63]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

Sounds like the Yank Mustang isnt Yank at all then, more of a hybrid

Think the yanks built the Rolls Royce Merlins for their Mustangs under licence as our factories were a tad over stretched.

Yep, but only after we had already spotted the single stage supercharged Alinson was not very good above 15000 ft. RR under direction from RAF boffins dropped a Merlin in (an easy fit apparently) and hey-presto, a superb long range high altitude escort fighter was born. We had to push the yanks pretty hard to take up the Merlin improvement, and as you say, they did so under license.

 

[Tuearts right boot]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

Sounds like the Yank Mustang isnt Yank at all then, more of a hybrid

Think the yanks built the Rolls Royce Merlins for their Mustangs under licence as our factories were a tad over stretched.

I'd heard that also.The Mustang did indeed become a better and faster plane after the into of the Merlin.They still race Mustangs in the US with original Merlin engines

 

[crazyg]

Bloody superb. Excellent tribute to the Mosquito. Hope more people now appreciate what a special thing it was. One of my other favourite warbirds that's forgotten about got a mention as well; the Typhoon (no, not the modern Eurofighter), the Hawker Typhoon ground-attack aircraft which I don't think many people at all have even heard of.

My neighbour's dad was a Typhoon pilot (via Spitfire), and ended up in a POW camp after a Mustang mistook him for a BF109! An easy mistake to make - roundels instead of swastikas. Apparently he was one of the first victims of "friendly fire".

On his 70th birthday, they took him to the RAF museum at Hendon, and he was taken to the Typhoon there and helped into the cockpit by the staff. A great touch.

 

[yerwot?]

And the Mustang only became the plane it was after they dropped out the Alinson power plant and ran a Rolls Royce Merlin engine in it...

Sounds like the Yank Mustang isnt Yank at all then, more of a hybrid

twas the brits that ordered and specified it, we were fully stretched and the u.s. had capacity to spare, Packard built the engines under license, and North American built the airframe.