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Now Enlisting: Those Radial Fighters
Bigrip74
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 03:00 PM UTC
While reading on the The Big Three Fighters Campaign, several have mentioned the a/c that were either in theater first or did more of the job cleaning up should be included. So here is a proposal for those radial engined a/c that did all of the grunt work of WWII.


Quoted Text By Dennis

Hi, All-

Once again, the Republic P-47-series of Fighters is being given short-shrift... It was the P-47 that broke the back of the Luftwaffe; the P-51 merely applied the "coup de grace"...

I love P-51s, but I love P-47s just as much... Give the P-47 its due, please...

PS- The P-38 and the Fw.190 were no "slouches" of Fighters, either. Neither were the F6F Hellcat, the F4U Corsair, or Japan's A6M-series... [quote]

P-47
FW 190
A6M
KI43
KI44

and so on.
md72
#439
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 03:53 PM UTC
Amazingly enough, I have a couple of P-47's, a FW-190 (oops it's a D, they had an inline engine) and an A6M.
Kevlar06
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 04:29 PM UTC
Good call on this campaign. I believe the F6F accounted for more enemy aircraft shot down than any other aircraft of WWII Yet it doesn't get much credit when compared to those other "big three in-line" fighters mentioned before. Not to be a "spoiler" here, but those "big three" weren't necessarily the "big workhorses". There was a book illustrated by Rikyu Watanabe back in the 80s dedicated to the twelve greatest aircraft of WWII. I'd think a campaign covering those aircraft would also be fun. Here are the aircraft:

P51
P38
Spitfire
ME109
FW109
A6M Zero
Mosquito
F6F
Lancaster
B-17
Stuka
F4U Corsair

These aircraft were chosen due to many factors, but primarily due to their performance or notoriety during WWII. Not saying they were the "best" (although a few were--i.e.; the Mosquito was the fastest operational propeller driven aircraft of WWII). But the twelve above had some astonishing records either in performance or notoriety. Just food for thought!
VR, Russ

Bigrip74
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 05:54 PM UTC
I would make this easy: Any WWII aircraft that had a radial engine and was used as a fighter whether it be:

DAY
NIGHT
ESCORT

Single or multi engine airplane.

Bob
Propster
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Western Australia, Australia
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 09:18 PM UTC
Can count me in.
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Tuesday, September 03, 2019 - 11:23 PM UTC
Ahem...

If I may drop another 2-cents worth... THE fastest flight by a Mosquito, EVER, (this was a special, lightened model, with NO armament or extra protrusions anywhere), was an officially recorded MAXIMUM SPEED of 439 Miles Per Hour- This, with TWO specially-tuned Merlins. No Mosquito in standard-trim ever exceeded this speed...

On the other hand, the P-47M, in STANDARD COMBAT TRIM could do 475 Miles Per Hour on a regular basis. THE fastest OFFICIALLY RECORDED Speed a P-47M ever attained was 507 Miles Per Hour in level flight, utilizing the standard P-47M engine, i.e, the Pratt & Whitney R-2800-57C. No special spark plugs, "souping-up" of engine components or "ultra-hot" fuels were used; this flight was accomplished using the standard USAAF 120 Octane aviation gasoline...

But P-47s are nearly always kicked into the "also ran" corner of Aviation History.

Incidentally, comparable speed runs were made by the US Navy and US Marine Corps' F4U-4 and -5 Corsairs, but THIS was done POST-WAR...

In Fighter versus Fighter air combat, the P-47 enjoyed a 45-to-1 loss-ratio, which would be pretty tough to beat; THIS, does not include losses to FLAK, enemy ground-fire, or Pilot error...

A short comment on maneuverability-

To paraphrase US Ace Robert S. Johnson, who refused to fight on the enemy's terms:

"No enemy fighter could ROLL (emphasis is mine) with the Thunderbolt...", and, "Those wonderful paddle-blades! No enemy or friendly fighter EVER (emphasis is once again, mine) out-climbed me again...", referring to the installation of the new "paddle-blade" Propellers, manufactured by both Hamilton-Standard and Curtiss Electric...

A roll to the left or to the right were his tactics in being able to turn INSIDE of any Bf.109 or Fw.190. Bf.110s were merely "meat on the table" for Johnson. Twenty-seven confirmed kills attested to his prowess behind the controls of a P-47...

Just as an aside for P-51 fans, a standard P-51D-5 or D-10 could do 505 Miles Per Hour @ 5,000 feet altitude, and the P-51B/C models were actually 3 Miles Per Hour faster at altitude, (30,000-35,000 feet +) than the subsequent D-models...

To re-iterate: "I love P-51s, but I love P-47s just as much..."

Talk to me, people...
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 12:46 AM UTC
How about including any of the B-24s? As a matter of fact, since there's already a "Twins" campaign going, a regular ol' "Multi-engine" Aircraft of Any Stripe or Color Campaign"..? This could encompass civilian AND military types...

Maybe I'm just letting my imagination run away from me..?
Bigrip74
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 02:35 AM UTC

Quoted Text

How about including any of the B-24s? As a matter of fact, since there's already a "Twins" campaign going, a regular ol' "Multi-engine" Aircraft of Any Stripe or Color Campaign"..? This could encompass civilian AND military types...

Maybe I'm just letting my imagination run away from me..?



Dennis, I had a different idea regarding bombers. So lets keep this campaign focused on single engines.

Here is a list (not complete) of WWII radial engine fighters.

Fiat CR.42
1939 Italy Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Germany
Gloster Gladiator/Sea Gladiator
1937 UK UK, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Iraq, Norway
Polikarpov I-5
1931 USSR
Polikarpov I-15 & I-15bis
1934 USSR USSR, China, Finland
Brewster F2A Buffalo
1939 US US, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, Australia
Polikarpov I-153
1939 USSR USSR, China, Finland
Bloch MB.150-157
1940 France France, Greece, Romania
Boeing P-26 Peashooter
1933 US US, China, Philippines
CAC Boomerang[notes 2]
1943 Australia
Curtiss P-36 Hawk/Mohawk
1938 US US, Brazil, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, UK
Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon
1939 US China, Netherlands
Fiat G.50
1938 Italy Italy, Finland, Croatia
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
1941 Germany Germany, Hungary, Romania
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 high altitude fighter 1945 Germany
Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat/Martlet carrier fighter
1940 US US, UK
Grumman F6F Hellcat/Gannet carrier fighter 1943 US US, UK
IAR 80/IAR 81
1941 Romania
Kawasaki Ki-100
1945 Japan
Koolhoven F.K.58
1940 Netherlands Netherlands, France
Lavochkin La-5
1942 USSR
Lavochkin La-7
1944 USSR
Macchi C.200
1939 Italy
MÁVAG Héja
1941 Hungary
Mitsubishi A5M carrier fighter[notes 4]
1936 Japan
Mitsubishi A6M Zero carrier fighter 1940 Japan
Mitsubishi J2M interceptor
1942 Japan
Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane fighter 1942 Japan
Nakajima Ki-27
1937 Japan Japan, Manchukuo, Thailand
Nakajima Ki-43
1941 Japan Japan, Manchukuo, Thailand
Nakajima Ki-44
1942 Japan
Nakajima Ki-84
1943 Japan
Polikarpov I-16
1934 USSR USSR, China, Finland
PZL P.7
1933 Poland
PZL P.11
1934 Poland Poland, Romania
PZL P.24
1936 Poland Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania
Reggiane Re.2000
1940 Italy Sweden, Hungary, Italy
Republic P-43 Lancer
1941 US US, Australia, China
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
1942 US US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, France, USSR
Seversky P-35
1937 US
VL Myrsky
1943 Finland
Vought F4U/FG Corsair carrier fighter 1942 US US, UK, New Zealand
Vultee P-66 Vanguard
1941 US US, China
Blackburn Roc turret fighter
1939 UK
Blackburn Skua fighter/dive bomber 1938 UK
Bristol Beaufighter
1940 UK UK, Australia, South Africa, US
Bristol Blenheim night fighter
1937 UK Canada
Dornier Do 215 night fighter
1939 Germany Germany, Hungary
Dornier Do 217 night fighter
1941 Germany Germany, Italy
Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter 1941 US US, UK
Curtiss XF15C
1945 US inspired by the FR-1 Fireball
Curtiss XP-53/YP-60
1942 US
Curtiss XP-62
1943 US
Gloster F.5/34
1937 UK
Macchi C.201
1940 Italy
Piaggio P.119
1942 Italy buried radial-engine fighter
PZL.50 Jastrząb
1939 Poland
Tachikawa Ki-106
1945 Japan
VL Humu
1944 Finland
Polikarpov I-185
1941 USSR
Aichi S1A
1945 Japan night fighter
Boeing XF8B
1944 US
Gloster F.9/37
1939 UK
Grumman XF5F Skyrocket
1940 US
Grumman XP-50
1941 US
Kawasaki Ki-96
1943 Japan
Republic XP-69/XP-72
1943 US
SNCASE SE.100
1939 France


Bob
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 12:22 PM UTC

Quoted Text


Quoted Text

How about including any of the B-24s? As a matter of fact, since there's already a "Twins" campaign going, a regular ol' "Multi-engine" Aircraft of Any Stripe or Color Campaign"..? This could encompass civilian AND military types...

Maybe I'm just letting my imagination run away from me..?



Dennis, I had a different idea regarding bombers. So lets keep this campaign focused on single engines.

Here is a list (not complete) of WWII radial engine fighters.

Fiat CR.42
1939 Italy Italy, Belgium, Croatia, Hungary, Germany
Gloster Gladiator/Sea Gladiator
1937 UK UK, Belgium, Finland, Greece, Iraq, Norway
Polikarpov I-5
1931 USSR
Polikarpov I-15 & I-15bis
1934 USSR USSR, China, Finland
Brewster F2A Buffalo
1939 US US, Finland, Netherlands, New Zealand, UK, Australia
Polikarpov I-153
1939 USSR USSR, China, Finland
Bloch MB.150-157
1940 France France, Greece, Romania
Boeing P-26 Peashooter
1933 US US, China, Philippines
CAC Boomerang[notes 2]
1943 Australia
Curtiss P-36 Hawk/Mohawk
1938 US US, Brazil, Finland, France, Netherlands, Norway, Thailand, UK
Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon
1939 US China, Netherlands
Fiat G.50
1938 Italy Italy, Finland, Croatia
Focke-Wulf Fw 190
1941 Germany Germany, Hungary, Romania
Focke-Wulf Ta 152 high altitude fighter 1945 Germany
Grumman F4F/FM Wildcat/Martlet carrier fighter
1940 US US, UK
Grumman F6F Hellcat/Gannet carrier fighter 1943 US US, UK
IAR 80/IAR 81
1941 Romania
Kawasaki Ki-100
1945 Japan
Koolhoven F.K.58
1940 Netherlands Netherlands, France
Lavochkin La-5
1942 USSR
Lavochkin La-7
1944 USSR
Macchi C.200
1939 Italy
MÁVAG Héja
1941 Hungary
Mitsubishi A5M carrier fighter[notes 4]
1936 Japan
Mitsubishi A6M Zero carrier fighter 1940 Japan
Mitsubishi J2M interceptor
1942 Japan
Nakajima A6M2-N floatplane fighter 1942 Japan
Nakajima Ki-27
1937 Japan Japan, Manchukuo, Thailand
Nakajima Ki-43
1941 Japan Japan, Manchukuo, Thailand
Nakajima Ki-44
1942 Japan
Nakajima Ki-84
1943 Japan
Polikarpov I-16
1934 USSR USSR, China, Finland
PZL P.7
1933 Poland
PZL P.11
1934 Poland Poland, Romania
PZL P.24
1936 Poland Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Romania
Reggiane Re.2000
1940 Italy Sweden, Hungary, Italy
Republic P-43 Lancer
1941 US US, Australia, China
Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
1942 US US, UK, Brazil, Mexico, France, USSR
Seversky P-35
1937 US
VL Myrsky
1943 Finland
Vought F4U/FG Corsair carrier fighter 1942 US US, UK, New Zealand
Vultee P-66 Vanguard
1941 US US, China
Blackburn Roc turret fighter
1939 UK
Blackburn Skua fighter/dive bomber 1938 UK
Bristol Beaufighter
1940 UK UK, Australia, South Africa, US
Bristol Blenheim night fighter
1937 UK Canada
Dornier Do 215 night fighter
1939 Germany Germany, Hungary
Dornier Do 217 night fighter
1941 Germany Germany, Italy
Dornier Do 335
1944 Germany
Douglas P-70 Havoc night fighter 1941 US US, UK
Curtiss XF15C
1945 US inspired by the FR-1 Fireball
Curtiss XP-53/YP-60
1942 US
Curtiss XP-62
1943 US
Gloster F.5/34
1937 UK
Macchi C.201
1940 Italy
Piaggio P.119
1942 Italy buried radial-engine fighter
PZL.50 Jastrząb
1939 Poland
Tachikawa Ki-106
1945 Japan
VL Humu
1944 Finland
Polikarpov I-185
1941 USSR
Aichi S1A
1945 Japan night fighter
Boeing XF8B
1944 US
Gloster F.9/37
1939 UK
Grumman XF5F Skyrocket
1940 US
Grumman XP-50
1941 US
Kawasaki Ki-96
1943 Japan
Republic XP-69/XP-72
1943 US
SNCASE SE.100
1939 France


Bob



Hey, Bob!

I think I posted my last comment regarding B-24s to the wrong thread!

There was/is another thread going on with multi-engined Military and Civilian Airplanes...

OOOPS!!!
Lakota
#123
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New Mexico, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 12:25 PM UTC
Howdy Y'all
The guy who never finishes an airplane model says, "Count me in."
I need to build on of my Corsairs. I could change my mind and go for a Fw-190.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"
M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 12:51 PM UTC

Quoted Text

Howdy Y'all
The guy who never finishes an airplane model says, "Count me in."
I need to build on of my Corsairs. I could change my mind and go for a Fw-190.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"



Hi, Don!

Interestingly enough, Chance Vought F4U Corsair US Naval and Marine Aviators, flying out of Bridgeport, Connecticut used to "mix it up" with USAAF Pilots, flying Republic Aviation P-47 Thunderbolts out of Farmingdale, Long Island, New York over Long Island Sound. All concerned said it "was a lot of fun"... WOW! Just to have a "ringside seat" for one of these "shows"!!!

Sometimes US Naval Aviators would also "join in" the fun, flying their Grumman F6F Hellcats out of Bethpage, Long Island...

I've a good mind to build up a display of all three aircraft, together- Might make a nice "comparison" display-piece...

At my snail-like working-pace, I should finish all three mounted on a Tarmac Base by, ohhh, 2030 or so...

Bigrip74
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Joined: February 22, 2008
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 01:06 PM UTC
[quote]Hey, Bob!

I think I posted my last comment regarding B-24s to the wrong thread!

There was/is another thread going on with multi-engined Military and Civilian Airplanes...

OOOPS!!![quote]

No problem Dennis. What campaign is that? I would like to see it.

Don. you finish more builds than I .

brekinapez
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Georgia, United States
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 01:12 PM UTC
I've been wanting to start one of my FW 190s.
Jessie_C
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British Columbia, Canada
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 03:21 PM UTC
I beg to differ about the Do 335; that had inline engines.

But would you accept a Tempest II or Sea Fury?
Bigrip74
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 05:08 PM UTC

Quoted Text

I beg to differ about the Do 335; that had inline engines.

But would you accept a Tempest II or Sea Fury?



OOPS! I did not see the Dornier, just took it out.

Jesse as long as it had a radial engine it qualifies.

Bob
md72
#439
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 05:46 PM UTC
Well lets's see Peashooter, P-35, Hawk, Buffalo, Wildcat, Corsair, Hellcat, Thunderbolt, Zero, Yes, I might have a candidate.
john41492
#442
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Malacca, Malaysia
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 06:16 PM UTC
Bob,

I love the idea! Count me in!

The P-47 has been so overlooked! Got a squadron in the stash!
RhinoSpit
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Bas-Rhin, France
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 08:32 PM UTC
count me in . I've a lot of compliant planes
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
Joined: May 02, 2013
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 09:40 PM UTC
[quote][quote]Hey, Bob!

I think I posted my last comment regarding B-24s to the wrong thread!

There was/is another thread going on with multi-engined Military and Civilian Airplanes...

OOOPS!!!
Quoted Text



No problem Dennis. What campaign is that? I would like to see it.

Don. you finish more builds than I .




Hi, Bob and Everyone else!

I believe Jessie C mentioned that thread in ANOTHER thread somewhere here on AEROSCALE, but I'll be danged if I can find it, now... Interesting thread, though- Lot's of military odd-balls and numerous civilian types, as well...
Lakota
#123
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Posted: Wednesday, September 04, 2019 - 11:49 PM UTC
Dennis,
Your F4U, P-47 & F6F display sounds interesting, hope you getter done. They all fall into this campaign category. I still need to sign up for the 8th AAF campaign to do a P-47M.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"
Bigrip74
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Texas, United States
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Posted: Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 06:26 AM UTC
There are 9 interested so far one more and Ill submit this.

Bob
PasiAhopelto
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Uusimaa, Finland
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Posted: Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 06:45 AM UTC
Will join with another P-47.
M4A1Sherman
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New York, United States
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Posted: Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 06:45 AM UTC

Quoted Text

I beg to differ about the Do 335; that had inline engines.

But would you accept a Tempest II or Sea Fury?



hi, Jessie!

I can't see ANY reason why a Tempest Mk.II or a Sea fury couldn't be included; BOTH Fighters were being developed DURING WWII, so IMO, they are "fair game"...

(See my commentary Re: N.A.-73, P-51, P-51A, A-36A, F-6A, et al...)

M4A1Sherman
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Posted: Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 06:48 AM UTC

Quoted Text

Dennis,
Your F4U, P-47 & F6F display sounds interesting, hope you getter done. They all fall into this campaign category. I still need to sign up for the 8th AAF campaign to do a P-47M.
Take care,
Don "Lakota"



Ahhh, the "-M"... One of my favorite WWII "Hot Rods"...
Bigrip74
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Posted: Thursday, September 05, 2019 - 07:37 AM UTC
We have 10 and the proposal has been submitted.

Again:

1. radial engine.
2. used as a fighter. DAY, NIGHT, HEAVY, ESCORT.
3. single or multiple engines.
 _GOTOTOP