P-51 Mustang Dogfight multiple Kills

[JPStrikesBack]

@surfgodX a2000 foot ceiling difference is a LOT. Plus the P51 had to be at approx 250 yards for the guns to be effective since they were wing-mounted and lines of fire cross at that range. The P38 fired straight. It's hard not to conclude that the P38 was properly utilized and their pilots properly trained in the Pacific but not in the ETO. There's an excellent article online if you search for " Der Gabelschwanz TeufelTechnical Report APA-TR-2010-1201 Dr Carlo Kopp"

[cherrygrower]

B17 and the mustang only appeared in the later years of the war and the B29 even later. Both appeared when the Americans entered the war half way through it. The spit was there from the beginning going through 9 variants while it opponent the 109 went through 7 plus variants again competitive throughout the war. Both the B17 and the 'stand were incredible but missed half the war.

[surfgodx]

@cherrygrower That may be true but the facts speak for themselves, and the facts say that among Allied forces the Mustang shot down more enemy planes than anything but the Hellcat *shrugs* So Johnny come lately may have been late to the ball.... but he was the best dancer in the European theater. From everything I've ever read that when Allied pilots tested German planes after the war they said the last variant of the Fockwolfe would have beaten the shit out of anything we had.

[JPStrikesBack]

No. P38J vs P51D = Dead P51D. The P38 had a much higher ceiling and a much higher climb rate. While the P51 was probably a superior aerobatic plane, the P38 could get above it and dive on it. The center mounted machineguns and cannon fired straight line of sight, making target acquisiton easier.

[pencil736]

@JPStrikesBack i dont get it

[surfgodx]

@JPStrikesBack The Lightning was only I think about 6-10 mph faster, and had a greater rate of climb with more guns. However if I remember correctly they had about the same service ceiling, Wiki says the Mustang had a ceiling of 41,900 and the Lightning 44,000. I do remember my grandfather (WWII vet) saying the Lightning was a much much better ground attack frame because of it's stability. The P-38 was actually rarely used as a fighter plane and if then mainly as an escort fighter in the Pacific

[cherrygrower]

No greatest airframe of WW2 that had the greatest impact was the Spitfire or perhaps the Bf-109 series.

[adobo777]

@cherrygrower That title belongs to the B17 and the B29.

[wtficantgetausername]

my grandfather flew this plane..i envy his life

[ikeplus1]

Hey,hey,I thought the PILOTS won it or lost it and not just the type airplane.

[Slickdapj]

The Allison-engined Mustangs were outstanding low-level performers. No supercharger meant poor performance at altitude. They remained in service the entire war as recon birds.

In fact, down low, they were as fast as the B/C/D models until 150 octane fuel gave some 2000 HP with added "boost" or manifold pressure.

[darkmossie633]

i'm a spitfire fan, but the P51 takes some beating, though they had same Merlin engines

[TheCelticmaori]

@darkmossie633 yeah agree with u mate! i'm a spit fan but the mustang was faster, however it did come at a later date, so for it's time the spit was very modern

[MrMike3865]

Unlucky pilot at 2:01, notice he bails out but he gets separated from his chute.

[GreatRedTiger]

@MrMike3865 it looks like that, but its not, chute opened and on the last moment you can see how ropes are ''pulling'' him against the chute...

[MrMike3865]

@GreatRedTiger Oh OK...that must have been some scary moments for that pilot!

[GreatRedTiger]

@MrMike3865 well, surely was. I admire to those brave men, no matter the side they fought for

[NOSRAB66]

Until the Mustang was paired with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine, it was a fairly unremarkable performer but this innovation turned it into an all time great.  Possibly the best example from WW2 of Anglo-American cooperation.

[kibulsky]

is the p51 incapable of long and drastic dive bcoz the engine will drown or shutdown? im not sure

[mountainstandardtime]

Fucking asshole krauts and japs never knew what hit em.

[Valis2008]

@mountainstandardtime You racist piece of shit

[cid871]

I know I'm gonna bring hate for myself but the first quality of the mustang was, has was for all allied planes, was great freaking numbers...can't loose if you massively outnumber the enemy...

[dist6chair]

My Dad flew a P 51 and other aircraft, during WWII. He shot down 4 aircraft and was shot down twice himself. He flew with a great pilot by the name of Joe Foss. Richard Lee too. He always loved the Mustang the best.

[CianTolliver2008]

well i was partly correct lol

[CianTolliver2008]

correct me if I am wrong, when the p51 was doing escorts they never lost a bomber.

[loganklepfer]

@CianTolliver2008 It was the Tuskegee Airmen that didnt lose a bomber under their escort. Although they did fly the P-51.

[corbett656]

I like the design of the P 38 but if i wanted to be badass i would fly a P 51

[raserei]

Anyone wanna buy me one?

[Hunterdh3]

The single greatest FIGHTER of WWII my personal favorite plane would be the B-17

[GDK4]

Greatest? Corsair. VF-17, anyone?

[Blackheartrises]

The other speed merchant was the F-4U Corsair. This naval fighter was none for it's "Gull" wings bent like the F-4 Phantom. It's dive speed was so wicked it needed special dive brakes to slow it during the dive that gave it a scream that enemies referred to as (Screaming Death). Many enemies said when they heard the (Demons' Scream) someone close to you was about to die if not you.

[NKCrime]

@Blackheartrises that scream was invented by germans they used it as psychological weapon on their stukas

[steamingpoopfart]

um no it was because of air flowing over the wings

[NKCrime]

@steamingpoopfart nope

[Blackheartrises]

Well, all fighters had qualities the others lacked. The P-38 lightning with it's turbo chargers could operate in thin air. The Thunderbolt (Jug) had heavy armor and a dive speed unmatched, the spitfire was very nimble due to the Merlin engine also used in the P-51. Speed wise it is a toss up. The Dehavilland Mosquito was a tin engine medium bomber that after payload drop, could outfly a ME 109 or FW 190. Remember this is a bomber. It could out turn those fighters aswell.

[windsofchange345]

Well Snoopy has the axis at bay for many years

[nocrap62]

I have known men that flown all three types, Spitfire, P-47 and the Mustang. All loved the Spitfire. Some hated the P-47, but all will say the P-51 was the best. If Robert Johnson was still around, ask him what was best. He got 28 German fighters in the P-47. The P-47 was no slow poke and could turn with any German fighter.

[Ascend3r]

wasn't the most succesful airframe of the war a B-239 from finland?

[WingsofGold4045]

the thunderbolt was better than mustang in terms of armor wise, but it was slower because of it. they were used mainly as bombers (fighter-bombers) & did a heck of a job too, hence why they made the A-10 thunderbolt/warthog after it. the newer model mustangs were what made the difference,adding rolls royce merlin engine, the bubble canopy & more streamline design (they only changed the body very little between 3-4 phases). if i had to say, p-51s were like the 67 corvette, awesome in many ways

[WingsofGold4045]

P-51's pretty much won the war in the air, in terms of getting air superiority. I am not saying Mustangs did it single handedly. But as for being almost as fast as the ME 262 (german jet), it was the fastest prop plane in allies arsenal, equally as good, if not better than FW 190 (other than armament wise). but before the mustang, the spitfire was britains best plane i believe. cheap to make (because it was mostly wood) and more agile than hurricane

[Spuddud]

Me-262's top speed was 559 mph, mustangs was 437 mph. I wouldn't call 100+mph close, especially in WW2 planes.

[kdraper2007]

mustangs could keep up with the 262 in a dive, it Laminar flow wing was more efficent then any other at the time. the Mustang shot down more 262's then any other allied fighter.

[srxplayer]

@WingsofGold4045

The hurricane had wood in its contruction and I believe had fabric skin the Mosquito was almost all wood. The Spifire was of a modern steel construction

[krumbum675]

i always find myself drooling whenever i look at a P 51....

[filmrealdubai]

what documentary is this footage from - can we see the whole film?

[UtahMike41]

Just looking at a P51 sitting on the ground it has the "don't fuck with me" look.

[BMunich16]

The Spitfire has a "don't hurt me I just got waxed!" look

[DucatiM78]

Even so it can still out turn the mustang in a dogfight. Luckily for europe the germans had neither of these wonderful aircraft at their disposal.

[BMunich16]

Yeah, I have no problem with the Spit, it's performance is legendary. I'm not a big fan of the Mustang though, as a fighter, the T-Bolt is better IMO. Not as escort though.

[linebackertwo]

What a beauty:)))

[flyingdog275]

hmm!