[EGPWS]

For years I'd heard the P-51 Mustang was the ultimate WWII fighter.

It won the war with it's capabilities plus it's extreme range with the laminar flow wing.

By far the best as far as wars outcome.

[mnehring]

The F4/4U and F6 could take a major pounding and keep on flying.

I think, however, the P40 had the most kills.

[Squantos]

P-38 lightning !

[VR-21]

I tend to believe it’s the Mustang, but the F4 Corsair was no slouch either.

[Snickering Hound]

The Bearcat never saw action, the first CVL equipped with it was steaming to Japan when the surrender came.

[valkyry1]

One correction. The FW 190D had a bomber engine yes, but not a radial. It had the Jumo 213 twelve-cylinder liquid-cooled engine

[bushpilot1]

Audie Murphy

[rsobin]

There was an Italian fighter that out preformed all other piston engined fighters in acceleration ,climb rates and top speed , but only a couple dozen were manufactured.

[Lonesome in Massachussets]

Best fighter: ME262, Hands down.

Best Prop fighter: P-38

Best single engine prop fighter: P-51

The FW-190 and P-47 were both plenty rugged, but lacked the speed and maneuverability of P-51. Better suited to a ground attack role than the p-51. IMHO.

[GonzoGOP]

The Messerschmitt Me 262 has to be at the top of the list. Its a hundred miles per hour faster than the nearest competitor, has 4 x 30mm cannon and at the very end was being fitted with rudimentary guided missiles. Had they been supplied in quantity the allied bomber offensive wouldn't have stood a chance. Fortunately Hitler delayed it for a year and by the time it got into service there were P51s waiting above every airfield to ambush them on takeoff and landing (the only time they were really vulnerable).

[MattinNJ]

John Basilone. Hands down.

[Skooz]

Next question.

[valkyry1]

For me it would be the Republic XP-72, but the war ended before it went into service.

It was based on a advanced version of the P-47 incorporating the Pratt & Whitney R-4360-13 Wasp Major 28-Cylinder radial air-cooled engine producing 3,450 hp.

It would do 490 mph without the supercharger turned on, top speed was estimated up into the 550 range for the prototype using the contra-rotating props.

In fact there were several fighter offerings to be based on the awesome Pratt & Whitney R-4360 engine. Several of them were to incorporate contra-rotating props to absorb the immense power and torque of the engine.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/xp72.html

http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=419

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheets/factsheet.asp?fsID=2272

[truemiester]

The war had to won on the ground - P-47.

Could give a whoopin’ and take a lickin’.

[Phlyer]

The key to answering this is the criteria. Since the F8F never got a single kill in combat, can it be best?

Well, maybe, if you're talking about performance. But if you're really talking performance (and because your ground rules don't explicitly limit it to piston-powered aircraft), then it's hard to beat an Me-262. On the other hand, since the Me-262 engines lasted an average of 4 hours between overhauls, does that level of unreliability matter? Or cost? In the end, there were more Me-262s shot down by Mustangs than the other way around, mostly because the Mustangs could hang around the Me-262 operating bases and take them out then they were vulnerable.

There is an excellent article that was put out by EAA some time ago (like, 20 years), called "Ending the Argument." In it, the authors did an engineering flight test of the P-51, P-47, F6F, and F4U with the aim of determining which was the 'best' fighter. Obviously, if your candidates include the P-38 or FW-190, then that article cannot possible 'end the argument' but they did a good job on the aircraft they considered.

In it, they evaluated both 'hard' numbers, like top speed, turn rate, rate of climb and stick-force per g, plus pilot assessment factors like stall warning, trim forces, and general cockpit ergonomics.

The result was . . . no clear result. The Corsair had the best handling qualities (obviously they had a later one) including the quantifiable handling qualities like stick force per g (on which the Mustang was terrible). In addition, the early laminar-flow wing on the Mustang provided a very sharp and unpredictable stall, resulting in man reported instances of a pilot spinning out of control just as he was getting ready to take a shot. Obviously that's not a 'good' thing.

The ergonomics on the Corsair were terrible, reflecting the design change that raised the seat for better field of view. The pilot practically stood up in the cockpit, which was bad for g tolerance and also meant that he had to bend over and look next to his knee to see various switches. The Mustang was much better ergonimically, to the point that the authors felt it would make an important difference in the pilot's ability to fight after a several hour mission escorting bombers.

[philman_36]

Anyone else have an opinion?
While the P-51 Mustang was nice my vote goes to this fine aircraft...

Lockheed P-38 Lightning

Type: Long range fighter and fighter bomber
Powerplant: Two Allison V-1710-27/29
Max speed: 414 mph (666 km/hr)
Ceiling: 44,000 ft (13 400 m)
Range: 475 miles (765 km) on internal fuel
Weight (empty): 12,600 lbs (5806 kg)
Max. T/O:21,600 lbs (9798 kg)
Wingspan: 52' 0" (15.85m)
Length: 37' 10" (11.53 m)
Height: 9' 10" (3 m) Armament: One 20mm cannon, four .50 machine guns, 2,000 lb of bombs, rockets

Damned fine fighter/bomber!

[alfa6]

Any plane that can deliver beer to it's pilots has to be number 1:-)

Seriously though the Supermarine Spitfire served from day one to the end of WW-II and beyond. The Spit had great growth potential that was used time over time during WW-II.

The early Spits hit about 350mph while the later Mks exceeded 420mph. With excellent maneuvablity and an armament of between 8 .303s up to 4 20mm the Spitfire provided a potent punch for it's pilots. The one draw back to the Spitfire was it's lack of range.

Regards

alfa6 ;>}

[Happy Rain]

When Goering saw P-51s over Berlin he said then that the war was lost.

American aerodynamics wrapped around a humongous gas tank with a British engine—not to mention the six .50s...

Strategically,the Mustang won hands down.

[Sylvester McMonkey McBean]

Our side, European theatre- P51-D or later with the bubble canopies. The c’s were kinda cool with the partial bubble lowrider canopy though. Pacific Theatre- the Corasir.

Germany, the FW-190 and Ta-152 variants

Japan, the Tony, or their Me 163 knockoff the Shusui. (technically an interceptor)

Soviet Union, Yak-9.

Great Britain, of course the Spitfire.

[Sudetenland]

P-51 was a dog until the Brits put their Rolls-Royce engine into it.

I've always like the "Jug" myself. the 47 had long range, good speed (467 max.), large ordinance load and it could take a beating.