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LONG RANGE FIGHTERS IN WORLD WAR TWO...

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Shippo
Posts: 58
Joined: Mon May 14, 2012 11:43 pm

LONG RANGE FIGHTERS IN WORLD WAR TWO...

Post by Shippo » Tue Aug 15, 2017 1:23 pm

The large two engine Lockheed P-38 Lightning looks nothing like your typical World War 2 fighter, looking more like a heavy fighter, This aircraft had great range and firepower, two powerful turbocharged engines and the best aerodynamics of any warplane made. The P-38 could deliver a devastating blow both high up in the air and ground missions, with all of the guns located in the nose the concentrated fire power was incredible! Even the mighty German Tiger tank crews knew they were in trouble once they spotted the flying killing machines, just using the amazing concentrated guns turned those tanks in to twisted metal.

The Mosquito aircraft was made by the de Havilland Company. It first flew at the end of 1949 and was first made known to the public after the successful raid by four of them on 25th September 1942 on the Gestapo headquarter in Oslo, Norway. This aircraft even outpaced German FW 190s who gave up the chase 60 miles out to sea.

The P-51 Mustang is well-known for its role as a long range escort fighter in Europe during World War II. Its armament array varied through World War II from four to six to 0.50 inch wing machine guns or four 20 mm wing cannons. Additional armament could include 8 high velocity aircraft rockets, 2,000 pounds of bombs, or M10 triple-tube rocket launchers.

The Focke-Wulf 190 D-9 revolutionized air combat was highly effective and feared by the allied bomber formations and had a certain fear factor to it that played a part in combat. It was really a jack of all trades you might say. Its 30 mm cannon had devastating effect on aircraft and ground targets and its great maneuverability gave it the edge in dog fighting less maneuverable bomber escorts like the P-38 and P-47. A wartime winner with a legacy that will live on.

In the end it was the opinion of WW2 pilots that matter. When the German pilots were told to avoid combat below five thousand metres with Yakovlev fighters, it is obvious the Germans were terrified of this plane. When it came to most other planes they had a plan of attack which was effective, but against the Yak 3 it was simply the call to run. Additionally when the French pilots serving with the Soviet Air Force were offered any British, American or Russian airplane to fly they chose the Yak-3 over all others. It was a great testimonial for the plane. Perhaps it could be considered that the Yak-3 to be the best fighter of WW2 due to this! For it was reported that the YAK-3 by many pilots to be the best handling and most maneuverable of WWII fighters.

Former Squadron Leader David Stubbs served in the Royal Air Force as an Air Electronics Operator and Air Electronics Officer on the Numrod MR2 and the Sentry AEW Mk1 9E-3D) . He also served on the E-3B/C with the US Air Force as an exchanged pilot as well as undertaking a number of operations, planning and training staff appointments.While at RAF Waddington he was the Tactical and Flight Commander of 23 Squadron. After leaving the Royal Air Force he was credited in flying 6,500 hours.

David is a well known air power historian and has been invited to speak on the topic LONG RANGE FIGHTERS IN WORLD WAR TWO.

The talk will take place in the WW2 gymnasium called the Peter Scoley Hall at the Metheringham Airfield Visitor Centre, now a Accredited Museum, on Wednesday, 23rd August 2017 beginning 7.30pm

Admission is free to members of Friends of Metheringham Airfield and to 106 Squadron veterans who served at RAF Metheringham. For visitors and non members tickets are available at the door to include refreshments.

For further information please telephone 07486 947 095

John Shipton
Friends of Metheringham Airfield
Lincoln
War time home to 106 Squadron

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