![]() My statement about pilot associations was correct. approximately 80 losses (I will do some more research) but if it is anything like all other reports from that theater and time, only the P-39 losses are accurate. I have not found specific information on the reported 80 P-39 kills vs. Every source I've seen that compares awarded kills during specific battles with actual enemy losses in the Australia/New Guinea/New Britain campaigns indicates kills were overclaimed by a factor of 2 to 4, sometimes even more. He had to, as Europe was the priority and the Pacific was, by policy, only to be a holding action. They used these kill claims in their arguments for additional resources - Kenny specifically said send me airplanes because I can use them more effectively than anyone else using inflated numbers in his argument. That includes Allies in the ETO, Germans and the Soviets, as well as New Guinea.ĭuring the relatively short time P-39s were used for air-to-air combat in New Guinea both General Kenney (5th AF Commander) and General MacArthur had a vested interest in overclaiming kills. I have found sources that will show how kills have been massively overclaimed when compared to verified enemy losses. I'll work on getting shoot down stats to you. I don't disagree with you on your P-47/P-51 statements. On every other point you disagreed with me you are wrong. ![]() That doesn't mean it was a bad aircraft and the 3-to-1 loss ration is just crap! It was a very good if somewhat ugly airframe and could fly nearly 400mph, the P-63 Kingcobra was over 400mph and could fight at high level as well, but not as well as the three main USAAF fighters ahead of it. ![]() A couple 20mm Hispano rounds would probably disintegrate a Zero!Īgain, if you put a Merlin/Packard/Rolls engine in it, the P-39 is nearly the equal of the P-51 at all levels. BTW, the Airacobra was actually a very rugged aircraft that was not easy to bring down, and it's 20mm or 37mm cannon could blast nearly anything out of the sky. Much like over the Soviet Union, the Airacobras simply could use their excellent maneuverability and speed when operating at low level strafing ground targets and the Zeros/Oscars have to meet them. I don't how many times you enjoy being wrong, but while the Wildcat had to rely on tactics using shifty teamwork, its ruggedness, and weight, the P-39 could actually dogfight with the Zekes at low levels. Pulling their best pilots back to Germany to defend against Allied air attacks didn't help them. It was a one trick pony and the Germans let that trick be repeated over and over. The Germans came in low, in the P-39's sweet spot, with worse turning airplanes (at low altitude, the P-39 could out turn a ME-109). Hint, it's also the only one not included in the fighter memorial at the Air Force Academy.Īs to the Soviets, they did love the P-39. Guess what is the only US WW2 fighter that has no fan club (reunions, pilot associations, etc.). One of the reasons pilots transitioned out of it at their first opportunity (reference reports from 67th Fighter Squadron pilots in Guadacanal). Yeah, the Navy had pilots with more experience and better tactics, but there were no tactics that could make up for the P-39's many shortcomings against the Japanese. Similar problem on Guadacanal and one of the many reasons it was relegated to ground attack. In New Guinea, the P-39s didn't have the performance to get above ingressing Japanese fighters and bombers. ![]() The Wildcat could get above the Zeros, engage, then use dive speed to disengage if at a disadvantage. Against Zeros only, the loss rate is far worse. That includes kills against bombers, seaplanes, observation planes, etc. Accepted statistics now indicate the P-39 suffered a loss rate as bad as 3 to 1 against the Japanese (on the losing side) considering all verified kills and loses. Click to expand.Unfortunately, those statistics were based on erroneous and inflated pilot reports.
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