[Andrew]

Ask a bomber crew on which they'd rather be escorting them, and you'd probably find the P-51. Fighters save the country but the bombers win the war.

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

The Mustang was definitely a good fighter, but what do some of the numbers point to. If you take a look at the 20 top scoring aces how does it break down. Lets see,,,
1. Major Richard Bong 40 victories P-38
2. Major Thomas McGuire 38 victories P-38
3. Cdr. David McCambell 34 victories F6F
4. Lt Col. Frances Gabreski 28 victories P-47
5. Major Robert S. Johnson 27 victories P-47
6. Col. Charles MacDonald 27 victories P-38
7. Major George Preddy 27 victories P-51
8. Capt Joe Foss 26 victories F4F
9. Lt. Robert Hanson 25 victories F4U
10. John Meyer 24 victories P-51
11. Lt. Cecil Harris 24 victories F6F
12. Captain Ray Wetmore 23 victories P-51
13. Lt Eugene Valencia 23 victories F6F
14. Col. David C Shilling 23 victories P-47
15. Major Gregory Boyington 22 victories F4U
16. Captain Gerald Johnson 22 victories P-38
17. Lt. Col. Neel Kearby 22 victories P-47
18. Major Jay Robbins 22 victories P-38
19. Major Dominic Gentile 22 victories P-51 (2 Spitfire, 4.33 P-47, 15.5 P-51)
20. Captain Frederick Christensen 21.5 victories P-47

So out of the top 20 it looks to break down to 5 P-38s (They also get top honors) 5 P-47s, 4 P-51s, 3 F6Fs, 2 F4Us and a F4F to round things out. Numbers tend to support that the United States actually had three excellent Army Air Force fighters in its stable. The P-47 and the P-38 often take the back seat, but they also went up against the Luftwaffe when there was still a number of their more veteran pilots still around. Seem remember a Wings episode where Gunther Rall describes an encounter with P-47s of Zemkes Wolf Pack that did not end so well for him. I also found a site that had a breakdown of the 8th Air Forces ETO list of top scoring aces and out of the top ten, 6 were P-47s (P-47 also had top honors) with P-51s making up the remaining 4. To state that the P-51 is the undisputed champion as far as top dog goes, well,,, the numbers really do not support this claim. Excellent design, fantastic fighter, yes, not much of an argument there, but it seems it is fairly safe to say that the same could be said for the P-47 and the P-38 too. (F4U too, do not want to leave out any of the Bent Wing club).

Site I went for some of the numbers was: Acepilots.com - WW2 and aviation history
It matched up well with some of my other sources, but for ease was all in one place.

Hey Cruver Counter - I mean Collecter, thanks for the statistics but...this still doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if a company like Hobby Master released a 1/48 scale P-51D
to replace Armour's pathetic version... BTW...you and I joined this club at the same time and you have about 1,600 more posts than me - WOW! and I thought I was active!

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Hey Cruver Counter - I mean Collecter, thanks for the statistics but...this still doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if a company like Hobby Master released a 1/48 scale P-51D
to replace Armour's pathetic version... BTW...you and I joined this club at the same time and you have about 1,600 more posts than me - WOW! and I thought I was active!

It is a case of being retired, and having way to much free time. But it is nice though, probably should start fishing again.

[Captain Eddie]

Originally Posted by lanslide

Hey Cruver Counter - I mean Collecter, thanks for the statistics but...this still doesn't change the fact that it would be nice if a company like Hobby Master released a 1/48 scale P-51D
to replace Armour's pathetic version... BTW...you and I joined this club at the same time and you have about 1,600 more posts than me - WOW! and I thought I was active!

I joined about a year before CC, and he has lots more posts than I do too....the only way I can try to catch up is to make inane posts like this one!!!

[lanslide]

Originally Posted by Cruver Collecter

It is a case of being retired, and having way to much free time. But it is nice though, probably should start fishing again.

This place is addicting! I'm glad to be a part of it. I probably should start working overtime though to afford all these new models coming out.

[Cruver Collecter]

Originally Posted by lanslide

This place is addicting! I'm glad to be a part of it. I probably should start working overtime though to afford all these new models coming out.

Addicting yes, and a whole bunch of really useful information on diecast and aviation history in general.