marine air wrote:
Comparing the Korean War service of the Corsair and P-51, the P-51 had the highest combat losses.
That may be, but you just can't compare total losses...or even loss ratio per sortie. To make your case you'd need to know the cause of each loss. Unless it's directly engine related, you're run the risk of comparing apples to oranges.
marine air wrote:
If you compare each, the engine of the Corsair has a smaller cross section and be harder to hit with ground fire than a V-12.
by "cross section" do you meant frontal area? If so, I disagree. If you're talking side area, then you're correct.
marine air wrote:
Also with a Corsair if the bullets don't hit the pilot, engine, or fuel, it'll still be in the fight. With a V-12 you have a longer area for the bullets to hit and take it out. Particularly the location of the Mustangs radiator.
Well, yes. The Mustang or any water cooled aircraft has a radiator. More systems gives the enemy another thing to possibly hit. Or to put it simply, another thing to go wrong.
But don't be too damning of in-lines...some mighty fine planes in the war had them: Spitfires, Hurricanes, Bf-109s, P-38s, P-38-39-40s...to name a few.