What WWIIfighter of US manufacture claims the most victories

drgondog · **Joined:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:50 am **Posts:** 237

JohnB wrote:

Thanks for finding those figures.

I might question the P-26 total. I know the Phillipines (and Chinese, I think) flew them in the war, but the US?
I suspect opening days of WWII in Phillipines

Also, I'd thinkthe Helldiver had some air to air victories...unless by the time it arrived the USN fighters kept the enemy off their tails.

The SBD kills were awarded to the pilots -Swede Vejtasa for example was credited with 3 Zeros may 8 1942. He transferred to VF-10 and flew F4F's after that.
Likewise, I'd have expected the Mustang to have more victories in the Pacific considering how many were on Iwo and the like.
Their only opportunity was on either escort missions to Japan or armed recon to Japan and Formosa - nothing like ETO in 1944.

In addition the RAF totalled another 600+ in the 51 in the ETO.

The totals in the website I presented are slightly off from USAF 85 for P-51, P-38, P-47 and P-61 - but not by much.

Also, remember with UK types the figures don't include victories by US airmen flying for the RAF.

spartakle · **Posted:** Thu May 10, 2012 7:14 pm

Thanks drgondog for those figures stating victories scored by U.S. pilots while flying aircraft of American manufacture. It would be interesting if victories could be added to these totals from other air forces flying American manufactured airplanes and see how the types might rise or fall on that master list. I think the P-39 might rise because of Soviet numbers but definitely not offer a challenge for the lead.

drgondog · **Joined:** Mon Nov 21, 2005 10:50 am **Posts:** 237

Both the P-39 and P-40 would rise in numbers and maybe change the order in the 'upper' middle. The Desert Air Force in North Africa and later in MTO would help the P-40 considerably but doubt over the P-47 or P-38, the VVS scores with the P-39 could add at least 1500 to 2000+ and challenge the P-40.

Saville · **Joined:** Tue Jun 28, 2005 8:45 am **Posts:** 518

nick3593 wrote:

It had to have Definately been the p-40.

Only the ones with the shark mouths on them - the rest didn't get any kills

JohnB · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 1:02 pm

drgondog wrote:

I suspect opening days of WWII in Phillipines

Agreed, P-26s saw combat in the Phillipines, but not with US pilots...according to my histories of the type.
The P-26 was replaced in US service by the P-36 and P-40 by 1940.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Fri May 11, 2012 10:32 pm

Saville wrote:

nick3593 wrote:

It had to have Definately been the p-40.

Only the ones with the shark mouths on them - the rest didn't get any kills

LOL

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What WWIIfighter of US manufacture claims the most victories

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