Most valuable U.S. fighter plane in World War II

[Fishmoto37]

All of the above made important contributions to the war effort. Which one do you think contibuted the most. Do you think that there is one fighter that the U.S. could not have done without?

[ABWorsham]

Wow, the vote is spread thin. I picked the P-47 for its bomber escort and ground attack abilities.

[Fishmoto37]

Six votes so far and not one fighter has two votes.

[Octospire]

I would say the F4U Corsair. While the P-51 changed the air war over Germany by giving the Allies the ability to escort the bombers to and from their targets, the F4U won the day in the pacific as both a fighter and as a fighter bomber. Anyways the F4U would be my choice as the most valuable fighter plane of the US Air Force in WW2 although the P51 would be a very close second.

[Fishmoto37]

I would say the F4U Corsair. While the P-51 changed the air war over Germany by giving the Allies the ability to escort the bombers to and from their targets, the F4U won the day in the pacific as both a fighter and as a fighter bomber. Anyways the F4U would be my choice as the most valuable fighter plane of the US Air Force in WW2 although the P51 would be a very close second.

           The U.S. Air Force did not exist as a seperate military branch in WW II. The air force at that time was a part of the Army. (Army Air Corps) The F4U was used by the Navy and Marine Corps. The F6F (Navy) destroyed the most Japanese aircraft in the Pacific. The P-38 (Army) was used by the highest scoring ace in WW II. (Again Pacific) The F4U certainly had an important roll in the Pacific as you have indicated. It was a great help to the Marine Corps in its roll as a close air support tactical fighter bomber. As I recall the F4U had the same engine as the F6F so it was more than a match for any Japanese aircraft. Thanks for your interest in this poll.

[Octospire]

I would say the F4U Corsair. While the P-51 changed the air war over Germany by giving the Allies the ability to escort the bombers to and from their targets, the F4U won the day in the pacific as both a fighter and as a fighter bomber. Anyways the F4U would be my choice as the most valuable fighter plane of the US Air Force in WW2 although the P51 would be a very close second.

           The U.S. Air Force did not exist as a seperate military branch in WW II. The air force at that time was a part of the Army. (Army Air Corps) The F4U was used by the Navy and Marine Corps. The F6F (Navy) destroyed the most Japanese aircraft in the Pacific. The P-38 (Army) was used by the highest scoring ace in WW II. (Again Pacific) The F4U certainly had an important roll in the Pacific as you have indicated. It was a great help to the Marine Corps in its roll as a close air support tactical fighter bomber. As I recall the F4U had the same engine as the F6F so it was more than a match for any Japanese aircraft. Thanks for your interest in this poll.

No worries. Yeah I know they were seperate like you say it was just easier to refer to them as a single entity. For me it was the versatility of the F4U which made it such an impressive aircraft, it could like you say provide close air support but by the same token after it dropped its bombs it could not only go after a zero but actually be able to shoot it down.

[legion3]

I am pretty sure I read that the F6F Hellcat destroyed more enemy aircraft than any other design. More US aces flew the F6F than any other designs. The plane (and its opponents) were "ACE MAKERS".

The F6F accounted for 75% of all aerial victories recorded by the U.S. Navy in the Pacific.

The F6F destroyed 5,163 (56% of all Naval/Marine air victories of the war) at a cost of 270 Hellcats (an overall kill-to-loss ratio of 19:1).

But the list shows just what a remarkable industry the US had that all of the planes mentioned had a role and many not mentioned too.

[Fishmoto37]

I was hoping to get everyone who voted to post their reasons for their choice. I will give my reason for voting for the F4F in hopes of creating some more interest in this poll. The wildcat was the navies main fighter in the battle of the Coral Sea, the battle of Midway and the battle of Guadalcanal. My question is, what would the U.S.  have done if the U.S. navy did not have this great little fighter in 1942? Remember what the Japanese navy was using as a fighter in 1942? What was the U.S. navies main fighter prior to the F4F? Was it a biplane? By golly it was a biplane, the F3F. Does this make the F4F a valuable asset or what?

[Bluecoat1861]

this so hard to say as a outstanding fighter in one theater could be very marginal in another ie p-47 Europe great. Pacfic "the P what ?"

[Fishmoto37]

this so hard to say as a outstanding fighter in one theater could be very marginal in another ie p-47 Europe great. Pacfic "the P what ?"

        The P38 of course. Americas highest scoring ace flew in a P38. (In the Pacific)

[ABWorsham]

this so hard to say as a outstanding fighter in one theater could be very marginal in another ie p-47 Europe great. Pacfic "the P what ?"

        The P38 of course. Americas highest scoring ace flew in a P38. (In the Pacific)

If we used scores to figure the greatest Allied Fighter, then the La-5 is the best fighter plane of WW2.

[Fishmoto37]

this so hard to say as a outstanding fighter in one theater could be very marginal in another ie p-47 Europe great. Pacfic "the P what ?"

        The P38 of course. Americas highest scoring ace flew in a P38. (In the Pacific)

If we used scores to figure the greatest Allied Fighter, then the La-5 is the best fighter plane of WW2.

          My intention with this poll was to create a discussion about the most valuable fighter to the U.S. war effort. Not to discuss the greatest allied fighter. I think that is discussed in another poll.

[ABWorsham]

I do not think the La-5 is the best plane. Kill scores reflect a pilots skills more than the quality of a plane. 

[mike b]

P-51 because its superior speed and great range singlehandedly won the air war over Western Europe for the Allies.

[Fishmoto37]

Well the P51 now has a two vote lead. This is about how I expected the voting to go. But I thought there would be more comments explaining reasons for the votes.