Which Luftwaffe WWII Fighter?

Actually Wombat, the P-80A had a higher top speed than the Me-262, with the Shooting Star topping out at 560 mph, while the Me-262 could hit 540 mph. And later Shooting Star models were only faster.

But that debate is for another day….

Anyway, it seems we are finally getting a wide array of choices here. We have votes for the Fw-190, Bf-109, Bf-110, Hs-129, Me-262, Ta-152, Do-335, and hopefully some others soon.

I still vouch for the original Zerstorer!

Got to be the Henschel Hs129. Pug nosed little twin engined beast, usually armed to the teeth and guaranteed to upset your whole day if it’s decided to pick on YOUR patch of ground. Surprisingly overlooked I feel. A bit like my beloved Beaufighter in many ways then… 😉 As a second choice, I’d agree with Seafuryfan; He219.

These two..

Ta152 or the Me 262……

For sure would have to be my two specific favourites of the Luftwaffe. Both for their beauty, speed, and firepower.

I’m with those that can’t decide-on the whole, Germany had a LOT of bloody good planes during WW2! :confused:

For me, its the long nose 190’s! or the Ta152 or the Me 262……

coanda

I have three favourites.

Top of the pops is definitely the 262. A far more aggessive looking, sleeker design that its Allied counterparts, held back only by the unreliability of its engines and shortage of fuel. Higher speed than the Meteor, P-59 or P-80 and design features well ahead of all of them.

For the piston engined aircraft, definitely divided between the Ta-152 and the Do-335. The Dornier in particular is an intriguing machine and had excellent performance. Both it and the Ta-152 were more than a match for any Allied piston engined aircraft of the time, but they suffered from the same fuel shortage problems as the 262.

Astonishing aircraft, all of them.

Regards

Wombat

I have a soft spot for anything that has a Cross on it. And although both the Fw190 and the Me 110 were full of character (the Fw being a great aircraft) it’s not either of those that has captured my heart.

That belongs to the mighty Me 109 – in any and all its multitude variations. Slim, sleek, wicked climb…. it started the war as being perhaps the best fighter extant, and ended it still able to hold it’s own end up against whatever the Allies could throw against it.

That’s my lady! 🙂

Hmmmm….there’s a common ‘thread’ here….

Anyone got any other types of choice? 😮 🙂

I’m an Fw-190 fan too! Such a capable aircraft… looks good too!

I honestly can’t decide on one particular favourite,but the Fw190 surelly has to take the prize for the most capable and versatile fighter the Lufwaffe posessed.Even if it isn’t exactly a picturesque design,I reckon it’s purposeful appearance reflects it’s workmanlike adaptability.
For looks I think I’d go for a late G model 109 or perhaps the Me262 (if jets are allowed).
It would certainly have been ‘interesting’ if the 190 had been available in the Battle of Britain,but thankfully Focke-Wulf were still having horrendous problems regulating engine temperatures at the time,having ditched the original ducted spinner idea and gone for the compressor-like fan in the front cowling ring.It’s worth noting that the 190 faced cancellation right up into 1942 when the A3 models finally sorted the engine temperature problems,so it would have been far too immature to have been introduced in time for the Battle of Britain-and thank christ for that!

I wonder..

Originally posted by Moggy C
For me it has to be any of the short-nose FW190.

My fave too, and I often wonder if the BoB would have been any different if the Fw-190A had been introduced a year earlier in April of 1940, not ’41.

I have always liked the looks of the ultimate Fw190, the Ta152H – a good performer too.

I would agree about the 110 also. Maybe a bit of a turkey (apart from nightfighting), but an elegant aeroplane.

I’m with Moggy on this one. Theres something just so’business like ‘about the Butcher Bird.. the early marks look the biz compared the long nose variants.

Just gives an impression of imense power behind that bladdy great radial…bit like the Corsair (another ‘fave’)

HE219 Uhu

What I wouldn’t give to see one of these flying today. A late war night fighter, the Uhu had impressive performance figures (It was a Mosquito killer), and it also looked the part with it’s cranked wing, enormous (BMW?) radials, and large radar array.

It was fortunate for the Allies that it arrived in too little numbers, too late.

Sorry, no scanner – anybody got a pic?

For me it has to be any of the short-nose FW190.

I think they look really together and pugnacious.

Brought up on the legends of the BoB one is inclined to write them off as hit & run fighter bombers, or B17 destroyers, but on the Eastern Front (Plug here for the flight sim IL2) they fulfilled the true fighter role.

Moggy