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Stealhead · 08-22-10, 12:23 PM

I agree with the overall advantage that American pilots had.I am a but surprised that none has yet mentioned another obvious advantage that US pilots had rotation,they only had to fly x amount of missions before they rotated away from the combat zone(unless they willingly wished to stay) and either received additional training and often trained newer pilots them selves.This simple fact gave American airman a huge advantage because they learned from combat pilots and also this boosted morale as well.

Japanese and German pilots had no such luxury the ones that survived fought the entire war in some cases.

Some have argued that the best fighter of the war for the Japanese was the N1K2-J Shiden Kai not many where made but it was well armed and did have some actual protection for the pilot as did the Ki-84 of course they stared making planes with some actual protection too late to matter.

I am not sure I fully agree with some of what had been said.I have read in many places that the Zero was still a very serious threat to most any plane if you attempted to get into a maneuver dogfight with one.The US Navy never made a plane that was more maneuverable than the Zero they made planes that where faster,stronger,more well armed,and safer for their pilots.They simply did not play to the Zeros strengths they made their own.

The Thatch Weave is a fine of example of what I mean this tactic was used to force a Zero not fight at its strengths.Of course even the highest scoring ace in history Eric Hartman loathed Zero style maneuver dog fighting he called it a useless ballet.Better to zoom in kill him and zoom out.

@WernherVonTrapp That is true we where mostly still flying the Devastator at Midway I think the only thing that plane ever devastated was itself

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Though the very brave runs that they did make on the Japanese carriers did keep their Zeros at low altitude which allowed our SBDs to do what they did that day.Sometimes the only thing that you can give is your best you have to respect the Devastator pilots for what they did that day weaker men might turned tail and run without even trying.

08-22-10, 12:23 PM	#11
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	I agree with the overall advantage that American pilots had.I am a but surprised that none has yet mentioned another obvious advantage that US pilots had rotation,they only had to fly x amount of missions before they rotated away from the combat zone(unless they willingly wished to stay) and either received additional training and often trained newer pilots them selves.This simple fact gave American airman a huge advantage because they learned from combat pilots and also this boosted morale as well. Japanese and German pilots had no such luxury the ones that survived fought the entire war in some cases. Some have argued that the best fighter of the war for the Japanese was the N1K2-J Shiden Kai not many where made but it was well armed and did have some actual protection for the pilot as did the Ki-84 of course they stared making planes with some actual protection too late to matter. I am not sure I fully agree with some of what had been said.I have read in many places that the Zero was still a very serious threat to most any plane if you attempted to get into a maneuver dogfight with one.The US Navy never made a plane that was more maneuverable than the Zero they made planes that where faster,stronger,more well armed,and safer for their pilots.They simply did not play to the Zeros strengths they made their own. The Thatch Weave is a fine of example of what I mean this tactic was used to force a Zero not fight at its strengths.Of course even the highest scoring ace in history Eric Hartman loathed Zero style maneuver dog fighting he called it a useless ballet.Better to zoom in kill him and zoom out. @WernherVonTrapp That is true we where mostly still flying the Devastator at Midway I think the only thing that plane ever devastated was itself. Though the very brave runs that they did make on the Japanese carriers did keep their Zeros at low altitude which allowed our SBDs to do what they did that day.Sometimes the only thing that you can give is your best you have to respect the Devastator pilots for what they did that day weaker men might turned tail and run without even trying.