Quote:
Originally Posted by Kutscha
The early P-47s had only a few extra miles of range over the Spitfire of the time period. Btw, the Spitfire was over Berlin years ahead of any American fighter.
The Mustang was built at the request of the British and the two that the American got from the British order languished at W-P for around a year until the USN needed some weapon testing done. It still wasn't an a/c that would be of much use in long range escorting at 20,000ft plus. No British order,then no American P-51.
When the Vengeance would have been operational in the ETO, the German fighter force was still a force to be recond with (1942-43). They were sent to theaters where they could survive better.
So the Germans destroyed 2 of the 19 temporary bridges that the American had constructed to get across the Roer.
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I cannot understand the points you are making, Kutscha.
1. Long-range air-superiority fighters.
The Spitfires over Berlin were stripped PR machines with extra internal fuel tanks - designed by a civilian to show the disbelieving RAF what was possible. What's your point?
The Americans adapted two Spitfires to fly the Atlantic in a vain attempt to prove to Portal that it was possible to design long-range fighters. He wouldn't listen.
All the action on long-range air superiority fighters came from the Americans. Are you disputing this?
2. The Mustang was built to a British order, and re-engined with a Merlin. And your point?
3. Most of the Vengeance dive-bombers were sent to Devon in South-west England as target tugs, while the Normandy campaign was being fought with Allied air superiority and without dive bombers. Devon was not a theatre of war. So both your point and your meaning are unclear.
4. Yes, the American bridges destroyed by the GAF were temporary. Again, what's your point?
Tony