[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by tcolvin

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.

So did Vickers and had a slightly long range. Trouble was the u/c was severely overloaded. Portal certainly did not poopaw long range Spitfires as the armed Spitfire got an auxiliary fuselage tank and drop tanks.

The Spitfire VIII had a theoretical still air of just over 2100mi with d/t.

The Tempest V had relatively long legs and could reach well into Germany and even Berlin with the large d/ts.

Now what were you saying about Portal?

All the action on long-range air superiority fighters came from the Americans. Are you disputing this?

The Americans had a reason for long range escorts as they were flying long range bombing missions. Spitfires did initial leg and final leg escorting of American bombers allowing more American fighters to escort the bombers at the longer ranges.

2. The Mustang was built to a British order, and re-engined with a Merlin. And your point?

No British order, thus no P-51. That only left the problematic P-38 and the intermediate range P-47.

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.

How many Vengeances would have been left by 1944 if they had been used in 1942-43 when the Germans still had a strong fighter force? There was very few Vengeances in GB as most had been sent to SEA were they could operate in a safer environment than NE Europe.

4. Yes, the American bridges destroyed by the GAF were temporary. Again, what's your point?

Destroying temporary pontoon bridges is a lot easier than destroying steel and concrete bridges. The Germans did not destroy the other 17 temporary bridges.

Tony

see above