Quote:
|
Originally Posted by John Beaman
Isn't the performance of the Airacobra in Tunisia also related, heavily, to the level of experience and skills of the American pilots? This was their first action, against experienced German pilots and they suffered accordingly much like the VVS pilots in 1941. In Tunisia, P-40 pilots also suffered as did P-38s and even USAAF Spitfires flown by Americans. Experience makes as much difference as basic airplane performance (within reason). Look at the number of I-16 pilots who did well when flown by an experienced and aggressive pilot. On the other side, look what happened the the inexperienced German pilots in 1944/45.
|
I agree. The same type of controversy exists with the Brewster Buffalo. The Finnish air force found a way to fly it effectively, but the Western Allies gave up on the Buffalo early on, and sometimes used that plane as a scapegoat to direct attention away from other problems...like inexperience and inadequate training.
Maybe the most important difference was that the Western Allies had the luxury to withdraw the Airacobra and Buffalo after a short-lived period of frontline service, while the Soviets and the Finns could not.