Why the USAAF gave up on the A-36 in favour of the P-47.

[Kutscha]

Originally Posted by tcolvin

Juha and Kutscha.
De Havilland presented his proposal in September 1938 at the time of Munich, but the RAF rejected it in October 1938, and did not even order a prototype until March 1940. They then faffed about until the middle of 1941 before ordering mass production.

Tony

De Havilland only began working on B.18/38 (company designation DH98 Reconnaissance-Bomber) in Oct '38. Kind of hard to reject something before it has been put forward.

Then there is the availability of Merlin engines. There would have been less Merlin engines available for Hurricanes and Spitfires if they had gone to Mossies. So much for winning the BoB.

Be sure the RAF had air superiority in 1940 allowing dive bombers to operate without much fear of interception.

Crystal balls, 20/20 hindsight and a fairy godmother who waves her magic wand and poof, 100s of fully tested a/c with fully trained crew suddenly appear is so wonderful.