Thunderbolts and Mustangs versus the Jagdwaffe (split topic)

[Ruy Horta]

That seems to be arguable.

The late P-47s and P-38 matched or surpassed the P-51 in certain areas, but the overall sum clearly points towards the P-51.

However IMHO it was the P-47 which took on the brunt of the Luftwaffe and broke its back, the P-51 got the leftovers. The numbers game might show something different, but in 1943 the quality and quantity was more or less equal between the opponents, the same can not be said of 1944.

The USAAF could probably have done the same without the P-51.

However in the first post I did write:

Good fiscal reasons to choose the Mustang over either types, especially if weighed against performance (bang for buck).