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I'm hoping we can all learn stuff together. I like learning stuff. There's nothing more to it.

So, this week, I ask for a minimum of two paragraphs telling me what your favorite WWII Axis Power fighter aircraft was. No, not a bomber - but a dedicated fighter.

Hopefully, you can write two paragraphs about it. Feel free to write more.

I'm hoping we can all learn stuff together. I like learning stuff. There's nothing more to it. So, this week, I ask for a minimum of two paragraphs telling me what your favorite WWII Axis Power *fighter* aircraft was. No, not a bomber - but a dedicated fighter. Hopefully, you can write two paragraphs about it. Feel free to write more.

(post is archived)

[–] • 1 pt

Gotta go with the a9 rocket, I know it’s not a fighter but it did help to pave the way for the space race. It was one of the first attempts man kind made to get into the ionosphere. Itself didn’t get there I think the a10 was the one that made it that far. I know it’s not two paragraphs but it’s the best I’ve got in me this afternoon.

[–] • 0 pt

LOL Well, at least you know it's not a fighter!

The V-1 was also interesting. I find the pulse-jet fascinating and, in theory, there's not really an upper limit to how fast they could get stuff going.

(Thanks for posting. I figured I'd keep trying different stuff until I find what interests Poaler Bears.)

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt (edited )

Anything Fokker.

Some good jokes came out it.

[–] • 0 pt

Fokker is Dutch, isn't it?

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

Yeah, but I think he was German. I think. They built them in Germany.

AN INTERNET MOMENT LATER

At age 20, while studying in Germany, Anthony Fokker built his initial aircraft, the Spin (Spider)—the first Dutch-built plane to fly in his home country. Taking advantage of better opportunities in Germany, he moved to Berlin, where in 1912, he founded his first company, Fokker Aeroplanbau, later moving to the Görries suburb just southwest of Schwerin (at 53°36′45.90″N 11°22′31.60″E), where the current company was founded, as Fokker Aviatik GmbH, on 12 February 1912.[1]

The Fokker factories were confiscated by the Germans and were used to build Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann trainers and parts for the Junkers Ju 52 transport. At the end of the war, the factories were completely stripped by the Germans and destroyed by Allied bombing.

[–] • 0 pt

Yeah, I'd known they were confiscated and that they'd built some transports. I don't think Fokker (themselves) made any WWII aircraft for the Axis Powers.

Meh, close enough - however. I mean, who doesn't want to make jokes about Fokker?

Heck, I want to make jokes about his lineage - just so I can say "Mother Fokker."

Hmm... Maybe next week I will do WWI fighters. I'd probably go with the Sopwith Camel or the Fokker Wolf (though I think they might have spelled that differently - wolfe maybe?). I think it was the Fokker that was the first to synchronize their machine gun firing so that it'd not hit the props. Prior to that, the English (maybe the French) had set deflectors in the way on at least one aircraft.

It's been a long time since I've reviewed/studied WWI aviation, so my memories are pretty faded.

Still, i now want to make jokes like, "Watch out for that Fokker over there, he's an asshole!"

[–] [deleted] • 1 pt

The A6M-Zero, of course. It was state-of-art aviation during its time. First, because it was a sexy beautiful thing. The only WWII fighter sexier was the Spitfire. Second, because it worked. A nice combination of power, maneuverability and range. Really a piece of art.

I admire the Focke Wulf FW190-D too (yeah, specifically the D model, the long nose makes it bad ass).

[–] • 1 pt

The Zero was fast as hell, too. We didn't have anything able to keep up until something like 1943 or 1944.

I think the sexiest WWII aircraft, specifically limiting myself to fighters, is the Corsair. I love the looks of that thing. The Wildcat and Hellcat were also sexy as hell.

The problem with the Zero, as I see it, was their lack of armor for the pilot and their lack of a self-sealing fuel tank. It took a couple of knocks with a .50 (or even a single incendiary round) to set it ablaze. Zero was made by Mitsubishi, yes?

Also, thanks for posting and contributing. I'm trying to make this a regular thing (though I'm seriously hampered by free time) and finding things that interest enough Poaler Bears is going to take some trial and error. Next week, I plan on doing something from the Allied Forces - but I'm not yet sure what. I might find a way to use it as an excuse to write about my beloved flying boats. I love me some flying boats!

[–] • 0 pt

I'll get you started with mine.

Mine is the ME-262 Swallow. There was also a Storm Bird version that was outfitted as a fighter-bomber. But, the Swallow is the one that I appreciate the most.

The Swallow was the first operational jet-powered fighter and possibly could have come sooner in the war, but there's a lot of drama behind that. Hitler wanted himself a bomber and the then-general of something-or-other was pretty pissed 'cause they didn't concentrate on the fighter version, so he quit. Surprisingly, TPTB changed their mind and a fighter was made.

They were jet-powered, but that's not as awesome as it could have been. They didn't have the metals and production methods to make very reliable engines - which doesn't detract from its awesomeness by a whole lot. The jet engines were rated for like 24 operation hours (total!) and some didn't even last that long.

You could buy a working reproduction that isn't changed all that much from the original. They're pricey but they're available. They lack guns and have much improved engines.

I like the way it looks. I like that it took a new tech and made it functional. I understand they had great flight characteristics.

This isn't about which was 'best.' It's about which is your favorite and why it is your favorite. Teach me.

[–] • 0 pt

My choice, also, the ME-262. They had one on static display outside a Naval Air Station in my neck of the woods when I was a boy. Fell for the 'look' the very first time I saw it. It was just a beautiful, sleek aircraft. Now of course, the same can be said about the P-51D, and as you noted above, the Corsair, though allied aircraft.

Actually, the Italians had a few good looking fighters, too, though they're often overlooked. It's not my area of expertise though, so other than seeing a few pics and some short write ups, I don't know much about them. They're kind of the forgotten WWII era planes. And from the little I've read, some were quite good and competitive to allied aircraft of the era.

[–] • 1 pt

The Italians were fond of 3 engine designs, during that era. But, yeah, the ME-262 is stunningly beautiful. It just says, "I'm built to fly." It's not perfect. It's not the best. It's my favorite.

[–] • 1 pt

Yes, the Italians were fond of tri-motors, but also had a small stable of single engine fighters. Many with German power plants.