Map with Range of Allied Fighters WWII

[Old No7]

This map is neat...

(click to enlarge)

Range of Allied Fighters.jpg

I recall my dad being very proud that his base (4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force) put the first flights of red-nosed Mustangs over Berlin -- and Goering reportedly looked up and said something like "The jig is up" or maybe "Das Spiel ist aus"...

They flew/crewed Thunderbolts (B & D) and Spitfires (when with the RAF as the Eagle Squadrons, before the 8th Air Force took over the Debden base) earlier in the war, and you can see the limited range of those.

Old No7

[claybob86]

Thanks for posting that. I read quite a bit about that stuff and the map is a nice visual reference.

[Bill in Oregon]

I'll be darned. I had heard the Spitfire had a short range, but wow!

[GunnyMack]

600 for the Mustang, I think was without drop tanks... ?

[Ysabel Kid]

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

[piller]

The P38 had quite a range for a twin engine plane. There were some great planes back then. Of course, there were some that were not so good. Pilot skill was really important. No computer aids to keep you out of trouble back then.

[Naphtali]

Among "thuggish" fighter-bombers of World War II, I have a preference for P-47 "Jug" aircraft. Too heavy and brutish to be a real long-range protector of B-17s and B-24s, paper drop tanks of sort've papier-maché allowed Jugs to become long-range interceptors and all-around thugs who beat-up everything German - kind've like Joe Louis in his second fight with Max Schmeling.

FYI: Schmeling was anti-Nazi, saving several people from deportation to "the Camps" despite being a Falschirmjäger during the war. He and Louis become close friends, especially after Louis' near destitution. Schmeling was one of Louis' pallbearers.

[GunnyMack]

Pappy Boyington and the Nip that shot him down (finally) also were very close friends after the war.
I was fortunate to meet them both back in '85 or '86. I spent about an hour listening to his/their stories at the Reno Air Races.

[piller]

Pappy Boyington and the Nip that shot him down (finally) also were very close friends after the war.
I was fortunate to meet them both back in '85 or '86. I spent about an hour listening to his/their stories at the Reno Air Races.

I would have very much liked to have had a chance to listen to Pappy Boyington's personal stories. He was one who did things his own way from all accounts.