Vote: Next 'In Defense of [Aircraft]'

Training accidents seemed to have quite common during WW2. On one training flight my Father saw 2 B-17s crash into each other in heavy weather over Nashville — no survivors.

Michael Moran

During WW2 my father arrived at an airbase to start training on B-26s. The day after he arrived, the instructor was killed in an air crash. The training class was disbanded and much to their relief the pilots were distributed to classes for training on other planes. I specifically remember him calling them “Flying Prostitute” because they no visible means of support. He ended up flying C-46s and C-47s.

Michael Moran

One-a-day in Tampa Bay for sure!

Francis McGarry

Lockheed Hudson in RNAA service

Erik Berg

How about the F-82 twin mustang, a plane with a short service life and hated by the crew who flew them.

Oh wow, what did your uncle fly in the end?

Military Aviation History

Added to the list

Military Aviation History

Didnt think of that one. I want to film one in the future, so why not :)

Military Aviation History

Fairey Battle is on my reserve list, as I want to film it at a museum as well :)

Military Aviation History

Yeah, I would like to do something on them again. Looks like the SM79 is a favourite atm

Military Aviation History

Of all the planes on the list only one is still flying today, the C-46. You should defend that one for that reason.

When I first read the list, I was like 'what! How did the Douglas Invader end up on this list?' Then I read it more carefully and saw B-26 MARAUDER.

I have never heard anything bad about the B-26 other than the "one a day in Tampa Bay" which I always thought applied to both it and the B-25 due to their high wing loading. I will vote for that only because it surprises me. I know next to nothing of the two Italians, and the C-46 just seemed like another cargo plane.

Scarecrow Repair

When I think underrated Fiat fighter, the CR42 springs to mind. I know close to nothing about the G.50 so I'd be interested in knowing more. That being said, if there are some people out there who for some reason hold a negative opinion of the B-26, then that is probably worth correcting.

Robert Santamaria

I voted for the C-46 because my uncle flew or was going to fly them until his CO said we want nothing to do with that aircraft. Electric landing gear, pockets of fuel vapor, BOOM!?

The B-24/C-87 is my suggestion (in the sense that what was "great" about them was that they were manufactured in enormous numbers -- they were cheap and plentiful and the pilots hated them). Also, if you go with the C-46, see John Deakin's writings about their use by the CIA in Southeast Asia in the 1960s and 1970s. I'd like to see a comparison between the C-46 and the DeHavilland Caribou -- both were/are great at lifting lots of stuff into and out of remote places. The C-46 may still be in service in the Arctic, and the Caribou was in service with the Australian Air Force until a few years ago.

David Wall

Bf 110

Sean Tyson

Bf 110 or Fairey Battle

What about the Bf 110 as long range escort fighter? The Luftwaffe invested a lot in this platform that gave such a poor result in this role (but not in others as night fighter per example)

Miguel Aldaz

I second the motion for the Fairey Battle

I would also like to see old or obsolete AC that were used in battle or support usually desperate situations .. An example could be the P 26 in the Philippines . bi planes in ww2 .. or AC used for things they wen't designed for.. like Lancasters modified to drop the bomb. ( You have already covered the Buffalo and the Swordfish ( Bismark) is well known.)

O D

The Finnish airforce was great for just flying whatever was thrown at them. Oh and then proving that it was all about the pilot.

Wayne Moyer

Defending the Gutlass would be tough though. I've spent a lot of time reading over that aircraft since it used to be on display in Willow Grove Pennsylvania and I even have a hard time defending it. Although it really came down to a bad powerplant.

Wayne Moyer

You’d be surprised how common the misconception still seems to be, plus, the B-26 Marauder does deserve some screen time

Ghoul

Brewster, Fiat G 50, Blenheim... So this is the greatest hits of the Finnish air force? If so, I'm all for it.

wienweh

I know that the high landing speed and tricycle undercarriage of the B-26 caused a few issues (crashes and deaths) when it was first introduced, but I believe it had an excellent combat record, having the lowest combat loss ratio of any US bomber in service, so I'm somewhat surprised to find it needs "defending" :-)

Julian Corbett

https://youtu.be/kUWq4ymz8Yw

The B-26 was a great airplane that does not belong on this list. I’d suggest the Defiant or the me-210

Borat voice: “come to America!”

Captain Picard (Dee)

What about the Blenheim? Promising when she first came in but had rather disastrous ops as both a bomber and a fighter.

The F7U Cutlass seems like an obvious choice. A lot of early jets seem like possibilities, though, even ones that I nominally like.. such as the F3D Skyknight or F4D Skyray.

Steve Kurt

Would be interested in "In Defense Of..." Podcasts on the Fairey Battle or (Polish) PZL.11

Richard Goldblatt

The Italian aircraft have, I my opinion, had very little screen-time and that is unfortunate. I would like to have that rectified.

Hans Peter Bak