Charles.K.Scott@dartvax.dartmouth.edu (Charles K. Scott) (05/09/91)
From: Charles.K.Scott@dartvax.dartmouth.edu (Charles K. Scott) I'm not sure if this is the appropriate newsgroup to post this to or not. If it isn't I feel certain the moderator will let me know. Years ago while reading the autobiography of Robert S. Johnson entitled "Thunderbolt", I noticed several instances of seemingly contradictory flight manuvers that allowed the MUCH heavier Thunderbolt keep its nose inside the turn of enemy aircraft such as the Focke Wulf 190 and Messcherschmidt 109. Since that reading, I spoke with an ex WW11 veteren fighter pilot who spoke mysteriously of spinning the airplane opposite the bank of the target aircraft. Was the P-47 able to skid its nose in front of enemy aircraft to rake it with fire even though it couldn't match it turn for turn? Does this mean the aircraft had a very effective rudder, more effective than its opponents? More recently I read in a new book entitled "Fighter vs Fighter" that the P-47 was able to use its superior speed in dive to outmanuver Me 109's and FW 190's in what must be one of the first uses of the "Yo Yo" made famous during Vietnam by Phantoms. But it still seems too much to understand. I conjour up this image of a monstrous fighter skidding wildly in a turn to briefly hold an enemy aircraft in its sights. Was that the way it was? I'll post this also in rec.aviation but I thought it might be appropriate here. Thanks for listening. Corky Scott