Re: MIG Alley: Sabres vs. MiGs Over Korea

[Love Shack <Home@DanSources.com>]

They got the earlier 339 model without all the heavy equipment. They also
solved the Curtis Wright engine problem. It had a  habit of blowing
oil on the windshield in Combat. They Machined and Rotated the Oil Manifold
180%.  That way they could get full Combat Power and see what they
were hitting.  It really improved the plane which ended up with and
incredable 20:1 kill Ratio as told by at least on Finn Pilot.
All the other nations using the Brewster Curtis engine dealt with the
Oil leaking problem.

The early Brewster could dogfight the Zero. As both did not use self sealing tanks or armor.  They had about the same weight and power.  However the Zero did have 2-20mm cannon. So Advantage Zero.

DF
 

SDonell73@aol.com wrote:

In a message dated 8/12/02 7:00:19 AM Pacific Daylight Time, Home@DanSources.com writes:
 
 

One of the reasons the Brewster and Wildcat did well was because they had combat range and enough gas to engage in combat and make it home.  The Brewster had large gas tanks and amazing range. The Wildcat had a two stage supercharger that did well up to 20k.

I read somewhere that Boyington thought the original Brewsters were as good as any fighters, but when they upgraded it to have standard fuel tanks, armor plating and electronics gear necessary for a combat environment, it wasn't worth a damn.

Apparently the Finns sure liked them when fighting the Russians.

Sandy