1942: ME-264 bombs New York

The P-39 was incapible of operating at the altitute that the German Bombers would be at which is why it became a groung support aircraft. The P-40 while a fine aircraft by 1944 was obsolete. What would be needed were the P-47 and the P-51.
 

CalBear

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The P-39 was incapible of operating at the altitute that the German Bombers would be at which is why it became a groung support aircraft. The P-40 while a fine aircraft by 1944 was obsolete. What would be needed were the P-47 and the P-51.

I suggest you review the data for the two German aircraft.


Me-264

http://www.luftwaffe-reich.co.uk/messerschmitt-me-264-bomber.htm
http://www.histaviation.com/Messerschmitt_Me_264.html
http://www.pilotfriend.com/photo_albums/timeline/ww2/Me.264 AMERICA.htm

Of particular interest is the Service Ceiling of 8,000 meters (26,000 ft), along with the cruising speed of 217 MPH

Ju-390

http://www.luftwaffe-reich.co.uk/junkers-ju-390-bomber.htm
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=409
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/ju390.html
http://www.uboat.net/technical/ju290.htm

Again, a review of the Service Ceiling indicates 6,000-6,200 meters (19,600- 20,200 ft) and A MAX speed of 515 KPH/318 MPH & Cruise speed 357KPH/221 MPH

The P-39 had a Service Ceiling of 35,000 ft and speed of 357 MPH

http://www.acepilots.com/planes/p39_airacobra.html
http://www.militaryfactory.com/aircraft/detail.asp?aircraft_id=140
http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/p39.htm

The P-40, of course, was a somewhat better performer in the fighter role, but remarkably similar at the edge of the envelope.

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/p40warhawk.html


It was actually not necessary to divert either the P-39 OR P-40 for the task of intercepting the German aircraft. These aircraft would also have sufficied:

P-36

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/p36hawk.html

P-59

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/URG/p59.htm

Brewster Buffalo

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/NARG/buffalo.html

The aircraft I chose in the inital post were chosen BECAUSE they were obsolete, that was the point. Obsolete, two generations behind the front line American fighters in 1944 & they could both quite literally fly circles around the "Amerika Bombers".

The Me-264 and Ju-390 were pigs, damned near unflyable and total failures. Even HITLER, obsessed as he was with "Wonder Weapons" and "Vengence Weapons" gave up on them after 1 (Me-264) or two (Ju-309) examples were flown. The Luftwaffe wouldn't even use the damned -264 in combat, making it a transport.
 
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