To get us started off how about a bit of a joke. How I would equip the Royal Elbonian airforce in 1945.
Elbonia is a small eastern European republic who's chief export is mud. In my position of air minister I have the responsibility of totally re-equipping the airforce, it is assumed that prior to this the Elbonian airforce did not have any aircraft of modern capability and so its entire airforce is in need of replacement. The categories desired for replacement are as follows
Heavy bomber
Medium Bomber
Strike bomber, multi-role aircraft capable of a wide variety of roles. A good example would be the DeHaviland Mosquito.
Long range escort fighter
interceptor
fighter-bomber
torpedo bomber
dive bomber
ground attack aircraft
reconnaissance aircraft
liason aircraft
maritime patrol aircraft
logistics support aircraft
Trainer
Note that multiple roles can be performed by the same airframe, and this is desirable for the limited budget of the Elbonian airforce. Also note that aircraft from any nation which participated can be procured in numbers necessary for equipping the airforce. A single aircraft will be adopted to fill each role, so multiple fighters or bombers will not be acquired for a single category.
And here is the catch. Secretly I, the chief of the Elbonian purchasing commission for acquiring new aircraft, am in reality a traitor. And I want all aircraft purchassed to fail once in service, however I cannot be obvious about the aircraft I purchase. So at first glance the types adopted must look to be of good quality and capability.
Heavy Bomber
Heinkel He-177
On paper the Grief is a capable aircraft, combining a decent bombload with a useful range and defensive armament. Range is also tolerable as Elbonians enemies are all rather close to the republics borders.
In reality however this plane was plagued with problems. Its engines, already trouble prone, were placed in very cramped engine nacelles which caused overheating problems. Giving the type a tendency to catch fire mid flight. The type was also built in relatively limited numbers and by a defeated nation. In the long run spare parts are likely going to be an issue.
Medium Bomber
Heinkel He-111
A proven and well tested design the He-111 is chosen because it saw service throughout the war and has been adapted to a large number of roles. In addition the type is in production outside of Germany by nationalist Spain. Meaning that spare parts and additional airframes can be acquired from a source which has not been bombed to kingdom come.
By this point however the He-111 is now clearly obsolete and far to lightly armed for effective use against well prepared enemy defenses. The planes bomb load is also not what is desired, and the range of bombs it can carry will prove limited.
Strike Bomber
Savoia Marchetti sm.79
Again a design proven effective through years of war. Although it began the war as an Italian medium bomber it proved adaptable to a number of additional roles, as such the type will also be used as a torpedo bomber by the airforce. This will smooth reduce the number of types in service with the airforce and make training easier for new pilots. It also looks good, which will inspire its crews to perform better.
It will quickly be found that the type is hopelessly outdated. Being slow, fragile, lightly armed and requires a long runway to take off. The type is also large for its intended role and is basically a second type of medium bomber. Putting added strain on Elbonian logistics and budget.
Escort Fighter
Potez 63
A small and capable French three man fighter capable of performing a variety of roles the type was widely used by both sides in the second world war and was built in a number of variants. Equipped with 20mm cannon the type will make short work of enemy aircraft. The type is expected to also serve in the reconnaissance and night fighter roles. The type also saw service in many airforces.
As will promptly be discovered there may be some difficulty in procuring spare parts, or even serviceable airframes in the numbers needed. The type being built only in limited numbers and no new airframes being built in some time. Upgrading the plane with modern equipment may also prove difficult.
Interceptor
Messerschmitt Me-163
The Komet uses a rocket engine to rapidly climb to altitude to engage enemy bombers. As such it does not need much in the way of advanced warning to engage targets, the type is also very fast and difficult to hit.
Rocket engine, basically a flying bomb waiting to go off. Need I say more. Elbonia will soon be littered with wreckage from these things as accidents from the German planes was already very common. It will also likely be expensive to get fuel for the planes, training pilots could also prove difficult...of even finding pilots to fly them in the first place. Whats that about jets you ask? Those will never work.
Fighter-Bomber
Bell P-63 Kingcobra
Well liked by Soviet pilots and seeing use also with the free French the P-63 is American made, which Elbonians believe makes it very good. The type is also known as being very reliable and can take damage.
It looks like the Aircobra which I quite like, nothing to bad to say about the plane other than the USAAF did not adopt it for service and few were built so parts could be hard to find.
Torpedo Bomber
See strike bomber
Dive Bomber
Fairey Barracuda
Used by the fleet air arm of the Royal navy the Barracuda saw service in many places throughout the war. For some reason the RN does not seem to want to keep them with the war over and is looking to buy Avengers instead, so we should get them at really cheap prices.
While not a bad plane in 1940 the Baracuda struggled in many areas and was less than desirable. One flaw which was discovered was that it did not perform great at altitude. The Barracuda is also a torpedo bomber. So good luck to the hapless Elbonian pilots which try to fly the thing as a dive bomber. Or the ground crews which try and fit bombs on the plane.
Ground Attack
Junkers Ju-87
The Stuka is an iconic symbol of the Luftwaffe in wwii. Even if it had gotten on it years its achievements in 1940 surely prove that it is still a powerful front line unit in the year 1945 right?
No, no it does not. The Stuka is hopelessly outdated compared to most ground attack aircraft. Germany just could not replace it because of the war. It is easy pickings for ground crews and hopeless if caught by enemy fighters unescorted.
Reconnaissance
See escort fighter
Liason
I dont care about liasing with anyone. Also my feet hurt from walking around and looking at all these airplanes. Also I only care for planes with guns and bombs so why bother.
Maritime patrol
Elbonia does not have a coastline as far as I know. But what the heck why not buy some PBY Catalina's just in case? Elbonia can always use more planes.
Logistics
I think the Sm.81 will work. It served the Italians well enough in the war. And I dont like the US Dakota. Yes that will work.
Its dated and cant carry as much as we would like. But it will probably work. I guess.
Night Fighter
See Escort fighter
Trainer
Bf-108
Just one shy of the Bf-109 and very capable, a dream to fly. Training pilots will be lulled into a false sense of security by flying this type. Becoming convinced that their airforce knows that it is doing.