Henschel Hs 123
Aichi D1A
Cant Z.1007 Alcione
Gloster Meteor
CAC Boomerang
Junkers Ju 388 night fighter
Piaggio P.108
flyable Tupolev Tu-2
:cool:

Hs-123 and Cant Z.1007bis already exist in the game.

Aichi D1A would be useful for Sino-Japanese war scenarios, but didn't see combat during the Pacific war. Since the Sino-Japanese war would basically require a whole new game, perhaps not such a good choice.

CAC Boomerang would be an good choice for SW Pacific scenarios and would help to round out the existing Order of Battle for the New Guinea maps. It was built in large numbers, was probably the best indigenous Australian design of the war, was a major part of the RAAF's campaign to drive the Japanese from New Guinea. It certainly fits into IL2's tactical air combat focus. It's only weakness as a candidate is that it wasn't used outside of the SW Pacific theater.

Ju-388 - As a bomber or night fighter is another interesting choice. But, it was built in small numbers, wasn't that widely used, and wasn't the most important night fighter in the Luftwaffe inventory. Given my choice for just one limited-production, late war, bad-ass, German nightfighter I'd go with the He-219, but the Ju-388 also has the same "cool factor." But, historically, the Ju-88C-6b, -R series, or G-6 would have been more common.

Piaggio P.108 - Another very cool "rare bird," but built in tiny numbers, used with very limited success, and not nearly as important to Italy's bomber force as the SM-79 and similar planes. Even so, it would help to round out Italy's Order of Battle.

Tu-2 - I'm surprised that this bomber hasn't gotten more love from the 1c or DT guys. It was an excellent design, built in large numbers, used for the entire duration of the war on all areas of the Eastern front. It was tough, fast, was well-liked by its crews, and apparently fun to fly. The only reason it stays in the shadows is because the Pe-2 was even more common, and was just as successful. Even so, I think that the Tu-2 would let me survive damage which would kill a Pe-2. Let's hope that this plane is on Sita's short list of projects.

unfurtunatly in my sight some other plane for now ...

My list:

German:
Bf-110C4, flyable
Bf-110F2, flyable
Ju-88C6 day fighter, flyable
Me-410, AI

UK:
Hurricane IA, 1940 version, flyable
Spitfire IA, flyable
Spitfire XIV, flyable
Typhoon IB, preferably flyable,

US:
P-47C, Flyable
P-38 early version, for example G. Flyable
B-26B Marauder, AI

Japan:
Ki-44-II, flyable
Ki-61-I Tei, flyable (+corrected Hei)

Soviet:
Tu-2, flyable

New planes
 

Seconded:grin::grin::grin:

That would fill in most of the really big holes in the mid- to late-war order of battle, without extending the game into theaters which would take new maps, objects, etc.


German:

Possibly add:
Bf-109E-1, flyable (natural opponent for the Spitfire Mk.I and Hurricane Mk.II)
Ju-88G-6 NF, flyable.

UK:
Definitely add:
Blenheim Mk. I &/or Mk. IV, flyable (Finnish & UK).

Possibly add:
early mark of Boston (A-20), AI (some also used by USSR)
Martin Maryland, AI
Early mark of Beaufighter, flyable - NF and/or strike fighter variant.
Any British heavy bomber, AI
Sea Gladiator
Sea Hurricane
Swordfish, flyable

USSR
possibly add:
A-20G with Soviet turret (like on SB-2).

US:
Definitely add:
One mid-war P-40 variant, for example, P-40M
possibly:
P-51 late variant, for example H, flyable.

Japan:
definitely add:
One late war IJA bomber, for example, Ki-67, preferably flyable.
One "mid war" version of G4M, flyable.
Early to mid-war IJA attack bomber/ground attack type, for example, Ki-51, preferably flyable.

Finland
Blenheim Mk. I & Mk. IV, flyable

France
Definitely add:
Curtiss H.75-A3, flyable
MS.406 & 410, flyable

possibly add:
D.520, ideally flyable (saw combat in MTO, used by Italy)
DB.7, AI (saw combat in MTO)
Martin M.167 (AKA Martin Maryland), AI
Potez 63 series, AI
LeO 451, AI

Italy
possibly add:
Ba.64

Poland
possibly add
PZL P.24 variant (used by Romania, Greece)

GBR:
1.Boulton Paul Defiant, AI
2.Blackburn Skua/Rock, AI
3.Walrus Mk1, Flyable
4.De Havilland DH 82 Tiger Moth, Flyable
5.Handley Page HP.52 Hampden, AI

GER:
1.Blohm Voss 138, AI
2.Henschel He 112, Flyable
3.Dornier Do 24, Flyable
4.Arado Ar 196, Flyable

Built in limited numbers, unsuccessful as a day fighter, and quickly withdrawn from service. As an AI plane, it would be unchallenging for any player who knows the trick of how to fight it. Fits into the "cool, but unimportant" category, along with planes like the Westland Whirlwind, He-100, or Me-163 (yes, it's in the game, but how often do you fly it?)

BUT, as a night fighter, it was very successful from 1940-41, so would be a useful add-on if IL2 were model the "Night Blitz" attacks by Germany over the UK in late 1940-early 1941.

Actually two planes. Both built in limited numbers early in the war and unsuccessful. Got their butts kicked over Norway and Dunkirk and soon withdrawn from service. Only useful as add-ons if IL2 were to ever expand to cover Invasion of Norway or Invasion of France scenarios.

+1. The quintessential RAF air-sea rescue plane. Very useful for MTO and Western Front ops, particularly if IL2 were to continue its focus on anti-shipping/maritime ops in the MTO. Also used by the RAAF, although mostly for coastal patrols well away from active war zones. Arguably, the PBN Nomad could substitute, but the "shagbat" was used earlier and in greater numbers by the RAF.

Fun to have, but unimportant when rounding out the order of battle for existing maps and combatants. This is because it was never intentionally used in a combat role and was seldom a target because the UK quickly reestablished air superiority over its home territory after the Battle of Britain. The R-5 civilian variant fills the bill for a basic trainer aircraft, so not really necessary in that role either. Many other popular Western Allied training and liaison aircraft also fit into the "cool, but never got near the combat zone" category. E.g., T-6/SNJ Texan/Harvard series, Lockheed Electra, Beech Model 18.


Possibly. Its role can currently be filled by the Blenheim or the Beaufort. But, were IL2 to branch into Western Front 1941-42 night bombing ops, it would be a natural, agile, opponent for the early Bf-110 night fighters.

+1. Germany needs a long-range flying boat, and the BV-138 was used on all fronts. Alternately, the He-115 could substitute, but it was built in smaller numbers (But, the He-115 was used by Finland, which is a point in that plane's favor.)

The Heinkel He-112 was use in limited numbers by Romania in the first few years of war on the Eastern Front, with moderate success. It's role is sort of filled by the IAR 80/81 series. The He-112 would be "nice to have" to give the Romanians another fighter option, but otherwise isn't that important.

This would be a good substitute for the BV-138 or He-115. It was built in about the same numbers as the BV-138, but had a longer service life. A point in its favor is that it was used in limited numbers by the KNIL, and later the Australians, making it a useful addition to early to mid-war Southwest Pacific scenarios.


+1. This plane was commonly used for short-range coastal patrols by Germany and Finland, and was also used for special ops insertion/extraction missions by the Finns. It would be a useful addition if IL2 continues its move into Eastern Front maritime ops.

These are my 4 pennies:

- Avro Lancaster
- Short Stirling
- Handley Page Halifax
- Gloster Meteor

And my 3 cents:

- B-24J
- B-17 F & G
- B-29

All flyable, if it's possible. :cool:
Or for AI, at least...

Obviously a fan of bomber ops!

If I had to narrow down the list of British heavies, I'd got with the Short Stirling for an early war heavy type, and the Lancaster B.I for late war ops.

You're in luck, all of these planes exist as AI in the game, as well as the B-17D, B-17E, and a gorgeous, flyable B-24D! :)

For US heavy bombers, the only omission is the B-17G "late block" production with "Cheyenne" tail turret. It would also be nice if the radio operator's gun could be added to the E and F models.

A minor omission that falls into the "nice to have, but not that important" category would be the Liberator II and LB-30 variants of the B-24. The Liberator II was used by the RAF in the Middle East and Burma in 1941-42.
The LB-30 was used alongside the B-17E during the Invasion of the Philippines and the Invasion of the Dutch East Indies. Thereafter, they played a role in the Defense of Australia, and the early battles around Guadalcanal.

Were IL2 to delve into early war ASW combat, the Liberator Mk. I Coastal Command version would be a good addition, although the Sunderland Mk. I played a similar role and was the more "iconic" and numerous aircraft.