Quote:
Originally Posted by Glider
No you cannot, if a higher speed is such an advantage in a turn then turning when bounced would be an almost suicidal tactic. Yet it was that ability to turn that saved so many pilots. It was the one advantage that Spit V pilots had over the Fw190 and was emphasised at every plot briefing.
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Crossed wires I think. It's entirely situational and depends where and when the Spitfire turns relative to the FW, and their speeds. The common tactic was, and one of Sailor Malan's 10 rules, to always turn into the enemy. This doesn't mean necessarily to do a head on, but to change his angles to one where he cannot get a shot off. A hard break, nose slightly down, from the high 6 is enough simply because in order for him to pull the snap turn (yes, a fast turn if you like) for the lead required, then he will overload and black out. The result is that the attacker usually misses behind or breaks off and gains height for another attack. So, the turn is no problem for the attacker, but only a fool would follow because as he unloads his turn becomes worse (as brilliantly described by other more intelligent posters than myself) and the advantage switches.
What I find confusing though is what I've often read, that a 109 would dive from above and the spitfire, lower and slower, would make a left hand spiral break yet catch the 109 and shoot him down. I guess it's just descriptions, only I can't picture that exactly. Maybe the speeds are similar in the DF the pilot talks about.
Can people stop referring to the Spitfire as slower when it isn't. Thanks.