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Barrett · 29 December 1999, 02:55 PM

Lots to catch up with:
The USN/USMC ace total in WW II was c. 500 versus 180 USAAF in the Pacific Theater, so the quality of Japanese aircraft doesn't really enter into the equation. I think it's more to do with opportunity and the fact that more relatively senior naval aviators got fighter assignments than AAF types. Basically, the Hellcat destroyed Japanese airpower, accounting for as many credited shot down as all USAAF fighters combined in the Pacific and CBI.
I did a survey of 210 aces c. 15 years ago, and the results were almost uniform: navy-trained pilots went to combat highly confident in gunnery and tactics while army guys said their strength usually was flying the assigned airplane. Far more USN/USMC felt "strong" in all phases of training than did AAF types. Also, tailhook aviators seemed to have better situational awareness--possibly a result of the navy "loose deuce" cruise formation versus the world-standard "finger four."
None of which really explains why 3 times as many Annapolis grads made ace as did West Pointers, but it's fun to kick around.

29 December 1999, 02:55 PM	#17 (permalink)
Barrett Forum Ace of Aces Join Date: Aug 1998 Location: The American West Posts: 4,809	Lots to catch up with: The USN/USMC ace total in WW II was c. 500 versus 180 USAAF in the Pacific Theater, so the quality of Japanese aircraft doesn't really enter into the equation. I think it's more to do with opportunity and the fact that more relatively senior naval aviators got fighter assignments than AAF types. Basically, the Hellcat destroyed Japanese airpower, accounting for as many credited shot down as all USAAF fighters combined in the Pacific and CBI. I did a survey of 210 aces c. 15 years ago, and the results were almost uniform: navy-trained pilots went to combat highly confident in gunnery and tactics while army guys said their strength usually was flying the assigned airplane. Far more USN/USMC felt "strong" in all phases of training than did AAF types. Also, tailhook aviators seemed to have better situational awareness--possibly a result of the navy "loose deuce" cruise formation versus the world-standard "finger four." None of which really explains why 3 times as many Annapolis grads made ace as did West Pointers, but it's fun to kick around. __________________ You will not rise to the occasion: You will default to your level of training.