Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

HoundDog, you have certainly done your research and well deserve asking the next question. Yes, Kurt Buhligen it is. Congratulations, Sir. We await your question. Thanks; Ernie P.


Question: What warbird pilot do I describe?

Clues:

(1) He isn’t at the top of any of the lists, but he was a truly great fighter pilot.

(2) He fought in three different areas of the war.

(3) He was never shot down.

(4) But he was forced into an emergency landing on a few occasions.

(5) He suffered engine failure while over enemy territory, and was captured; ending his war.

(6) He was noted for deliberately letting a particular type of enemy aircraft, one of his favorite opponents, get on his tail. He would then execute a particular maneuver, which placed him on his opponent’s tail; whereupon he would shoot it down.

(7) He originally joined the air force as a mechanic; but always intended to become a pilot.

(8) His aircraft is one often modeled.

(9) Some reports indicate his aircraft was never hit by an enemy aircraft; all his forced landings being from mechanical problems or ground fire.

(10) He claimed his first victory two months after being posted to combat duty.

(11) After a year in combat, he had scored 21 victories.

(12) After this, he was transferred to a second operational area.

(13) He served in the second area for around three months; scoring enough victories to make a name for himself.

(14) He was then transferred to a different area within his first operational area.

(15) Despite his relatively high scores, he was then assigned to ground support activities within a third operational area; where he served for the remainder of his wartime flying.

(16) He was born during WWI

(17) Half his victims were single engine fighters.

(18) He shot down several twin engine fighters.

(19) He shot down a number of four engine bombers.

(20) In one four month stretch, he shot down 40 aircraft.

(21) He was German.

(22) None of his aerial victories were against Russian aircraft.

(23) But, most of his ground targets were located in Russian held territory.

(24) He was first assigned to Western Europe.

(25) Then he was assigned to North Africa.

(26) Then back to Western Europe, defending the Reich.

(27) Finally, he was assigned to the Russian front; assigned to support ground operations attempting to halt the Red Army’s advance.

(28) He flew both the Bf-109 and the Fw-190.

(29) He finished up with the Fw-190; operating in a ground attack role.

(30) He was taken prisoner by Russian forces in early 1945.

Answer: Kurt Buhligen



Kurt Bühligen (13 December 1917 – 11 August 1985) was a German World War II flying ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1936 until early 1945. Credited with downing 112 enemy aircraft, he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

He initially joined the Luftwaffe as a mechanic, before transferring to flying training during 1938–39. In July 1940 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) as an Unteroffizier pilot.

Bühligen claimed his first aerial victory — a Hawker Hurricane over Kent — on 4 September 1940 and was awarded the Ritterkreuz a year later after 20 further claims.

In December 1942 Bühligen served with II./JG 2 in Tunisia and North Africa, claiming some 40 Allied kills before returning to Europe in March 1943. By March 1944 he had scored 96 kills and was now a Major in command of II./JG 2. After 12 more kills Bühligen led JG 2 in carrying out operations against the Soviet advance on the Eastern Front. In early 1945, now Geschwaderkommodore of JG 2, an engine failure caused Bühligen to be taken prisoner by the Soviets, being finally released in 1950.

He shot down some 112 enemy aircraft in over 700 operations, becoming the fourth highest Luftwaffe scorer against the Western Allies. All his victories were claimed over the Western Front and North Africa and included 47 Spitfires and 46 United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) victims; 13 P-38, 9 P-47 and 24 four-engine bombers. He was never shot down but had to make emergency landings on 3 occasions. His final command was Geschwaderkommodore of the JG 2 fighter wing.


Kurt Buhligen was born in 1917. He had a strong desire to fly so he joined the Luftwaffe on its inception. He joined initially as a mechanic but his forceful character soon qualified him as fighter pilot material. The Luftwaffe accepted his request for a transfer, and he underwent pilot training throughout 1938 – 1939. By July 1940 he was assigned to JG2 Richthofen. He scored his first victory on 4th September 1940 during the Battle of Britain, one year later his score had risen to 21. In December 1942 he was transferred to Tunisia, where he showed what a true fighter pilot he was – shooting down no less than forty aircraft. Transferred back to the west in defence of his homeland in early 1943, his score had reached 96. By 1944 he had shot down his 100th victim. While flying over Soviet held territory his engine malfunctioned and he was forced to land. He was captured by the Russians and held as a POW until 1950. He had scored a total of 112 victories. Buhligen loved to fight P-47s. He would let the P-47 get on his tail, then would do an Immelmann Loop, come up on the P-47s tail and shoot it down. He was awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Buhligen died at his home on 11th August 1985.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Just inquisitive Why or how or what was the reason to pick this particular person,Kurt Bühligen?
Then I'll try to think of a good question.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

This should be an easy one:
What was the WWII's MOST-PRODUCED COMBAT AIRCRAFT

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

I was simply researching an answer to another question, some time ago, and came across the info on Buhligen. I didn't realize his plane had (reportedly) never been hit by an enemy pilot; and figured it would make a good question. So, I put the info on my list of potential questions. BTW; your question isn't going to last very long. I'd answer it, but some one else should be up next. Thanks; Ernie P.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

That's why a I asked it.

ochsnm00

Which allied fighter aircraft had the most individual kills during WW2?

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

[h=1]Grumman F6F Hellcat[/h]U.S. Navy and Marine F6F pilots flew 66,530 combat sorties and claimed 5,163 kills (56% of all U.S. Navy/Marine air victories of the war) at a recorded cost of 270 Hellcats in aerial combat (an overall kill-to-loss ratio of 19:1 based on claimed but not confirmed kills)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Sir; only one question at a time, please. You have to answer the current question before you get to ask the next question. After answering the current question correctly, and having the person who asked the question confirm you are correct, you then get to ask the next question. You must post the new question within 24 hours, and must post a new clue, and respond to guesses, each 24 hours.

Welcome to the thread; we like to see new names pop up. And it looks as though you already have a good question ready for us. But first, you have to answer the current question by HoundDog. Thanks; Ernie P.

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Wrong Post

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

This should be an easy one:
What was the WWII's MOST-PRODUCED COMBAT AIRCRAFT

Clue (1) It was NOT Made in the USA

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

This has nothing to do with the Quiz: but is very interesting to airplane buffs both the pictures and the video.
Hope U enjoy it:
.http://www.aopa.org/News-and-Video/A...lot/f_talltale

ochsnm00

Sorry I tried to remove it but I couldn't get it done.

airzona

Joe Kennedy was killed in a B- 24 not a 17. This was part of the reason John joined the Navy.

airzona

Joe Kennedy was killed in a B-24 not a 17.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

If I remember correctly the Soviet Ilyshin IL-2 "Sturmovik" closely followed by the ME-109

Dave N

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

Wingspar U are the winner it was the Soviet Ilyshin IL-2 "Sturmovik" 36,183
Now U get to ask a question I would believe. But some Interesting facts:


Subject: WWII Flight Statistics.

Most Americans who were not adults during WWII have no understanding of
the magnitude of it.
This listing of some of the aircraft facts gives a bit of insight to it.
276,000 aircraft manufactured in the US . 43,000 planes lost overseas,
including 23,000 in combat. 14,000 lost in the continental US.
The US civilian population maintained a dedicated effort for four years,
many working long hours seven days per week and often also volunteering for
other work.

WWII was the largest human effort in history.

Statistics from Flight Journal magazine.

THE COST of DOING BUSINESS ---- The staggering cost of war.


THE PRICE OF VICTORY
B-17 $204,370. P-40 $44,892.
B-24 $215,516. P-47 $85,578.
B-25 $142,194. P-51 $51,572.
B-26 $192,426. C-47 $88,574.
B-29 $605,360. PT-17 $15,052.
P-38 $97,147. AT-6 $22,952.

ON AVERAGE, 6600 American service men died per MONTH during WWII (about
220 a day).

PLANES A DAY WORLDWIDE From Germany's invasion of Poland Sept. 1, 1939
and ending with Japan 's surrender Sept. 2, 1945 --- 2,433 days.
From 1942 onward, America averaged 170 planes lost a day.
Nation Aircraft Average
USA 276,400 113
S Union 137,200 56
G Britain 108,500 45
Germany 109,000 45
Japan 76,300 31

How Many is a 1,000 planes?
B-17 production (12,731) wingtip to wingtip would extend 250 miles. 1,000
B-17s carried 2.5 million gallons of high octane fuel. Lifting 10,000
airmen to deliver 2,000 tons of bombs.

THE NUMBERS GAME
9.7 billion gallons of gasoline consumed, 1942-1945.
107.8 million hours flown, 1943-1945.
459.7 billion rounds of aircraft ammo fired overseas, 1942-1945.
7.9 million bombs dropped overseas, 1943-1945.
2.3 million combat sorties, 1941-1945 (one sortie = one takeoff).
299,230 aircraft accepted, 1940-1945.
808,471 aircraft engines accepted, 1940-1945.
799,972 propellers accepted, 1940-1945.

WWII MOST-PRODUCED COMBAT AIRCRAFT
II-2 Stum0vik 36,183 <------------------------------------ Most Produced airplane ever.
Yak 1, 3, 7, 9 31,000+
Bf 109 30,480
Fw 190 29,001
Spit/Seafire 20,351
B-24/PB4Y 18,482
Thunderbolt 15,686
Mustang 15,875
Ju 88 15,000
Hurricane 14,533
P-40 13,738
B-17 12,731
Corsair 12,571
Hellcat 12,275
Pe-2 11,400
P-38 10,037
Zero 10,449
B-25 9,984
LaGG-5 9,920
Avenger 9,837
P-39 9,584
Oscar 5,919
Mosquito 7,780
Lancaster 7,377
He 111 6,508
Halifax 6,176
Bf 110 6,150
LaGG-7 5,753
B-29 3,970
Stirling 2,383

Sources:
Rene Francillon, Japanese Aircraft of the Pacific war; Cajus Bekker,
The Luftwaffe Diaries; Ray Wagner, American Combat Planes; Wikipedia.

BALL PARK AVERAGE:
Chief of Staff to General, "Hmmm; 331 men killed and 308 aircraft
destroyed.
That's 11 people and 10 planes per day."
"Uh, yes, sir. It's still the ballpark average."
"I'd like to see an improvement in bomber losses, those really add up."
"Were working on it, General. But it's sad to think that 10 young men
alive today will be dead tomorrow."
"You know that's the price of doing business. Now then, what about the
overseas and combat losses?"

According to the AAF Statistical Digest, in less than four years
(December 1941- August 1945), the US Army Air Forces lost 14,903 pilots,
aircrew and assorted personnel plus 13,873 airplanes --- inside the
continental United States . They were the result of 52,651 aircraft
accidents (6,039 involving fatalities) in 45 months.
Think about those numbers. They average 1,170 aircraft accidents per
month---- nearly 40 a day. (Less than one accident in four resulted in
totaled aircraft, however.)
Those colossal losses cost the Axis powers nothing; not as much as one
7.7 mm bullet.
It gets worse.....
Almost 1,000 Army planes disappeared en route from the US to foreign
climes. But an eye-watering 43,581 aircraft were lost overseas including
22,948 on combat missions (18,418 against the Western Axis) and 20,633
attributed to non-combat causes overseas.
In August 1943, 60 B-17s were shot down among 376 losses. That was a 16
percent loss rate and meant 600 empty bunks in England . In 1942-43 it was
statistically impossible for bomber crews to complete a 25-mission tour in
Europe .
Pacific theatre losses were far less (4,530 in combat) owing to smaller
forces committed. The worst B-29 mission, against Tokyo on May 25, 1945,
cost 26 Superfortress, 5.6 percent of the 464 dispatched from the Marianas
..
On average, 6,600 American servicemen died per month during WWII, about
220 a day. By the end of the war, over 40,000 airmen were killed in combat
theatres and another 18,000 wounded. Some 12,000 missing men were declared
dead, including a number "liberated" by the Soviets but never returned.
More than 41,000 were captured, half of the 5,400 held by the Japanese died
in captivity, compared with one-tenth in German hands. Total combat
casualties were pegged at 121,867.
US manpower made up the deficit. The AAF's peak strength was reached in
1944 with 2,372,000 personnel, nearly twice the previous year's figure.
The losses were huge---but so were production totals. From 1941 through
1945, American industry delivered more than 276,000 military aircraft. That
number was enough not only for US Army, Navy and Marine Corps, but for
allies as diverse as Britain , Australia , China and Russia .. In fact,
from 1943 onward, America produced more planes than Britain and Russia
combined. And more than Germany and Japan together 1941-45.
However, our enemies took massive losses. Through much of 1944, the
Luftwaffe sustained uncontrolled hemorrhaging, reaching 25 percent of
aircrews and 40 planes a month. And in late 1944 into 1945, nearly half
the pilots in Japanese squadrons had flown fewer than 200 hours. The
disparity of two years before had been completely reversed.
Experience Level:
Uncle Sam sent many of his sons to war with absolute minimums of
training.
Some fighter pilots entered combat in 1942 with less than one hour in
their assigned aircraft.
The 357th Fighter Group (often known as The Yoxford Boys) went to England
in late 1943 having trained on P-39s.
The group never saw a Mustang until shortly before its first combat
mission.
A high-time P-51 pilot had 30 hours in type. Many had fewer than five
hours. Some had one hour.
With arrival of new aircraft, many combat units transitioned in combat.
The attitude was, "They all have a stick and a throttle. Go fly `em."
When the famed 4th Fighter Group converted from P-47s to P-51s in February
1944, there was no time to stand down for an orderly transition.
The Group commander, Col. Donald Blakeslee, said, "You can learn to fly
`51s on the way to the target.
(Note: Gone West HNL QB Brewster Morgan (Morgan's Corner up in Nuuanu off
of Old Pali Road), a Honolulu boy and a member of the 4th Fighter Group,
told me that they actually did stand down one day to transition from the
P47 to the P51. They were pissed that the old groups still had the P47
[Brewster was with the Eagle Squadron in the Spitfire......later in the P47
when the US got into it in '42] and the newer groups coming over from the
US all had P-51s.
Blakeslee finally convinced AF to let them convert by standing down just
one day.
An interesting side note...Brewster was shot down over France in '44 and
became a POW...his roommate?...Douglas Bader...top English ace with two
wooden legs...Bader lost one of his legs when he bailed out and was
captured......the Germans asked the Brits to send him another
leg......which they did).

A future P-47 ace said, "I was sent to England to die." He was not
alone.
Some fighter pilots tucked their wheels in the well on their first combat
mission with one previous flight in the aircraft.
Meanwhile, many bomber crews were still learning their trade:
of Jimmy Doolittle's 15 pilots on the April 1942 Tokyo raid, only five had
won their wings before 1941.
All but one of the 16 copilots were less than a year out of flight school.

In WWII flying safety took a back seat to combat.
The AAF's worst accident rate was recorded by the A-36 Invader version of
the P-51: a staggering 274 accidents per 100,000 flying hours.
Next worst were the P-39 at 245, the P-40 at 188, and the P-38 at 139.
All were Allison powered.

Bomber wrecks were fewer but more expensive.
The B-17 and B-24 averaged 30 and 35 accidents per 100,000 flight hours,
respectively- a horrific figure
considering that from 1980 to 2000 the Air Force's major mishap rate was
less than 2.
The B-29 was even worse at 40; the world's most sophisticated, most
capable and most expensive bomber was too urgently needed to stand down for
mere safety reasons. The AAF set a reasonably high standard for B-29
pilots, but the desired figures were seldom attained.
The original cadre of the 58th Bomb Wing was to have 400 hours of
multi-engine time, but there were not enough experienced pilots to meet the
criterion.
Only ten percent had overseas experience.
Conversely, when a $2.1 billion B-2 crashed in 2008, the Air Force
initiated a two-month "safety pause" rather than declare a "stand down",
let alone grounding.
The B-29 was no better for maintenance.
Though the R3350 was known as a complicated, troublesome power-plant, no
more than half the mechanics had previous experience with the Duplex
Cyclone.
But they made it work.
Navigators:
Perhaps the greatest unsung success story of AAF training was
Navigators. The Army graduated some 50,000 during the War. And many had
never flown out of sight of land before leaving "Uncle Sugar" for a war
zone. Yet the huge majority found their way across oceans and continents
without getting lost or running out of fuel --- a stirring tribute to the
AAF's educational establishments.
Cadet To Colonel:
It was possible for a flying cadet at the time of Pearl Harbor to finish
the war with eagles on his shoulders.
That was the record of John D. Landers, a 21-year-old Texan, who was
commissioned a second lieutenant on December 12, 1941.
He joined his combat squadron with 209 hours total flight time, including 2
½ in P-40s.
He finished the war as a full colonel, commanding an 8th Air Force Group
--- at age 24.
As the training pipeline filled up, however those low figures became
exceptions.
By early 1944, the average AAF fighter pilot entering combat had logged at
least 450 hours, usually including 250 hours in training.
At the same time, many captains and first lieutenants claimed over 600
hours.
FACT:
At its height in mid-1944, the Army Air Forces had 2.6 million people and
nearly 80,000 aircraft of all types.
Today the US Air Force employs 327,000 active personnel (plus 170,000
civilians) with 5,500+ manned and perhaps 200 unmanned aircraft.
The 2009 figures represent about 12 percent of the manpower and 7 percent
of the airplanes of the WWII peak.

IN SUMMATION:
Whether there will ever be another war is doubtful, as fighters and bombers
have given way to helicopters and remotely-controlled drones over
Afghanistan and Iraq . But within living memory, men left the earth in
1,000-plane formations and fought major battles five miles high, leaving a
legacy that remains timeless.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

I don't follow this thread very much so if this plane has been done please forgive me...

Name the plane or whats left of it :-)

HoundDog

My Feedback: (49)

I'd answer this one but then I'd have to ask another wuestion so I'll wait to see more clues
But it is Russian

JohnnyS

That's a very tricky question: This is an early "Ekranoplan" modification of a "Bartini Beriev VVA-14". The VVA-14 was a VTOL aircraft capable of both high altitude "true" flying and also flying very low in ground effect. The Ekranoplan conversion removed the outer wings and made other changes so it could no longer fly at altitude.

See: http://mickhartley.typepad.com/blog/...kranoplan.html and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bartini_Beriev_VVA-14 and http://aviationtrivia.blogspot.ca/20...eriev-vva.html

So this is actually the "Bartini Beriev 14M1P" and not the VVA-14.

wingspar

My Feedback: (3)

Correct, your up Johnny

JohnnyS

OK, here's one:

1. Biplane fighter.
2. Seven were built in total by the original manufacturer in three different versions. One more was built under license, as a fourth version.
3. Of all the 8 aircraft produced, they were tested or at least flown in 5 different countries.

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

[QUOTE=HoundDog;11911507]Wingspar U are the winner it was the Soviet Ilyshin IL-2 "Sturmovik" 36,183
Now U get to ask a question I would believe. But some Interesting facts:


Subject: WWII Flight Statistics.

Most Americans who were not adults during WWII have no understanding of
the magnitude of it.
This listing of some of the aircraft facts gives a bit of insight to it.

HoundDog; good question and some great info and statistics to review. That's what I like about this forum and the information the participants provide: It presents an opportunity for all of us to learn more about what is obviously a deeply held interest for all of us. Good job!

Also; it's nice to see so much activity and interplay lately. Let's keep it rolling. Thanks all; Ernie P.

JohnnyS

Ernie, I think I have the floor right now. I was able to identify wingspar's question, which was the "Bartini Beriev 14M1P".

Ernie P.

My Feedback: (3)

Of course you do, Sir. I was simply complimenting HoundDog on the additional information re: WWII that he provided. You have the floor; you have already asked the next question; and we await your next clue. Thanks; Ernie P.

JohnnyS

New clue:

1. Biplane fighter.
2. Seven were built in total by the original manufacturer in three different versions. One more was built under license, as a fourth version.
3. Of all the 8 aircraft produced, they were tested or at least flown in 5 different countries.
4. 7 cylinder engine.