I'm not being nationalistic but the US fighters always looked a little stunted to me: either all snout and short tail or vice versa, and the chopped-off squared wings. Nothing had the beauty of the Spitfire.

As for "F-" I always wonder why ALL modern jets seem to have "F-" designation. Presumably stands for "fighter".

>I like the abilities of the P-51, and the design and appearance of the F4U Corsair which had gull wings, to accommodate its large propeller. I wonder why the F4 designation was used also by the Phantom, a jet fighter? Did they run out of numbers? :)
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>>>To me, the Spitfire remains THE fighter of WWII. Something about that aircraft's shape stands out.
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>>The Spitfire is the glamorous one that got all the glory but I understand it was the workhorse Hurricane, of which there were far more built, and was much cheaper, that accounted for most kills in the Battle of Britain.
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>>The Stukka did look cool, and that noise was added by the German engineers on purpose to strike panic into their enemies - a siren fitted to the fuselage. The American Mustang I understand also to have been one of the stars of the war and a rival for the Spitfire, but something about its squat shape was not so pleasing to the eye as the Spitfire.
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>>>On the "other side", I love the Stuka? (dive bomber). It looks mean and lean and of course that sound when it attacked!
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>>>Mike
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>>>>I used to work near this airport and used to see Spitfires over the sea when I was sitting on the beach at lunchtime, once a year.
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>>>>>What a shame. =0( I love to go to airshows and have, thankfully, never been to one where there was an accident.
>>>>>
>>>>>~~Bonnie
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>>>>>
>>>>>>One of the wonderful things about living where I do is the rolling Sussex Downs and the proximity of the oldest licenced aerodrome in England: Shoreham Airport. Every year they have an airshow which usually features WWII aircraft. For instance, a few years ago I was out at a farm, where they have a maize maze, on a beautiful Sept. Sunday when a Lancaster bomber flew just a few 100 ft above my head. Last Sunday I was at the same farm when I herad the unmistakable rumble of a RR V12 Spitfire engine and was priviledged to see one of the few remaining of "The Few" bank overhead. "Go on, give Jerry hell!" I laughingly shouted, just as I did during the Battle of Britain. The theme for this year's event was the "50th Anniversary of the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight".
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>>>>>>However this year was marred by tragedy as one of the Hurricanes crashed in a mock dogfight and the pilot died:
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>>>>>>http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/6996734.stm