Best Multi-Purpose Aircraft ?

What aircraft do you consider the best Multi-purpose platform in the war?? There were quite a few that were used.For example I think the JU-88 is a fine choice. Bomber,Dive bomber,Nightfighter,Recon,Torpedo bomber,Flying bomb (mistel),Heavy dayfighter,Train-buster in Russia,Long-Range ocean patroller,Long-range Pathfinder,Panzerjager/anti-tank, Night intruder, Weapons Test platform aircraft,mine layer ,radio communication aircraft,liason transport,Research aircraft,Missile launcher.

And IIRC I had seen where it carried Paratroops too.

Robert

 

I have said elsewhere that the Ju 88 probably takes the prize in this category. My own example of how this design exceeds any other in the multi-purpose category is the Ju 488 and Ju 88H. Taking the second first, this is a stretched fuselage Ju 88 that adds a huge amount of fuel capacity giving the aircraft an incredible range.
The second takes the H version adds a larger bomb bay through use of a panner and then, incredibly, adds a wing section complete with engine turning a twin engine bomber into a four engine strategic bomber! This is truly an engineering feat that is at least thirty years ahead of anything in the aircraft industry.

 

Its one of my favorite aircraft T.A. . I think second place for most roles would be the Mossie. Robert

 

Mosquito? Nah. A-20. Not as fast but far more versitile.

 

Well some would disagree with ya LOL. What other roles did the A-20 preform? Robert

 

It got to be the Mosquito
It had the range & speed of a fighter & could carry the same bomb load as a B17
It was used as a Fighter, Photo Rec , pathfinder ,night fighter ,anti shipping & target tow after the war
It tested the bouncing bomb & was tested landing on a aircraft-carriers
It was that good even the Yanks used it

 

But did the Mossie perform as many roles as the JU-88 did? And as T.A. pointed out the Ju-88 evolved into other varients too.

 

Perhaps I should have asked which aircraft performed more roles then it was originally designed for.

 

Who said the Americans have no sense of humour...?

 

I think if you compare the Ju88 V the Mosquito in say most roles the Mosquito is the better plane
The Mosquito was still a great plane in 1945 , was the Ju88 ?

I think the mosquito had a bigger impact in the war than the Ju88

 

In that you may be right. But The JU-88 was used in more roles then the Mossie. And that is why I rephrased the question to which aircraft performed more roles then it was originally designed for.

 

You said Best Multi -Multi roll aircraft
Ju88 may have done more roles than the Mosquito but that does not mean it was great , was the Ju88 a jack of all trades & master of none
The Mosquito was still a great plane in 1945 in most roles , was the Ju88

 

That's a bit clearer, then - Mosquito, no contest. Designed to comply with Air Ministry Specification P.13/36, 24th August 1936 : 'A twin-engined medium bomber for world-wide use...with the highest possible cruising speed'.

 

The Ju-88 has 18 so far. Including supply transport. And so far we have for the Mossie tactical bomber, heavy day fighter, intruder,fighter Bomber,maritime strike, photo reconnaissance, night fighter,fast transport, Carrier Borne Torpedo plane, Target Tug ,weapons test bed. Thats 11. Any others?

 

Well, the Ju-88 listing seems to be spreading itself a little thinly, so to be fair to the Mossie we can add trainer ( T.III ) , high-altitude interceptor ( XV ), heavy gun platform ( XVIII ), meteorological recon, missile launcher ( FBVI ).....

 

NF - XVI and XXX, the Ju 88 has it for the LW hands down

 

And I'll bet you can't find one of these for the Ju88....

http://www.mossie.org/sounds/mosquito_flypast.mp3

 

no you won't Martin the Bmw's and Jumos do not sound that smooth .......

 

While just surfing the web about the JU-88 I found this LOL. Major Joachim Helbig flew 500 combat missions by Sept '42 and sunk 200,000 tons of enemy shipping! He was awarded the Knight's Cross with Oakleaves and Swords. Does anyone have any info on how many ships the Ju-88 was responsible for sinking?


Knight's Cross And Oak-Leaves Recipient Joachim Helbig - German Medals and Awards

 

Mossie hands down.

One (if not the) best planes during the war.