Bruce Brown
Transcript
Well its eh, it was not as manuverable as a Zero or any of the Japanese aircraft. It was not as manuverable as a Spitfire either. It was a much heavier aircraft than a Spitfire, it was a much heavier aircraft than a Zero. It was really in slightly under powered in my opinion for its weight. So the power weight ratio was not in line with my opinion where the designers could have been more successful with the aircraft.
But its one attribute was being so heavy and being so strongly constructed. And provided you had height and say as an example 15000 feet. And enemy zero has got on to your tail. If you push everything into one corner as we use to say. Rudder and control column and headed straight for the deck you would get away from them because being heavier than they were and going down hill you pick up speed much quicker and consequencely you could get away.
So the other attribute was its fire power, it was a beautiful fire power both from the point of view of combat, ariel combat and ground support work when you operating against the enemy with the army.