drgondog wrote:
It would be hard to imagine that the 109 isn't at the top of the heap in context of air to air sorties and engagements with other a/c. Th IL-2 was produced in similar numbers but the number of LW fighters on the Eastern Front to engage them was far smaller than the west.
The Spitfire and Fw 190, respectively should slide in behind the 109, but remember the Spit didn't truly engage in 1944 over Germany while the 190 fought a huge number of sorties from 1942 on.
Zero fought all during WWII but the numbers of opponents re: 109 and Fw 190 against all Axis fighters and bombers on all fronts in Europe, were far smaller.
Just my opinion.
On the US side, the 51 and F6F probably top the heap for US in 1944 and 1945 because they were respectively the point of the spear over Germany and Pacific, but I would think well below any of the above except for Zero - The P-38 and P-47 flew a lot of sorties (more than 51 and F6F) but if engagements with enemy aircraft is the guideline you have to look at it carefully
Very well thought out and very accurate as well for the argument of the 109 and IL-2. I would still add to the discussion the allied aircraft used by several nations.