Sukhoi’s thesis is correct, it’s the pilot that makes the difference (this same principle applies to tank and armored vehicle crews). The best example of this is the two highest scoring squadrons of the Battle of Britain. Those squadrons were 301 and 303 (the Kosciusko Squadron). The Polish pilots made up 10% of the force for the RAF and were flying the older Hurricane Hawkers vice the Spitfire during this period. They scored 40% of the kills against the Luftwaffe. If you want a really good read, check out the book “A Question of Honor” by Lynn Olsen and Stanley Cloud.
Thank you for the recc.
I’m sure it will sharpen my distaste for FDR...
I will get it, as well as “The Peasant Prince: Thaddeus Kosciuszko and the Age of Revolution”.
The Hawker Hurricane was used against the bomber formations, the Spitfire went toe to toe with the ME 109’s, not exactly apples to apples comparison.