What German Pilots Thought About P51, P-47, and P-38 Guns

As World War II drew to a close, the Allies not only held air superiority—they wanted to understand just how effective their aircraft had been from the enemy’s point of view. In March 1945, U.S. intelligence debriefed 22 captured German fighter pilots, asking for their honest opinions on American fighters and their firepower. What they revealed was both insightful and, in some cases, surprising.

The Source

This rare glimpse into the minds of Luftwaffe pilots comes from a declassified Air Intelligence Weekly Summary dated March 23, 1945. Under the section titled “Allied Fighters, as Germans See Them,” U.S. interrogators asked downed German pilots—many of them experienced aces—to assess the strengths and weaknesses of American fighters they’d faced in combat.

It’s worth noting that most of these engagements occurred below 20,000 feet and didn’t involve the latest U.S. aircraft variants. Still, the responses offer a raw, firsthand evaluation from men who had flown against America’s best.

The Results

Unsurprisingly, the P-51 Mustang earned top marks across the board. German pilots—especially seasoned veterans—rated it as the best fighter in the U.S. arsenal. They respected its speed, range, and agility, with some admitting they would only try to outrun it if they had a serious head start. That said, they viewed the Mustang as vulnerable to cannon fire—an area where German aircraft had the advantage with their heavier 20mm and 30mm armaments.

As for the P-47 Thunderbolt, German pilots admired its ruggedness and superb diving speed. They noted it could take a beating head-on and keep flying—a testament to the aircraft’s durability. However, they also pointed out its drawbacks: sluggish climb rate and a tendency to bleed speed in tight turns, even though it handled well under 20,000 feet.

The P-38 Lightning had a more mixed reputation. Most experienced Luftwaffe pilots had only heard of it by name or seen it in passing, as it was less common in the late-war European theater. Still, younger or less-experienced German pilots had encountered it and described it as fast, with excellent climbing ability. However, like the other American fighters, it was seen as vulnerable to concentrated gunfire.

Guns and Firepower

One area where opinions varied was armament. German pilots were divided on the effectiveness of the American .50 caliber machine guns. Some argued that their own 20mm and 30mm autocannons were superior, delivering more stopping power per hit.

However, at least one veteran Luftwaffe pilot countered that the U.S. .50 calibers were highly effective—especially against enemy fighters—because they were optimized for air-to-air combat and offered a high volume of fire with deadly accuracy.

In the end, even the enemy respected the Mustang. Despite their pride in German engineering, these captured pilots made one thing clear: the P-51 was a fighter to be feared. Tough, fast, and deadly at altitude or low level, it earned their admiration the hard way—in combat.