[aviatorsneah]

Okay, I found more stuff on the P-47M. They under-rated the top-speed for some reason. I can't remember right now. I think that average stuff is more or less right. Then there's field mods to engine and the plane body and what not that would change stuff. Thanks...

i was an aerospace engineering major and here is my answer to your confusion: if they did things in the 40s the same as they do now, here is the matter in laymans terms without getting too much into what Vne (never exceed speed) actually means....

if there was ever a "maximum" speed for an airplane PUBLISHED during wartime it was done so by the manufacturer which was computed from engineering calculations and adhered to by a test pilot. but it can be completely different in combat. for example, you are flying the airplane in combat....say a p51...you have a 109 or 190 on yer tail and are in a dive to get the hell away from him for your LIFE.....you are a young kid who is scared to death in the heat of the moment, in combat, trying to get away....probably the last thing you are going to think about is what Vne is of the aircraft. Are you exceeding published design limitations? yes. are you going to break the airplane? sometimes...NO. because there is leeway between what the published figures are and what the airplane can actually do. and that leeway is there for a buffer between what is real and what is safe. I'm not saying this was always the case. A lot of times they would exceed what the airplane could do...and yes...itd find a hole in the ground rather quickly. But you get the idea. Another opposite scenario....diving in on a group of enemy aircraft on an attack run....same situation. im sure a lot of those guys were like "screw it i gotta go faster"

my point is, i think a lot of pilots pushed airplanes in combat past what the published limitations set by the manufacturer were. and thats the basis of where these reports come from. with that said i dont think they are innacurate at all...its completely realistic.

aside from that...the figures you see in combat reports might not take into consideration the same altitude and conditions that are given for the 'published' speeds.

as far as 'maximum CRUISING' airspeeds go, i think MustangNF said it correctly...all the field modifications that were in place....THERE ARE NO 'published' figures for that kind of stuff. they had to win the war....and all sides did everything possible in the field.

plus i would assume in combat reports there is always the case of a pilot reporting a higher speed....just so he can say he did it. i know i would!