Aircraft of World War II
During World War II (WW2) the aeroplane proved to be the military’s greatest asset. It was dominant as it was versatile. Unlike the tank, boat or even the foot soldier the planes can serve in all areas of one countries military, land, sea and of course the air. They could fight where ever needed. Not only did they attack in dog fights or bombing raids they could go for a surveillance or reconnaissance to assist their forces. They destroyed many enemies industrial plants and provided many ground combat support.
In the years WW2 was being fought plane designs progressed in leaps and bounds. From the old and obsolete designs of biplanes and triplanes the planes turned into worlds first Jet fighter, from ugly twin engine
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bombers into radical designs like the B-29 Superfortress heavy bombers. WW2 had seen the biggest use of aeroplanes in the battlefield. With this paper I am only going to show 10 of the greatest aircraft in WW2. Each of these planes had either significantly impacted the war efforts or caused world awe in magnificence of their designs. From performing so wonderfully in their roles they earnt the respect from the military friend or foe and the world. These planes I am showing you have been given immortal respect and a special place in aviation history. American P-51 Mustang The plane that went all the way.
As Allied armies fought their way deep into occupied Europe, it was the P-51 Mustang which sought control of the skies from the Luftwaffe and in most cases succeeded. More than just a ferocious dogfighter, the P-51 Mustang was one of the fastest piston-engine fighter and could fly higher and go further than any other combat aircraft of the war. The P-51 Mustang claimed the most Allied kills with no fewer than 281 pilots earning the “Aces” (5 kills) distinction in a Mustang. It was the greatest fighter of the war.
Focke-Wulf Fw-190
One of the best fighters of all time, no Allied pilot who fought in the skies of Europe will forget the feats of the Fw-190. Introduced in September 1941, this fighter shocked RAF pilots and inflicted cruel punishment to Allied bombers flying over Europe. Highly respected by Allied pilots, the Fw-190 was a superb fighter, fighter-bomber and anti-tank aircraft. Oberleutnant Otto Kittel a German pilot scored most of his 267 kills in a Fw-190, forever immortalizing him as the fourth top scoring ace of the
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Luftwaffe. Messerschmitt Bf-109 Aviation history describes the Bf-109 as one of the greatest fighters in history. When first introduced, this fearsome aircraft was among the best of its day, putting it in the same league as the British Spitfire. Fast and graceful, Bf-109s ruled the skies at high altitudes, but as bomber escorts over Great Britain, these high flyers had to pitch their battles at low altitudes - a task it was not suited to perform. Nevertheless the Bf-109 with its heavy punch of 20mm cannons would go on to become the most important fighter in the Luftwaffe, serving on all fronts of the war. Supermarine Spitfire The Supermarine Spitifre is possibly the most famous combat aircraft in history. Champions of low level duels, Spitfires earned their immortality as the fighter that turned the tide in the Battle of Britain. Against its greatest foe, the Messerschmitt Bf-109, Spitfires forced the German fighter to stay low to protect the bombers – negating the Bf-109s advantage while multiplying its own. After the homeland threat was over, Spitfires served as fighter-bombers and carrier-based fighters, where they served with distinction in all combat theaters. The Spitfire is in the league of one of the best fighters of all time. Mitsubishi A6M Zero The Mitsubishi A6M Zero dealt an awakening shock to the Americans when it was unleashed in the early stages of war. Having mistakenly written off as inferior to Allied fighters, the Zero proved more than a match and became the dominant fighter in the first two years of the Pacific war. Until the F6F Hellcat, no American fighter could match it in firepower, range or maneuverability. Al well as being the best carrier-borne aircraft of its time, the Zero gained the reputation as “invincible” until newer American aircraft were available. The Mitsubishi Zero would go down as one the most agile aircraft ever built. Junkers 87 Stuka At least until 1942, the high pitched scream of the Stukas sent troops beneath scurrying for cover. As dive-bomber, and ground attack aircraft, it was deadly accurate and excelled in its role as an anti-tank aircraft. Rugged and cheap, a formation of Stukas struck fear even in the hearts of seasoned veterans. Hans-Ulrich Rudel, the top scoring Luftwaffe ace destroyed over 500 Russian tanks – that’s five Russian tank corps. Stalin placed a price on his head, but it was never claimed. Stukas lost their invincibility when the Allies had air cover, as Stukas were very vulnerable to enemy fighters. Ilyushin-2 Shturmovik A legend in its own right, the Ilyushin-2 Shturmovik is the number one anti-tank aircraft in the world, having destroyed more enemy tanks than any other aircraft during the war.
It also holds the record as the most produced aircraft, with over 36,000 units built during the war. It was heavily armored and is the fastest ground attack aircraft in its class. The Germans called it the “Black Death”, while Stalin was quoted “The Red Army needs the Il-2 as it needs air and bread.” Pretty much they needed this aircraft to survive. After the war, the improved Ilyushin-10 Shturmovik went to serve in Communist countries until the late 1950s.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Undoubtedly, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress significantly influenced the turn of events during the Second World War. This long range heavy bomber led the US Air Force assault in occupied Europe, carrying out strategic bombing which brought the industries of Nazi Germany to a standstill. Although formidably armed, crews of the B-17 faced unspeakable horror in the onslaught by veteran Luftwaffe fighters and ground flak fire. More than 47,000 airmen lost their lives during daylight raids in Germany, but the mighty Flying Fortresses pressed
on. Vought F4U Corsair If it was the F6F Hellcat which wrested control of the Pacific from the Japanese, then it was the F4U Corsair which carried on to gain air supremacy over the Pacific islands. Totally outclassing the much praised Japanese Zero, the Corsair was not only a powerful carrier fighter, but in the hands of land-based Marines, it was also a strong ground attack aircraft, paving the way for the final battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. With high speed and manoeuvrability, the F4U Corsair continued to serve in the Korean war, with the last units coming off the line in 1953. It emerges as one of the finest fighters ever built. Messerschmitt 262 The Messerschmitt-262 makes it into this list not because of the impact it had on the war, but because of the contributions it had made after the war. Using its secrets in rocketry and airframe design, scientists developed more advanced aircraft prototypes up to the speed of Mach-1. There is no doubt that the Me-262 was revolutionary and should German industries be capable of producing the much needed numbers, the Luftwaffe would once again have achieve air superiority. When first introduced in September 1944, there was no fighter in the Allied arsenal which could match it in an air duel.
For as long as most of the world can remember aviation has played a major factor in how wars are fought. Starting in World War I the worlds fighting forces began using aircraft to conduct surveillance missions over enemy territory. While these aircraft were not the masters of stealth that todays aircraft are there was no technology to take down these planes at the time. Air-to-air combat was an event that rarely happened and was almost never effective.
December 1940, the Army Air Corps planned an experiment for black aviators in an all black fighter squadron. This group would be called the 332nd fighter group and would consist of four fighter squadrons, the 99th, 100th, 301st, 302nd. (4 A). The squadrons that made the most history would be the 99th and the 100th. The 99th was to be made of 33 to 35 pilots and 278 ground crew men, but those accusations came from another source when the real number of men in the 99th would be a total of 12 black cadets and 1 officer trainee. 3 squadrons usually make up a fighter group so the 99th was nicknamed the “lonely Eagles”. They would be flying PT-17s, then BT-13s, and later AT-6s, that would have better landing flaps, retractable landing gear, and 650-horse power engines (Mckissack). They would be the first fighter squadron of the 332nd to go into combat over North Africa. Being part of the 12th Air force, they would fly tactical missions over the Mediterranean theater (Haulman). Going over in ships, April 15, 1943, they would arrive in Morocco, May 1943, only to be told that the battle between the Germans and North Africans was basically over. They then tested out P-40L War Hawks, and Curtis’s, that were built to reach up to 350 mph, climb over 22,000 ft., and ferry over 1,000 miles. The planes would be put through flight drills and mock dog fights. The 27th, part of another group, trained with the men in Africa. The war was always back and forth so the...
In today’s world, the use of airplanes in wars or in everyday life has become a part of how we live as human beings. Removing the air forces of the world is like taking a step back in time when wars were only fought on land or sea. WWI began only eleven short years after the Wright brothers achieved powered flight in 19031 and yet aircrafts were being used for surveillance and eventually combat purposes. It is understood that these aircrafts were primitive, but they laid down the foundation for what we know today as fighter jets. The Fokker Eindecker “revolutionized air combat by successfully employing a synchronized forward -firing machine gun mounted on the engine cowling”2. Because this airplane became the first to successfully use a synchronized machine gun, it allowed its pilots to become the first aerial combat tactitions3.
Alex Kershaw’s “The Few The American ‘Knights Of The Air’ Who Risked Everything To Fight In The Battle Of Britain” doesn’t just tell the story of the seven American aviators who flew for the British as but also their enemies, the Luftwaffe’s point of view. This book is told through this group of Americans and from the viewpoint of the Royal Air Force pilots they fought with but also the perspective of the Luftwaffe fliers that they fought against during the battle. For example, in one part of the book, there was this one German lookout who had commented on how much of an advantage the British had because of their radars that could locate enemy planes while they crossed the English Channel; the lookout considered the radar an “unfair” tool.
The British were outnumbered 900 fighters to 640 fighters plus the Germans had an additional 1,300 bombers. With these statistics, the Luftwaffe thought that they would have a very easy time defeating the Royal Air Force. Even though the British were outnumbered, they had a few advantages that the Luftwaffe was unaware of. First, they develope...
Throughout the 20th century, the Allied Air Forces during World War II experienced rapid advancements in technology, mainly with the immense amount of new aircrafts that were being made, as well as the new tactics used. This progress would greatly influence modern day as it pushed for the evolution of the air force, as it pushed the boundaries of what was possible. The Allied Air Forces consisted of the United States Army Air Forces, The Royal Air Force, and the Soviet Air Force, all of which increased in control and power as the war went on, resulting in the vast improvements of aviation,
Armies and Navies have clashed since antiquity, but the airplane that enables aerial combat is barely a century old. Airplanes saw widespread combat in the First World War, and, despite the doubts and financial concerns of military leaders of the time, the brave men who fly them have gained their own dedicated military division, the United States Air Force. Billy Mitchell, through his charisma and an image that endeared him in American culture, was an instrumental figure in developing the modern Air Force.
Bombers have been around since the start of the 20th century during World War I. However, strategic bombings became more popular and used form World War II on. The bomber plane had evolved since World War I. Many bomber planes that were bi-planes, meaning the plane had two main wings on both sides instead of one. They also used dual engines. The Germans, however, used the zeppelins which were big targets for fighter planes and the design was not continued after the war.
Planes have developed immensely through the years. The Wright brothers developed the first plane in 1903.
The. Johnson, David E. Fast Tanks and Heavy Bombers: Innovation in the U.S. Army, 1917-1945. Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1998. Print. The. "
The Supermarine Spitfire was a very successful British fighter plane that allowed the Allies to maintain air superiority over Europe, North Africa, the Middle East, Australia, and the Pacific during the Second World War. It was this shared use of the well-designed Spitfire by the Allied forces in all of the different theatres that enabled Allied victory. The Spitfire is the epitome of cultures in contact as its versatile and collaborative use was the essence of its success.
Many new and improved weapons and artillery were brought out during the war. One example of this introduction of new weapons was the long-range rocket. Also during this time, the atomic bomb proved to have a big impact on the war. Along with these new and improved weapons, falls the infamous tanks of World War II (Military History 1). Although some weapons proved to be more important than others, every weapon played an important role in fighting this war.
World War II was one of the deadliest military conflicts in history. There were many different battles that took place within this war; some more important than others. World War II began once Germany’s new dictator, Adolf Hitler, decided that he wanted to gain power for Germany and for himself. One of Hitler’s first moves in power was invading Poland on September 1, 1939. Many other countries became involved in this war because of the alliance system. The two sides during this war were the Allies and Axis powers. German, Italy and Japan were on the Axis powers; France, Britain, and the United States were on the Allies. Germany first began with the Blitzkrieg tactic meaning “lightning war”. This tactic is based on speed, surprise and was the most popular tactic. It is set up with military forces based around tanks which are supported by planes and infantry. The Blitzkrieg tactic lead to air wars with airplanes between countries. All of the countries were allowed to participate in the air wars but the four main countries were United States, Japan, Britain, and Germany. During the 1920’s and 1930’s airplanes grew in size and structure giving them more power, and making planes more effective. Planes made it easier to drop bombs, or plan attacks. All of these countries fought over air superiority. Air superiority is the position in which the air force has control over all of the air warfare and air power of the opposing forces. Germany began with air superiority but they lost it when Britain defeated them at the Battle of Britain. Gaining control over the air is a very big advantage because it is easier to plan an attack on an opposing country. All of the countries relied on their aircrafts during this war. The issue about the use of...
The Royal Air Force (RAF) provided the first successful display of air power in a defensive and offensive strategy. In the fall of 1940, the Battle of Britain was the first airpower only operation. The German objective was to gain air superiority over the Royal Air Force (RAF) by attacking military and civilian targets in and around the United Kingdom. The RAF defense of the homeland by tactical aircraft and ground anti-air weapons slowed German aggression. The success of the offensive strategic bombing of Berlin caused Adolf Hitler and the Luftwaffe to shift air resources to protect Germany. The combination of tactical defense and strategic bombing enabled the RAF’s defense of Britain; this was one of the first successful air operations of WW2.
The history of flying dates back as early as the fifteenth century. A Renaissance man named Leonardo da Vinci introduced a flying machine known as the ornithopter. Da Vinci proposed the idea of a machine that had bird like flying capabilities. Today no ornithopters exist due to the restrictions of humans, and that the ornithopters just aren’t practical. During the eighteenth century a philosopher named Sir George Cayley had practical ideas of modern aircraft. Cayley never really designed any workable aircraft, but had many incredible ideas such as lift, thrust, and rigid wings to provide for lift. In the late nineteenth century the progress of aircraft picks up. Several designers such as Henson and Langley, both paved the way for the early 1900’s aircraft design. Two of the most important people in history of flight were the Wright Brothers. The Wright Brothers were given the nickname the “fathers of the heavier than air flying machine” for their numerous flights at their estate in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Orville and Wilbur Wright created a motor-powered biplane in which they established incredible feats of the time. The Wright Brothers perfected their design of the heavier than air flying ma...