Here is a list of some of the most important aircraft of WWII.
North American B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was a medium bomber used by the US Army Air Corps famously in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo and throughout the Pacific. The B-25 had tricycle landing gear, twin engines, and a tail gunner position. It served in many theaters of WWII and saw combat in North Africa, Italy, and the Pacific.
P-38 Lightning
The first P-38 Lightning to fly was the XP-38, which took off on January 27, 1939, from March Field, California. The aircraft had experienced several problems during testing, including engine fires and overheating issues with the turbochargers. A second prototype crashed in April 1939. No more prototypes were built until July 1940. By that stage it was clear that the USAAC would be ordering a large number of Lightnings, so Lockheed set up two production lines at Burbank and one at Dallas.
Production continued even after Pearl Harbor; the P-38F entered service in May 1942 and equipped several squadrons for Operation Torch. This marked the first time that American fighters would be operating alongside British aircraft (the Curtiss Tomahawk and North American Mustang also took part). In North Africa the P-38 proved itself to be superior to any German fighter, but its performance suffered over water or when flying from airfields at high altitudes.
Between 1942 and 1945 Lockheed produced 10,037 Lightnings; 3,923 Model Ds/Es/Fs/Ls plus 6,014 Model Js/Ks/Ls (the earlier models were converted into later models). A few hundred were delivered after VJ day.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The B-17 Flying Fortress was a heavy bomber used by the United States Air Force in World War II. It first flew in 1935 and took part in the daylight precision strategic bombing campaign of the war, where it proved its worth as one of the most durable aircraft ever built with an almost unmatched ability to suffer damage and still fly.
The four-engine B-17G carried more than 8,000 pounds of bombs over 2,000 miles with a top speed of 287 mph. Its armament included thirteen .50 caliber machine guns mounted in power turrets that could rake targets on all sides for 360 degrees. This did not include the nose gunner who operated a manually aimed ball turret on the underbelly of the fuselage.
P-51 Mustang
One of the most famous aircraft from WWII, the P-51 Mustang was a fighter plane originally designed for Britain’s Royal Air Force. The plane was later adopted by the USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) and became a legend due to its performance as a long-range escort fighter, bomber, and photo-reconnaissance aircraft.
The P-51 Mustang was a fast plane – with a maximum speed of 487 mph it could outpace enemy fighters like the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Focke-Wulf FW 190 – but it also proved to be an effective dogfighter. The P-51 could outmaneuver enemy planes thanks to its 37 ft wingspan and powerful Rolls Royce Merlin Engine.
The aviation community was not initially interested in North American Aviation’s design for the P-51 Mustang, but after demonstration flights in Europe garnered interest from British officials, the RAF ordered 320 Mustangs in 1940.
De Havilland DH 98 Mosquito
The de Havilland DH 98 Mosquito was the fastest and most versatile piston-engine aircraft of WWII. It was used as a bomber, fighter, night fighter, pathfinder, and reconnaissance aircraft. With a twin engine and two propellers, it was nicknamed “The Wooden Wonder” due to its extensive use of wood in its making. The Mosquito could go as fast as 380mph (607km/h) when cruising at 30,000 feet (9144m).
There are some WWII aircraft that are still used in the display industry and in movies. The P-51, B-17, and B-25 still fly today and give us a great show of what our past history was like. They have helped to tell the story of WWII through their performance at air shows across America every year. It is a very impressive sight to see these aircraft being flown with such precision by these pilots that have dedicated their lives to keeping them flying.
These aircraft were the best ever designed during the war and they are still admired today by many people who appreciate the ingenuity it took to design them. They were made for speed and agility which helps them outmaneuver their enemies in battle. These planes can be seen performing at air shows every year where you can get an up-close view of what airplanes from this era looked like when they were first built.
There are four fighters that have served, being retired but still in service today. One is the MiG-15 Fagot, which of course was developed by the Soviets and is used by North Korea to this day. The second is the Sea Harrier, a joint British/American project that has been in use since 1983 and is still in service with the Royal Navy. The third plane that has continuously been used was developed in part by the Germans, the Hawker Hunter. It first saw action in 1956 and continues to be flown by many air forces to this day including Cyprus, China, India, and even North Korea. The last plane on this list is called the MiG-19 Farmer which was introduced into service by Russia around 1956 becoming their first true contemporary combat aircraft more so than its predecessor the MiG-17. Turkey still uses it today alongside Russia, Syria, and Yemen.
A final mention goes to the Spitfire which is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was used by the Royal Air Force (RAF) and many other Allied countries before, during, and after World War II. It remains a popular aircraft, with more than 53 operators around the world since its widespread use in WWII. Its cultural status makes it one of the most recognized symbols of World War II aviation and modern industrial era design.