There has been much debate for more than sixty years now over the best aircraft of World War II. As a former Air Force pilot I have my opinion on which were the best aircraft of the period. In this series of articles I’ve broken down the best of class into a four areas: Heavy Bombers, Medium Bombers, Light or Dive bombers, and Fighters. I have further categorized the aircraft by the theatre that they fought in. This will be the initial of a series of articles on “The Best War Planes of World War II.” Our introductory in the series will cover “The Best of the Bombers.”
The Best of the Bombers of World War II
Best 4 engine Bombers:
European Theatre
The Boeing B-17G, with it is four 9-cylinder Wright R-1820 Cyclone engines is argued to be the best in class for the amount of time of 1941 through to the end of the war, or rather the war in Europe. It was applied to carry the war to Germany and flew American and British crews. With it is 16,000 pound payload and ten.50 caliber machine guns, it’s hard to argue versus this aircraft. However, you will always get an argument from those who flew and favored the Consolidated B-24, with it is 14 cylinder Pratt and Whitney R-1830 Twin Wasp radials formulating 1000 horsepower power each. Both aircraft were fast for their time and carried a heavy bomb load. Of the B-24, it was said to be just a bit quicker but a little more difficult to fly and it had a tendency to catch fire. The B-17 was bestloved for it is ruggedness and was glamorized by the press of the day. The B-24 genuinely flew just as numerous sorties and was loved by the crews who flew her. For the reasons stated above I would have to rate the aircraft a draw when it comes to selecting the best of class. The Germans, Brits and the Russians genuinely never formulated a heavy bomber that could finish on a level playing table with either of these aircraft for the duration of the war.
Some folks from Britain are going to be crazy at me for leaving the Lancaster Bomber out of this group as the best. My reason for doing this is because of the way the aircraft was used, primarily as a night attack aircraft, while the B-17 and B-24 took on the enemy in their daylight attacks.
Pacific Theatre
In the Pacific Theatre there is only one choice when it comes to the best of class and perhaps best of the war. The Boeing B-29 Super Fortress with it is unbelievable long range, high altitude capability, pressurized crew compartment and remotely controlled gunnery schemes is the only primary choice. The aircraft served from the mid 1940s well into the 1950s. The B-29 was so well valued that the Russian Military copied confiscated models of the aircraft right down to the fix patches on the fuselage and put them in service for a lot of years for the duration of the Cold War. Of this aircraft you may veritably state that it ended the war when it dropped the atomic bomb on the cities of Japan.
Best Medium Bombers of the war:
When historians look at the Air Wars of World War II they tend overlook the contributions of the medium bombers. They dropped as much or more ordinance on the enemy than the heavy class of bomber. There are two aircraft that must be discussed in this category with an honorary mention of one other. Let’s get started with a discussion of the North American B-25 Mitchell.
Pacific Theatre
The B-25 was built in the early 1940s. It was an innovative design for it is time. The aircraft could carry out as a medium altitude bomber or could be outfitted with cannon and machine guns and applied in a ground attack mode. This aircraft saw most of it is obligation in the Pacific Theatre where it performed with distinction. In the early years of the war it was the only aircraft available to strike back at Japan following the attack on Pearl Harbor. The aircrafts skillfulness shined when a squadron or B-25s were launched from an aircraft carrier in the Doolittle Raid on Tokyo in early 1942.
European Theatre
Martin B-26 Marauder, in the first place put in service in 1939, actually dropped more weapons in the European Theatre than the B-17. The aircraft went through a great deal of redesigns do to it is handling characteristics. The original high wing loading devised unfitting flight characteristic including the disability to maintain controlled flight with one engine out. A redesign of the wing led to one of the best and quickest bombers of the war. The B-26 was noted as a high flying sports car of a bomber and the crews that flew it, and understood it is handling characteristics, loved the aircraft.
Our next entry in this category, the British Mosquito receives honorary mention. What made this aircraft particular was it is construction of all natural components. The aircraft was constructed of light weight wood due to a shortage of metal in Britain for the duration of the war. This aircraft was fundamentally untouchable due to it is speed. The Mosquito was the most immediate aircraft in the European theatre until the Germans introduced the Me 262 all jet fighter.
Best Light Bombers:
All entries from the European Theatre
The Ju 87 Stuka, altho outdated by 1942, the Stuka put terror into the hearts of the ground forces being attacked by this aircraft. The Stuka was slow flying and dropped weapons while in a near vertical dive, using a 9 G (nine times the strength of gravity) pull-out, most times blacking out the pilot. To pay for the tendency to black out the pilot the aircraft had an automatic pullout control very futuristic for it is time. To make the aircraft seem more menacing the Germans attached an air operated siren on the aircraft for psychological intimidation. The Stuka flew until the very end of the war on each front the Germans fought. It was a great equalizer for defense versus tanks, specially on the Eastern Front where the Russians had a outstanding numerical advantage. Even if you don’t agree that the aircraft was one of the best in class for the duration of the war, you have to admire the effectiveness of it is use.
The IL-2 Shturmovik Tank Buster (eastern front) – The Russians out-did themselves with this aircraft. The Shturmovik was designed specifically for attacking German ground forces, specially tanks. The IL-2 killed more tanks than any other aircraft of the war.
Future Articles will include articles on fighters and then we could proceed on to technical developments for the duration of the War. See list beneath for overview… just galore ideas for you!
Best Fighters:
North American P-51 Mustang (the uttermost piston aircraft of the war)
Focke- Wulf FW 190 direct contest with the P-51
Messerschmitt 262 (first operation jet)
Me 262 (first jet aircraft)
Hawker Hurricane
Super Marine Spitfire
Pacific fighters:
Mitsubishi A6M Zero (pacific)
Vought F4U Corsair (pacific)
Best of the Best:
North American P-51Mustang
