North 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 wrested control of the skies from the Luftwaffe.
More than just a ferocious dogfighter, the P-51 Mustang was one of the fastest piston-engined fighters 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.
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 scored most of his 267 kills in a Fw-190, forever immortalizing him as the fourth top scoring ace of the Luftwaffe.
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.
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 ill-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.
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. Also 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.
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.” 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 vaunted Japanese Zero, the Corsair was not only a potent carrier fighter, but in the hands of land-based Marines, it was also a potent ground attack aircraft, paving the way for the final battles at Iwo Jima and Okinawa. With high speed and maneuverability, 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.
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.