Aircraft of WW2

By Kieran Whitworth 

Kieran Whitworth's Aircraft of World War II is now available for purchase from the IWM Online shop and in store at all IWM locations. Buy Now

The aircraft of the Second World War were both exceptional and terrifying. From biplanes still in service at the start of the conflict to jet-powered aircraft flying by its end, the rapid pace of development transformed aerial warfare and produced iconic machines that came to define the era.

This book features fifty key aircraft from the Allied air forces, focusing on Britain and its empire as well as the United States, and from the Axis powers, namely Germany and Japan.

A consistent theme I wanted to emphasise throughout the text is how many aircraft were constrained by the technological limitations of the time. These ranged from underpowered engines to materials that could not meet the performance demands of ambitious designs. The constant drive to fly faster, higher, further and for longer, shaped by both innovation and evolving combat tactics, presented ongoing challenges for those responsible for delivering aircraft capable of striking decisive blows.

The underside of a B-26 Marauder of the 320th Bomb Group in flight.

The book also explores the origins, development and operational history of these aircraft, along with the courageous crews who flew them. Many paid the ultimate price in the fiercest air battles of the war. A personal highlight was weaving in the story of my wife’s grandfather, a Sergeant Navigator on a Lancaster bomber, who was shot down over Berlin, captured, and spent the remainder of the war in captivity. His experience, especially during Germany’s collapse in 1945, offered a poignant connection to the many Allied aircrew and helped illustrate their sacrifices.

It was fascinating to examine how aircraft development varied across nations. The Axis powers, Germany and Japan, initially fielded exceptional and seemingly unstoppable aircraft. However, as Allied manufacturing and technological capabilities increased, the sheer volume and quality of Allied aircraft eventually overwhelmed the Axis forces and led to their defeat.

Germany entered the war in 1939 with a relatively new air force, rapidly expanded during the 1930s and tested in the Spanish Civil War. This experience shaped German aircraft design, particularly the emphasis on dive bombing, which ultimately hindered the development of long-range bombers needed for a global conflict. Despite this, early war successes came with aircraft such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, followed by the revolutionary jet-powered Messerschmitt Me 262. The infamous Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, with its wailing sirens, became a symbol of Germany’s Blitzkrieg tactics.

Japan’s vast Pacific theatre led to the development of the Mitsubishi A6M Reisen Zero, which proved devastating following the attack on Pearl Harbour. However, as Japan’s territorial gains receded, the use of aircraft in Kamikaze missions became a tragic symbol of desperation and loss. Japanese fighter development lagged behind, leaving the home islands vulnerable to the arrival of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress, the most expensive aircraft of the war, which brought unprecedented destruction.

The Axis powers suffered from a lack of sustained wartime innovation, partly due to early successes and the inability to adapt to the evolving conflict. Allied strategic bombing further crippled their industrial output. Despite fielding some remarkable aircraft, these limitations contributed to their eventual defeat in 1945.

Allied aircraft proved decisive in winning the war, although they began with outdated models such as the Gloster Gladiator and Fairey Swordfish. However, the development of the Hawker Hurricane and Supermarine Spitfire in the 1930s was pivotal, especially during the Battle of Britain in 1940, when the RAF successfully repelled the Luftwaffe and prevented a German invasion.

An original colour photograph of a Spitfire - Mk VB based at North Weald, Essex.

Long-range aircraft for maritime patrol and strategic bombing, including the Avro Lancaster, Short Sunderland and De Havilland Mosquito, were crucial. British forces were also bolstered by American-built aircraft such as the Lockheed Hudson, Consolidated B-24 Liberator and Douglas C-47 Skytrain. Towards the end of the war, Britain introduced the Gloster Meteor, the first Allied jet fighter to enter service.

In the United States, war came suddenly with the attack on Pearl Harbour in December 1941. Initially reliant on aircraft like the Grumman F4F Wildcat and Curtiss P-40, the United States quickly ramped up production. Its industrial might produced legendary aircraft including the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, North American B-25 Mitchell and the advanced B-29 Superfortress. Fighters such as the Lockheed P-38 Lightning, Republic P-47 Thunderbolt and North American P-51 Mustang became icons of American air power.

P-51 Mustangs of the 361st Fighter Group fly in formation above the clouds. The introduction of the P-51D Mustang to the European theatre in 1943/44 would protect the Allied bombers and go some considerable way to winning the air war in Europe.

The Allies’ rapid technological progress, driven by the need for speed, range, altitude and firepower, pushed their industries to the limit. The sheer volume of aircraft and trained pilots ensured global air superiority, culminating in the deployment of the atomic bomb in 1945 to bring the war to a close.