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World War II: 15 Most Popular Fighter Planes

World War II was the most devastating large-scale conflicts the world had seen since the First World War. Indeed,  war often brings out the worst in humanity, but sometimes,  it can also bring out the best. The latter includes advanced technological inventions, and the aircraft industry saw some of the best innovations during the war. Aviation revolutionized warfare to a considerable extent, with raids and bombings such as during those carried out in the Pacific War being majorly operated from the skies.

Both the Allied and Axis Powers came up with incredible fighter planes. Features such as great maneuverability, top speeds, long-range capabilities, heavy armory, and powerful engines, including the number of kills attained by a fighter plane make some of these the most popular fighter planes in World War II. Let’s get to it!

Most Popular American Fighter Planes

1. P-51 Mustang

A North American Aviation P-51 Mustang, named “Gunfighter”. Owned by the Commerative Air Force. In Brunswick, Georgia, USA (2022). Photo by Bubba73.

The North American P-51 Mustang was one of the most powerful fighters in the U. S Army Air Force during World War II. Designed and originally produced by North American Aviation in 1940 for the British Royal Air Forces, the Mustang was an impressive single-seat, long-range fighter bomber. It was primarily fitted with the Allison V-1710 engine but later models had the more powerful Merlin engine, which gave it quite an advantage, making it a great match against the Luftwaffe machines. One of its incredible features was its long-range capabilities.

It was fitted with 6 wing-mounted machine guns and could fly to a maximum speed of 700km/hr. One of its most popular variations was the P-51 D, with better performance and speed. Production reached about 15,000, which is quite a high number. The Mustang had extreme range and was a strategic offensive fighter plane. It saw action in the Pacific War against Japan.  It was also used to escort heavy bombers in Germany, and it greatly contributed to the Allied Power air superiority in World War II.

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2. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt,_Imperial_War_Museum,_Duxford,_May_19th_2018. Photo by
Roland Turner.

Between 1941 and 1945, Thunderbolt was produced by the American company, Republic Aviation as a high-altitude fighter bomber. It was one of the heaviest and largest single-propeller engine fighter planes of its kind. However, this did not affect its high speed at high altitudes. With eight 50 caliber machine guns, four on each wing, the Thunderbolt was heavily armored, with impressive long range. It, therefore, had quite the resilience in combat, an added advantage. It could easily attack ground targets, and the Allied Powers used it as an escort fighter too. It was deployed by the U.S., French, British, and Russians. Thunderbolt played an important role in the Normandy D-Day invasion by the Allied Powers and was one of the most produced fighter planes with an average number of about 16,200.

3. Vought F4U Corsair

Photo by Gerry Metzler.

Vought F4U Corsair is widely regarded as one of the most capable American carrier-based fighter bombers in World War II. It was initially produced by Chance Vought and primarily used by the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and the Royal Navy. Over 12, 500 were manufactured, making it one of the most produced aircraft in the war. The Corsair featured powerful armament of 6, 50 caliber guns, impressive maneuverability, and an extreme range of flight of over 1500 miles. Also considered one of the most dangerous on air, the Japanese acknowledged its powerful fighter performance and speed, both at low and high altitudes, nicknaming it ‘Whistling Death’. It contributed greatly to the Allied Powers’ feats during the Pacific War. The British Royal Navy deployed it in 1943 and 1944. It would also see action in Korean War before its retirement in 1952.

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4. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

A restored P-40M Warhawk landing at Season Premier Airshow, in Shuttleworth UK. Photo by Alan Wilson. Wikimedia Commons.

The P-40 Warhawk was the third most-produced American aircraft in World War II, after the Mustang and Thunderbolt. It was a single-seater, single-engine, all-metal, ground-attack fighter. Manufactured by Curtiss Wright, it first flew in 1938, and was primarily used by the U.S Army Air Force, Britain, Canada, and the Australian air force. Although it can’t be said to have been better than the Mustang or the German Bf-109, the Warhawk played an important role in helping the Allies in some strategic wars, including Pearl Harbor. It was a durable, resilient, and sturdy aircraft, capable of outrunning and out-turning enemy planes at medium altitudes. It saw action in China-Burma-India, the Mediterranean, and the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. At the close of the war, it was credited with an impressive 2, 225 air victories in total.

5. Grumman F6F Hellcat

Grumann F6F-3 « Hellcat at the National Air and Space Museum Washington. Photo by Stéphane Gallay.

The Japanese had had quite an advantage in the Pacific War with their powerful Mitsubishi A6M Zero, until the entrance of the F6F Hellcat. This carrier-based fighter plane had been designed to counter the Zero while replacing the previous F4F Wildcat. It was primarily used by the U.S. Navy, the Marine Corps, Royal Navy, and the French Navy. It made its debut in late 1943, quickly establishing itself as a capable carrier fighter, and outperforming the Zero soon enough.

In total, it was credited with an overwhelming 5,223 victories over enemy aircraft. An example of an impressive feat is the Battle of Leyte Gulf, in which two Hellcat pilots shot down 15 enemy aircraft single-handedly. With powerful 2,000 horsepower engines, and high altitude range, the Hellcat was the first American fighter to have a solid advantage over the Zero, and it contributed to the Allied Powers’ superiority in the second half of the Pacific War.

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Most Popular British Fighter Planes

6. Hawker Hurricane

Hurricane LF363, painted to represent 249 Squadron Battle of Britain Hurricane‘GN-F’ on its port side. Photo by Cpl Phil Major. Wikimedia Commons.

Manufactured for the British Royal Air Force by Hawker Aircraft Ltd and designed by Sidney Camm, the Hurricane was one of the most iconic fighter planes used by the RAF. It has been dubbed the workhouse of World War II. It was a single-seat fighter plane, with incredible speed and simple cockpit operation, a heavy armament of eight wing-mounted machine guns, and a 12-cylinder in-line Merlin engine. It could fly at a maximum speed of 340 miles per hour, at a range of 470 miles. Although the Supermarine Spitfire was more popular in the Battle of Britain in 1940, more than half of the losses incurred by the German Luftwaffe in the war are credited to the Hurricane. It was therefore a significant aircraft contribution to the RAF. More than 14,000 of these were produced between 1937 and 1944.

7. Supermarine Spitfire

Spitfire MH434 at the Shuttleworth Collection Season Premiere Airshow 2018. Photo by Airwolfhound.

The Spitfire was designed as a high-performance interceptor aircraft for the RAF, although other Allied powers deployed it as well. It was considered the main RAF fighter aircraft and the best British fighter, with a better performing ability than the Hurricane. It was designed by R.J Mitchell, with elliptical wings that enabled it to attain greater speeds than the Hurricane. It was powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine, and armed with 8 machine guns; a great match for the Luftwaffe machines, especially the Bf 109. The Spitfire was most popular during the Battle of Britain, although most of the kills are credited to the more numerous Hurricane planes. It could perform several roles as an interceptor, trainer, and fighter bomber. About 20,000 were produced, of which 70 remain airworthy.

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Most Popular German Fighter Planes

8. Messerschmitt Bf 109

Photo by Bundesarchiv.

The Luftwaffe was known for its highly advanced aircraft, and the Bf 109 is one of its most powerful and largely produced fighter planes. It could be used for attack, defense, counter-attack, or reconnaissance missions. For a good part of the war, the Allied powers could barely match the Bf 109 in the skies. It had high speeds of up to 640 kilometers per hour, heavy artillery including machine guns, rockets, and bombs, great maneuverability, and resilience in combat.

It had an all-metal monocoque, a closed canopy, retractable landing gear, and a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 aero engine which would later be modified in later models. First engaging in action during the Spanish Civil War in 1927, the Bf 109 would go on to fight in World War II battles, including the invasion of Poland and the Battle of Britain. It remains one of the greatest and most popular Luftwaffe fighter planes in World War II.

9. Focke Wulf Fw 190

Fw-190 Photographed in the Auto und Technik Museum Sinsheim, Germany. Photo by Alf van Beem.

This was a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft widely used by the German Luftwaffe during World War II, alongside its counterpart, the Bf 109. It was designed by Kurt Tank and manufactured by Focke-Wulf. It had an impressive speed of about 410 miles per hour, and heavy armament, including nose-mounted machine guns, cannons in the wing roots, and two more in the mid-wing. These features made it quite a formidable and dangerous fighter aircraft as part of Germany’s arsenal. It could be used as a fighter bomber or ground-attack aircraft. Respected by Allied forces for its high performance, the Fw 190 earns its place in the list of the best fighters of the war.

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10. Messerchmitt Me 410 Hornet

Messerchmitt Me 410 Hornet at RAF Museum Cosford. Photo by Tony Hisget.

This was a German heavy fighter and high-speed bomber, introduced in 1943 for use by the Luftwaffe. About 1189 were produced by the end of 1945. The Me 410 had a massive capacity for bomb load, and other armaments including machine guns and rockets, making it a devastating encounter for enemy planes. Its production had undergone numerous adjustments, and a new version had a longer fuselage, a more powerful engine, and automatic slats. It was mostly used as a night fighter, for bombing raids against Britain and Allied forces in the Mediterranean during World War II.

Most Popular Soviet Union Fighter Planes

11. Yakovlev Yak-3

A Yakovlev Yak-3M on display at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum at Addison Airport in Addison, Texas. Photo by
Michael Barera.

The Yak-3 was a single-seat Soviet fighter, and one of the lightest. Its high power-to-weight ratio helped it achieve great performance in combat. It was also very easy to maintain, and the crew loved that about it. Mostly used as a tactical fighter at low altitudes, the Yak-3 was an integral fighter plane in Russia’s arsenal. Marcel Albert, a World War II French ace, considered it superior to the Mustang and Spitfire. With a top speed of 401 miles per hour and a combat range of about 340 miles, a 1290 horsepower engine, and easy maneuverability made the Yak-3 a potent piston fighter during the war. It was used by the Soviet Air Forces, and the French and Polish Air Force later on.

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12. Yakvolev Yak-9

Photo by San Diego Air & Space Museum Archives.

The Yak-9 is a single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft used by the Soviet Union during World War II and in the early stages of the Cold War. It was the last in production of the basic Yak-1 design, and far more significant than its predecessors. It was lighter, allowing for more fuel load and armament. Entering combat in 1942, it soon easily overtook the Fw 190 in air superiority. It was faster and had greater maneuverability than the famous German fighter Bf 109 at a low altitude. The Yak-9 saw action in the last two years of the war and is widely regarded as having contributed greatly to the reduced grip of the Germans on air superiority. Its wide production saw large numbers of this fighter plane take part in the Battle of Stalingrad.

13. Lavochkin La-7

Lavochkin LA-7 at Central Russian Air Force museum, Monino. Photo by Alf van Beem.

The La-7, a Soviet fighter aircraft was one of the Soviet Air Force’s most powerful planes during World War II. Its model was built upon an improvement of the La-5, with a more powerful Shvetsov engine. This gave it higher speed and impressive climbing capabilities. It also had great maneuverability and firepower, making it a good match for the Luftwaffe’s air machines. Although it came in late in the war, it proved a formidable fighter plane from the Soviet Union.

Most Popular Japanese Fighter Planes

14. Mitsubishi A6M Zero

Replica of Mitsubishi A6M3 Zero Model 22 (NX712Z) (Commemorative Air Force / American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum). Photo by Kogo.

This is one of the most popular Japanese, long-range, carrier-based fighter planes in World War II. It was initially manufactured by the Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and used by the Imperial Japanese Navy. Making its debut in 1939, it would see action until 1945, with a total production of about 10,000.  It is widely regarded to be the most capable carrier-based aircraft of its time in the world, and indeed, Allied forces could hardly counter it in the early stages of the war. With incredible maneuverability, lightweight and extreme range, the Zero gained a reputation as a dominant dogfighter, until its features were overtaken by highly advanced Allied fighter planes later in the war. It was used in the bombing of the Pearl Harbor

Most Popular French Fighter Planes

15. Dewoitine D-520

Dewoitine D.520, Musee de l’Air et de l’Espace, Le Bourget, Paris. Photo by Roland Turner. Wikimedia Commons.

This was a French fighter aircraft, which came quite close to matching the Luftwaffe’s air superiority. It had incredible maneuverability and good climbing speed. Powered with a 1000 horsepower Hispano Suiza engine and armed with a 20 mm cannon, and 4 machine guns, the D-520 outmatched the Italian air force. However, it was produced in small numbers and consequently could not make a massive impact on the war. It took part in combat on the Eastern Front and in North Africa.

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