World War II Warplanes by Nation

The air forces that fought in World War II each relied on distinctive families of aircraft, developed by their national industries and refined throughout the conflict. Comparing them by country shows how different design philosophies and industrial strengths produced the fighters, bombers and other types that filled the skies between 1939 and 1945. The major air arms belonged to Germany, Britain, the United States, the Soviet Union, Japan and Italy, each fielding aircraft suited to its strategy and theatre of war.

The German Luftwaffe was built around fighters such as the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190, supported by dive-bombers and medium bombers. Britain's Royal Air Force flew the Spitfire and Hurricane fighters, alongside heavy night bombers such as the Lancaster. The United States produced a large and varied fleet, including the P-47 Thunderbolt and P-51 Mustang fighters and the four-engined B-17 Flying Fortress and B-29 bombers, the latter being among the largest and most advanced aircraft of the war. These long-range heavy bombers gave the Allies the means to strike industrial targets far behind the front.

Aircraft were classified by their roles, which helps in cataloguing them: single-seat fighters for air combat, heavy and medium bombers for attacking targets, ground-attack aircraft, reconnaissance machines, transports and carrier-based naval aircraft. The relentless pace of wartime development meant that models were continually improved, with more powerful engines and heavier armament, and the period closed with the arrival of the first operational jet aircraft.

Frequently asked questions

What were the main German fighter aircraft?

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 and the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 were the principal fighters of the German Luftwaffe.

Which heavy bombers did the United States use?

The four-engined B-17 Flying Fortress and the larger B-29 were among the main American heavy bombers, used to strike targets far behind enemy lines.

How are warplanes of the period classified?

By role: fighters for air combat, bombers for striking targets, plus ground-attack, reconnaissance, transport and carrier-based naval aircraft.