List of aircraft of World War II
The list of aircraft of World War II includes all the aircraft used by those countries which were at war during World War II from the period between their joining the conflict and the conflict ending for them. Aircraft developed but not used operationally in the war are in the prototypes section at the end. Prototypes for aircraft that entered service under a different design number are ignored in favour of the service version. The date the aircraft entered service, or was first flown if the service date is unknown or it did not enter service follows the name, followed by the country of origin and major wartime users. Aircraft used for multiple roles are generally only listed under their primary role unless specialized versions were built for other roles in significant numbers. Aircraft used by neutral countries such as Spain, Switzerland and Sweden are not included.
Operational aircraft
Fighter aircraft
Biplane fighters
Single-engined, single-seat monoplane fighters and fighter bombers
Heavy fighters (multi-engined or multi-seat) and [night fighters]
Jet- and rocket- propelled fighters
Bomber and attack aircraft
Medium and heavy bombers, and maritime patrol
Light bombers, tactical reconnaissance and observation aircraft
Carrier-based naval bombers
Strategic and photo-reconnaissance aircraft
Strategic and photo-reconnaissance aircraft were frequently specially modified variants of high performance aircraft, usually fighters or bombers.Name of aircraft | Year in service | Country of origin | Operator if different from country of origin |
Arado Ar 234 reconnaissance/bomber | 1944 | Germany | |
Boeing F-9/RB-17 Flying Fortress | 1940 | US | |
Consolidated F-7 Liberator | 1940 | US | |
de Havilland Mosquito PR variants | 1941 | UK | UK, Canada, US |
Dornier Do 17Z-3 | 1937 | Germany | Germany, Yugoslavia |
Dornier Do 215B-0/1/4 | 1939 | Germany | |
Dornier Do 217A-0 | 1941 | Germany | |
Douglas F-3 Havoc | 1941 | US | |
Fiat CR.25 | 1940 | Italy | |
Focke-Wulf Fw 190A-3/U4, A-4/U4 & A-5/U4 | 1941 | Germany | |
Focke-Wulf Ta 152H-1-0 | 1945 | Germany | |
Heinkel He 70K/170 | 1937 | Germany | Hungary |
Junkers Ju 86P | 1936 | Germany | |
Junkers Ju 88D & T | 1939 | Germany | |
Junkers Ju 188D & F | 1943 | Germany | |
Lockheed F-4 and F-5 Lightning | 1941 | US | US, France, Italy |
Messerschmitt Bf 109E-5/F-6/G-4 | 1937 | Germany | |
Messerschmitt Bf 110C-5/E-3/F-3 | 1937 | Germany | |
Messerschmitt Me 210B | 1943 | Germany | |
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a/U3 | 1944 | Germany | |
Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U-1, A-2/U-1 & A-3 | 1943 | Germany | |
Mitsubishi Ki-15/C5M | 1937 | Japan | |
Mitsubishi Ki-46 | 1941 | Japan | |
Nakajima C6N | 1944 | Japan | |
North American F-6 Mustang | 1942 | US | US, France |
Potez 63.11 | 1939 | France | |
PWS-10 | 1932 | Poland | |
Supermarine Spitfire PR variants | 1938 | UK | UK, US, USSR and others |
Yakovlev Yak-9R | 1942 | USSR | |
Yokosuka R2Y | 1945 | Japan |
Seaplanes
Flying boats
Floatplanes
Transport aircraft
Trainers
Primary trainers are used for basic flight training while advanced trainers were used for familiarization with the more complex systems and higher speeds of combat aircraft, and for air combat training. Multi-engined trainers were used to prepare pilots for multi-engine bombers and transports, and to train navigators, bombardiers, gunners and flight engineers. Most nations used obsolete combat types for advanced training, although large scale training programs such as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan required more aircraft than were available and aircraft were designed and built specifically to fulfill training roles. Intermediate trainers were used in several countries but additional hours at the primary stage made them redundant.Glider trainers
Primary trainers
Advanced trainers
Bomber trainers, target tugs and misc. trainers
Rotorcraft
Lighter than air
Rockets and drones
Prototypes
Prototypes were aircraft that were intended to enter service but did not, either due to changing requirements, failing to meet requirements, other problems, or the end of the war. If the aircraft was deployed to regular squadrons or used in an operational capacity other than evaluation, it should be listed above under its appropriate type. Napkinwaffe - paper projects and aircraft that first flew after the war are not included.Fighter prototypes
Single-engined, Single-seat fighters, fighter-bombers and jet fighters
Heavy fighters (multi-engined or multi-seat) and night fighters
Bomber and attack aircraft prototypes
Transport prototypes
Glider prototypes
Trainer prototypes
Rotorcraft prototypes
Missile prototypes
Miscellaneous prototypes
Experimental aircraft
Aircraft intended to prove a concept or idea and which were not intended or suitable for military service.Does not include operational aircraft modified for experimental purposes.