The Most Iconic World War II Planes
- 1961 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This is an American bomber that flew in waves over Europe.
- 2926 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-662-6659-37/Hebenstreit / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a mass-produced German fighter plane that was the most modern of its time.
- 3842 VOTESPhoto: P.H.F. Tovey, Royal Air Force official photographer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This plane was a frontline British fighter that served during the entire conflict.
- 4805 VOTESPhoto: Japanese military personnel / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero was an iconic Japanese air superiority fighter.
- 5828 VOTESPhoto: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This was the US heavy bomber responsible for dropping atomic detonation devices on Japan.
- 6852 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The North American P-51 Mustang was an American fighter that dominated the skies in 1944 and 1945.
- 7782 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 141-2497 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
This powerful German jet fighter was produced in small numbers, which meant it couldn't be used to change the outcome of WWII.
- 8758 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 183-J16050 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
This famed "Stuka" divebomber terrorized Europe.
- 9563 VOTESPhoto: Royal Air Force official photographer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Avro Lancaster was a British heavy bomber used primarily in night missions.
- 10726 VOTESPhoto: RAF / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was used in both day and night strategic flights.
- 11632 VOTESPhoto: USN / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This US Navy fighter was nicknamed "whistling death" by Japanese pilots.
- 12449 VOTESPhoto: USN / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This US carrier-based fighter was used well into the '50s.
- 13651 VOTESPhoto: Unknown, U.S. Air Force archived photograph / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was a massive and powerful American bomber.
- 14558 VOTESPhoto: S.A. Devon, Royal Air Force official photographer / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Hawker Hurricane was a British heavy fighter instrumental in the Battle of Britain.
- 15560 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American medium bomber.
- 16541 VOTESPhoto: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This was a speedy British bomber built entirely of wood.
- 17316 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This plane served as an American dive bomber for much of WWII.
- 18440 VOTESPhoto: USAF / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk was an American fighter flown in the early days of the conflict.
- 19575 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning was a US fighter nicknamed "fork-tailed devil" by German pilots.
- 20452 VOTESPhoto: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Ilyushin Il-2 was a terrifying bomber that was the most heavily-produced warplane in history.
- 21322 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This was the most commonly-used seaplane of WWII. It performed invaluable patrol, anti-submarine, and search-and-rescue missions in the Atlantic and Pacific. It was responsible for rescuing thousands of pilots.
- 22364 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-343-0694-21 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
This German bomber was used extensively to bomb England.
- 23424 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-363-2258-11 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
This German multi-role bomber was used in night flights.
- 24259 VOTESPhoto: USN / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
The Grumman TBF Avenger was the main US torpedo bomber for most of WWII.
- 25367 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Air Force / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This transport and cargo plane was used by paratroopers on D-Day.
- 26329 VOTESPhoto: Kogo / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.5
This was the most mass-produced Soviet fighter of WWII.
- 27236 VOTESPhoto: U.S. Navy / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
This Japanese torpedo bomber took part in the raid on Pearl Harbor.
- 28212 VOTESPhoto: ERIC SALARD / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 2.0
This Soviet fighter aircraft was constructed with wooden wings, making them light and maneuverable.
- 29291 VOTESPhoto: Bundesarchiv, Bild 101I-377-2801-013 / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0 DE
This German heavy fighter was slow and packed a punch.
- 30353 VOTESPhoto: US Government employee / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
One of the most advanced aircrafts of the conflict, it was known for being stealthy, fast, and manueverable.