World War Two Aircraft

Specs of Fighter Planes by model and type

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This table shows all fighter types that reached production status for the major combatant nations of World War Two: USA, Germany, Russia, Japan, and Great Britain.

As I studied the topic I found myself confused by different sources when I would want to know, for example, "the speed of a P-47," or "the weight of a Bf 109."

Different sources gave different information. And that's not because the sources were wrong. My question was too general, too vague.

Performance, speed, armament, weight, etc. varied tremendously, for a given model (e.g. a P-51), by type. (I use the term 'model' as a general term, and 'type' to be more specific; some sources use the terms the other way around. The Brits used 'mark' for 'type'.) Thus a P-51D was a very different machine from a P-51B. As for the Bf 109, the B and C types were introduced during the Spanish Civil War; by late 1944, the Germans were producing the K type - which weighed half again as much as its ancestor and flew 150 MPH faster. It was a different airplane, built around the same basic airframe, and therefore only resembled its predecessor in external appearance.

As for weight, there's empty weight, loaded weight, and maximum take-off weight. In general, 'empty' means without fuel, ammunition, or pilot. 'Loaded' includes those 3 items. 'Maxmium' is just that; how much extra one might squeeze onto the aircraft and still take off successfully (on a long enough runway, in proper weather, at sea level, with favorable wind, etc.) Some sources on American fighters also refer to a measure called 'Basic' weight, which is something like 'empty' less the weapons and radio.

What I also learned is that even at the 'type' level of detail, there was still more variation. So the info in these table is still an approximation, but it helped me get a handle on the major variations. The Brits developed various Spitfire wings, mounting different gun combinations. The different wings were installed variously on the different Spitfire marks. So, that data in particular is hard to present in an 'average' or 'typical' way.

Another problem was the production numbers of the Fw 190. While it's clear that about 10,000 were produced overall, it was nearly imposssible to get a good fix on ther production by type. Although the 'A' and 'D' types predominated.

Beyond the Specs

It's dangerously easy to focus exclusively on the quantifiable specifications of the airplanes, and to ignore qualitative factors like ruggedness, reliability, maneuverability, ease of handling, stall characteristics, simplicity, ease of maintenance, etc. But these "softer" factors were at least as important as the quantifiable specs. Suppose one is trying to compare an American and a German fighter plane. Which one is "better?" If one supposes that all that mattered was what would have happened if Erich Hartmann flying a factory-fresh, well-tuned aircraft had encountered Robert S. Johnson flying an equally pristine U.S. plane. Ah-ha, two superb, let's say equally skilled, pilots, both flying machines that were "up-to-spec," presumably in that hypothetical confrontation, the pilot of the more capable aircraft would have prevailed.

But actually waging aerial warfare involved so much more: training, maintenance, reliability, etc. Let's take another hypothetical case. Suppose an American commander had a certain airplane at his disposal, 100 of them to start with, with 100 pilots. And a German commander also had 100 planes and pilots. Further, suppose that the "specs" of the opposing airplanes, were roughly comparable, or that the American plane was somewhat superior - faster, more firepower, longer range, etc. But now suppose that the American plane was weaker in all the subjective categories. It was "hard to fly," which meant that 10 pilots and planes were lost in training exercises. Suppose that it was "difficult to maintain," which meant that, on any given day another 10 planes were "in the shop" or would abort just after take-off. Further suppose that the cockpit layout was confusing, and that the aircraft was demanding to fly; it just required all of the pilot's attention and strength to keep the damn thing in the air. To cap it off, let's assume that the American plane was less rugged (a very counter-factual assumption; U.S. planes were almost always more rugged than their opposition), so in some huge dogfight, they're going to take more hits.

So on the day of the big theoretical dogfight, the American commander could actually only put up 70 planes, with distracted pilots, likely to break up when hit by gunfire. It's a totally unrealistic scenario, but demonstrates how important the qualitative factors were. The challenge of the aircraft designers and manufacturers was to delvier planes that had the specified capabilities, but also met the qualitative requirements.

For most US airplanes, there are links to the relevant books from the excellent Osprey Aircraft of the Aces series.

Aircraft model and type Production Speed Armament Engine and Performance Weight Other
Nat. Mfr. - Model type Svc. Del. # Built MPH 8mm 12.7/13mm 20mm 37mm+ Bomb HP Engine(Mfr/Number) Climb ft/min Ceil FT Rng Mi. Ext Rng Empty Wt. lb. Loaded Wt. Max.Wt. lb. Crew # Eng. Oth Name Modif.
USA Brewster F2A Buffalo F2A-3 Jan-41 500 321   4     200 1,200 Wright R-1820-40        33,204 963   4,731 7,158   1 1 Buffalo  
USA Grumman F4F Wildcat

Wildcat Aces of WW2

F4F-3 Dec-40 560 330   4     200 1,200 P&W R-1830-86 2,050 32,600   1,274 5,293 7,467 8,771 1 1 Martlet Mk I/II/III  
F4F-4/FM-1 Jun-42 2,500 319   6       1,200 P&W R-1830-86 1,949 34,000 830 1,275 5,758 7,406 7,952 1 1 Martlet Mk IV/V folding wings
F4F-4/FM-2 Sep-43 4,800 319   6       1,350 P&W R-1820-56 2,890 35,600 780 1,350 5,758 7,406 7,952 1 1 Martlet Mk.VI lighter
USA Grumman F6F Hellcat

Hellcat Aces of WW2

F6F-3 Oct-42 4,646 376   6       2,000 P&W R-2800-10 3,240 37,300 1,090   9,042 11,381 15,412 1 1    
F6F-5 Jun-44 6,436 376   6     2,000 2,175 P&W R-2800-10W 3,240 37,403 1,090 1,305 9,153 11,381 15,412 1 1    
F6F-5N Sep-44 1,432 376   6     2,000 2,175 P&W R-2800-10W 3,240 37,403 1,090 1,305 9,153 11,381 15,412 1 1    
USA Chance-Vought
F4U Corsair

Corsair Aces of WW2

F4U-1 Jul-42 2,469 392   6     2,000 2,000 P&W R-2800-8 3,250 37,108 1,070   8,874 11,878 13,845 1 1 FG-1/F3A-1/Mk I  
F4U-1A Apr-43 3,861 417   6     2,000 2,000 P&W R-2800-8 3,250 36,895 1,019   8,982 11,093 13,999 1 1 Mk II bulb canopy
F4U-1C Apr-45 200 417     4   2,000 2,000 P&W R-2800-8 3,250 36,895 1,019   8,982 11,093 13,999 1 1    
F4U-1D Mar-44 2,800 425   6     2,000 2,250 P&W R-2800-8W 3,250 33,900 1,019 1,562 8,694 12,039 13,120 1 1 Mk II pylons
F4U-2 Jan-44 32 417   6     2,000 2,000 P&W R-2800-8 3,250 36,895 1,019   8,982 11,093 13,999 1 1    
F4U-4 Oct-44 2,360 448   6     2,000 2,350 P&W R-2800-18W 4,170 38,400 1,005   9,343 12,505 14,533 1 1 FG-4  
USA Curtiss P-36 Hawk P-36A Jun-35 210 300 1 1       1,050 P&W R-1830-13 3,400 33,000 825   4,570 5,470 6,014 1 1    
Hawk 75-O Nov-38 160 280 2         875 Wright GR-180-G3   31,793 1,210   3,975 5,172 6,418 1 1 incl other export versions  
Hawk 75A-4 Feb-39 291 323 4         1,200 Wright GR-1820-G205A   32,702 1,010   4,541 5,750   1 1    
USA Lockheed P-38 Lightning

P-38 Aces of Pacific & CBI

P-38 Aces of ETO/MTO

P-38F Mar-42 638 395   4 1     1,325 Allison V-1710-49/53 2,850 39,044 850   12,264 15,900 18,000 1 2    
P-38G Jul-42 1,082 400   4 1   2,000 1,325 Allison V-1710-51/55 2,850 39,000 850 1,750 12,200 15,800 19,800 1 2    
P-38H Apr-43 601 400   4 1   3,200 1,425 Allison V-1710-89/91 2,850 40,000 850 2,400 12,380 16,000 20,300 1 2   eng.+
P-38J Sep-43 2,970 420   4 1   3,200 1,425 Allison V-1710-89/91 2,850 44,000 1,175 2,260 12,780 17,500 21,600 1 2   deeper nose
P-38L Jun-44 3,923 414   4 1   3,200 1,475 Allison V-1710-111/113 2,850 40,000 1,175 2,260 14,112 17,500 21,618 1 2    
USA Bell P-39 Airacobra P-39D Apr-41 1,767 360 4 2   1 500 1,150 Allison V-1710-35 2,400 32,100 600 1,100 5,462 7,500 8,200 1 1 incl. P-400, P-39F  
P-39N Nov-42 2,795 375 4 2   1 500 1,200 Allison V-1710-85 2,500 35,000 500 1,000 5,645 7,570 8,100 1 1 incl. P-39K/L/M smaller fuel tank
P-39Q May-43 4,905 375   4   1 500 1,200 Allison V-1710-85 2,500 35,000 525 1,075 5,645 7,570 8,100 1 1   fewer, but bigger wing guns
USA Curtiss P-40 Warhawk P-40 Jun-40 340 357 2 2       1,090 Allison V-1710-33 3,080 32,570 800   5,376 6,787 7,215 1 1 Tomahawk I  
P-40B Mar-41 241 352 4 2       1,090 Allison V-1710-33 2,860 32,400 730 1,230 5,590 7,326 7,600 1 1 Tomahawk IIA  
P-40C Apr-41 1,123 345 4 2       1,090 Allison V-1710-33 2,650 29,496 730 945 5,812 7,459 8,058 1 1 Tomahawk IIB  
P-40D May-41 582 362   4     500 1,150 Allison V-1710-39 2,200 29,000 650 850 6,350 8,000 8,670 1 1 Kittyhawk I eng.+, wing guns
P-40E Sep-41 2,320 362   6       1,150 Allison V-1710-39 2,100 29,000 650 1,400 6,350 8,280 9,200 1 1 Kittyhawk IA +2 guns
P-40F Dec-41 1,560 364   6       1,300 Packard V-1650-1 2,100 34,400 700 1,500 6,590 8,500 9,350 1 1 Kittyhawk II new eng.
P-40K Aug-42 1,300 362   6     500 1,325 Allison V-1710-81 2,300 38,158 350 1,600 6,400 8,400 10,000 1 1    
P-40L Jan-43 720 368   4     500 1,300 Packard V-1650-1 2,300 38,158 350   6,340 8,250 9,100 1 1 Gypsy Rose Lee stripped
P-40M Nov-42 600 362   6     500 1,200 Allison V-1710-18 2,300 38,158 350 1,600 6,400 8,400 10,000 1 1 Kittyhawk III  
P-40N Mar-43 5,000 350   6     500 1,325 Allison V-1710-81 2,120 31,000 750 1,080 6,000 8,350 11,400 1 1 Kittyhawk IV structure,wheels
USA Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

P-47 Aces - 8th Air Force

P-47 Thunderbolt Aces of the Eighth Air Force

P-47B Mar-42 170 429   8     500 2,000 R-2800-21 2,560 42,000 550   9,346 12,245 13,360 1 1    
P-47C Sep-42 602 433   8     500 2,000 R-2800-21 2,780 40,000 640 1,250 9,900 13,500 14,925 1 1   drop tank
P-47D 1-24 Feb-43 6,300 430   8     500 2,300 R-2800-21 2,780 40,000 640 1,250 10,700 13,500 17,500 1 1 Thunderbolt I Razorback
P-47D 25.. Sep-43 6,290 430   8     500 2,300 R-2800-59 2,780 40,000 640 1,800 10,700 13,500 17,500 1 1 Thunderbolt II Bubble top
P-47G Dec-42 354 430   8     500 2,300 R-2800-21 2,780 40,000 640 1,250 10,700 13,500 17,500 1 1   identical to P-47D
P-47M Dec-44 130 470   8     500 2,800 R-2800-57(C) 3,500 40,000 560   10,432 13,275 15,500 1 1   sprint
P-47N Sep-44 1,816 460   8     2,500 2,800 R-2800-57(C) 2,770 40,000 800 2,350 11,000 16,300 20,700 1 1   Pacific long range
USA North American
P-51 Mustang

Mustang Aces - 8th Air Force

Buy 'Mustang Aces of the 8th AF' at Amazon.com

P-51 early Jun-42 1,200 390           1,200 Allison V-1710-81 2,636 31,350 750 2,350 6,433 8,600 10,600 1 1    
P-51A Mar-43 310 390   4     1,000 1,200 Allison V-1710-81 2,636 31,350 750 2,350 6,433 8,600 10,600 1 1    
P-51B May-43 2,000 433   4     1,000 1,620 RR-Packard V-1650-3 3,222 42,000 810 2,200 6,840 9,200 11,200 1 1    
P-51C Aug-43 1,740 439   4     1,000 1,695 RR-Packard V-1650-7 Merlin 3,625 41,900 1,300 2,440 6,985 9,800 11,800 1 1    
P-51D Jan-44 8,000 437   6     1,000 1,695 RR-Packard V-1650-7 Merlin 3,475 41,900 950 2,300 7,125 10,100 12,110 1 1   bubble, +2 guns
P-51H Mar-44 555 437   6     1,000 1,695 RR-Packard V-1650-7 Merlin 3,475 41,900 950 2,300 7,125 10,100 12,110 1 1    
P-51K Apr-44 1,337 437   6     1,000 1,695 RR-Packard V-1650-7 Merlin 3,475 41,900 950 2,300 7,125 10,100 12,110 1 1    
USA Northrup P-61 Black Widow P-61A Oct-43 200 369     4   6,000 2,250 P&W R-2800-65 2,636 33,100 1,010 1,900 20,965 27,600 32,400 3 2    
P-61B-1 Mar-44 450 366     4   6,000 2,250 P&W R-2800-65     1,352   20,965 27,600 32,400 3 2   radar+
USA Bell P-63 Kingcobra P-63A Oct-43 3,303 410   4   1 500 1,325 Allison V-1710-93 2,900 43,000 950 2,575 6,380 8,800 10,509 1 1    

Aircraft model and type Production Speed Armament Engine and Performance Weight Other
Nat. Mfr/Des. model Name type Svc. Del. # Built MPH 8mm 13mm 20mm 37mm+ Bomb HP Engine Climb ft/min Ceil FT Rng Mi. Ext Rng Empty Wt. lb. Loaded Wt. Max.Wt. lb. Crew # Eng. Oth Name Modif.
Russia Polikarpov I-153 I-153 Jun-39 2,000 276 4       220 1,000 Shvetsov M-62R   32,100 292   3,201 4,652   1 1    
I-16 type 10 Mar-38 5,000 273 4         730 M-25A   29,500 497   2,976 4,519   1 1    
I-16 type 24 Sep-39 5,000 304 4         930 Shvetsov M-63   29,529 373   3,252 4,541   1 1    
Russia Lavochkin, Gorbunov and Goudkov LaGG-1 LaGG-1 Jun-40 1,500 373 2   1     1,100 Klimov M-105P   31,498 410   6,543 7,452   1 1    
LaGG-3 LaGG-3 later Jul-41 6,258 341 2 1 1   440 1,210 Klimov M-105PA   30,513 541   5,776 6,944   1 1    
Russia Lavochkin La-5 La-5FN Jun-43 1,500 403     2   440 1,850 Shvetsov ASh-82FN   31,170 482   6,173 7,407   1 1    
La-7 La-7 Jun-43 5,753 423     3   440 1,850 Shvetsov M-82FN   31,170 615   5,816 7,496   1 1    
Russia Mikoyan- Gurevich MiG MiG-1 Jun-40 100 390 3       440 1,200 Mikulin AM-35A   39,372 454   5,736 6,832   1 1    
MiG-3 Sep-41 3,322 398 2 1       1,350 Mikulin AM-35A   39,372 777   5,721 7,385   1 1    
Russia Yakovlev Yak Yak-1 Jul-41 8,721 373   2 1     1,100 M(VK?)-105PA 3,940 32,800 582   5,314 6,383   1 1    
Yak-1M Jun-42   404   2 1     1,260 VK-105PF 4,265 35,450 506   4,960 5,864   1 1   smaller Yak-1
Yak-3 Apr-43 4,848 404   2 1     1,220 VK-105PF-2 4,265 35,450 506   4,960 5,864   1 1    
Yak-7 Mar-42 6,400 380   2 1   450 1,260 VK-105PF   33,400 542   5,468 6,681   1 1    
Yak-9 Aug-42 2,034 373   2 1   450 1,260 VK-105PF-2 3,800 34,500 550   6,063 7,000   1 1    
Yak-9 Oct-43 3,058 359   2 1   450 1,260 VK-105PF-2 3,800 34,500 840 1,367 6,063 7,000   1 1   extended range
Yak-9 Oct-43 2,748 367   2   1 450 1,260 VK-105PF-2   34,500 550   6,063 7,055   1 1   37mm cannon
Yak-9M Nov-43 4,239 359   2 1   450 1,260 VK-105PF-2 3,800 34,500 550   6,063 7,000   1 1    
Yak-9U Jan-44 2,500 435   2 1   450 1,650 VK-107A 4,920 34,500 550   6,000 7,000   1 1   stronger frame
Japan Mitsubishi A5M4 'Claude' A5M4 Jun-38 1,000 270 2       125 775 Nakajima Kotobuki 41     746   2,784 4,017   1 1 Naval type 96 Carrier-borne Fighter  
A6M2 Reisen 'Zero' model 21 Sep-40 3,900 331 2   2     925 Nakajima Sakae 12   33,794 1,933   3,770 5,555   1 1 Naval type 0 Carrier-borne fighter  
Nakajima A6M2 'Rufe' -N Apr-42 250 270 2   2   250 975 Nakajima Sakae 12   32,810 1,106   4,215 5,920 6,436 1 1 Naval type 2 Floatplane Fighter  
Mitsubishi A6M3 Reisen 'Zero' model 32 Sep-41 900 339 2   2   250 1,100 Nakajima NK1F Sakae 12   36,091 1,479   3,910 5,155 6,331 1 1 Naval type 0 Carrier-borne fighter  
A6M5 Reisen 'Zero' model 52 Oct-44 5,700 339 2   2   250 1,100 Nakajima NK1F Sakae 12   36,091 1,479   4,130 5,920 6,510 1 1 Naval type 0 Carrier-borne fighter  
Japan Nakajima Ki.27 'Nate' Otsu Jun-38 3,400 292 2       220 780 Nakajima Ha-1-Otsu 2,953 34,400 625   2,447 3,638 3,946 1 1 Army type 97 Fighter  
Ki.43 Hayabusa 'Oscar' I-Hei Apr-41 5,900 306   2       990 Nakajima Ha-25   38,552 746   4,354 5,824 5,694 1 1 Army type 1 Fighter  
II-Otsu Apr-42 incl 320   2     1,100 1,140 Nakajima Ha-115 3,250 36,747 1,060   4,211 5,850 6,448 1 1 Army type 1 Fighter  
Ki.44 Shoki 'Tojo' II-Otsu Aug-42 1,167 376   4     440 1,520 Nakajima Ha-109 3,940 36,747 560   4,643 6,107 6,598 1 1 Army type 2 Single-seat Fighter  
Kawanishi Ki.45 Toryu 'Nick' Ki.45 Jun-42 1,701 336 1 2 1     1,080 Mitsubishi Ha-102   35,205 1,405   8,820 12,125   2 2 type 2 Two-Seat Fighter  
Nakajima Ki.61 Hien 'Tony' Ki.61 Feb-43 3,078 360   2 2   1,100 1,575 Kawasaki Ha-40   32,810 671   5,798 7,650   1 1 Army type 3 Fighter  
Ki.84 'Frank' Ki.84 Apr-44 3,514 388   2 2   1,100 1,900 Nakajima Homare Ha-45 3,600 34,450 1,025 1,815 5,864 8,267 9,150 1 1    
Kawanishi N1K Shiden 'George' N1K1-Ja Dec-43 1,021 362     4     1,990 Nakajima NK9H Homare 21     889   6,387 8,600 9,526 1 1    
N1K2-J Dec-44 416 369     4   1,100 1,990 Nakajima Homare 21   35,304 1,069   5,858 8,818 10,714 1 1    
Ger Messerschmitt Bf 109 Bf 109B Feb-36 100 292 3         635 Jumo 210D 2,200 26,575     3,483 4,850   1 1 Bertha  
Bf 109C-1 Apr-37 100 292 4         730 Jumo 210 2,200 26,575 388   3,521 5,062   1 1 Clara  
Bf 109D Jun-38 175 350 2   1     1,000 DB 600 2,985 32,810 348   3,600 5,200   1 1 Dora  
Bf 109E-3 Jun-39 4,000 350 2   2     1,100 DB 601Aa 3,200 34,451 410   4,189 5,875   1 1 Emil  
Bf 109F Jan-41 2,200 390 2   1     1,300 DB 601E 4,290 39,000 440   4,330 6,054   1 1 Friedrich  
Bf 109G-1 May-42 3,500 406 2   1     1,475 DB 605A   39,370 340 528 4,968 6,834 7,055 1 1 Gustav  
Bf 109G-6 Mar-43 8,000 385   2   1   1,800 DB 605AM 3,346 37,890 350 620 5,893 7,500   1 1    
Bf 109G-10 Jan-44 10,000 385   2   1   1,850 DB 605D 4,000 36,583 622   5,880 7,500   1 1    
Bf 109K Oct-44 750 452   2   1   2,000 DB 605AM 4,823 41,000 356   6,000 7,439   1 1    
Ger Messerschmitt Bf 110 Bf 110C-4 Jun-39 1,000 342 5   2     1,100 DB 601A-1 2,200 32,800 696   9,950 15,000   2 2    
Bf 110D Oct-39 300 342 5   2     1,100 DB 601A-1   32,800 745   9,950 15,000   2 2    
Bf 110E Jun-41 300 342 5   2   4,410 1,210 DB 601N   35,760 745   9,950 15,000   2 2    
Bf 110F Jun-41 300 342 5   2     1,350 DB 601F   35,760 745   9,950 15,000   2 2    
Bf 110G Jan-43 3,000 342     4 2   1,475 DB 601B-1 2,500 32,800 528   11,243 17,000 22,145 2 2    
Ger Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Fw 190 A-1 Jun-41 102 389 2   4   - 1,500 BMW 801 C-1     497   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-2 Nov-41 420 389 2   4   - 1,500 BMW 801C-2     497   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-3 Apr-42 509 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801D-2 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-4 Jul-42 900 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801D-2 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-5 Nov-42 723 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801D-2 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-6/7 Jul-43 649 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801D-2 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-8 Jan-44 6,000 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801D-2 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 A-9 Nov-44 400 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 F-1/2 Jan-43 289 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 F-3 May-43 274 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 F-8 Mar-44 5,300 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 F-9 Oct-44 500 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 G-8 Sep-43 800 408 2   4   - 1,700 BMW 801 TS 2,350 37,400 560   7,055 8,470 10,800 1 1    
Fw 190 D-9 Jun-44 700 440   2 2   1,100 1,776 Junkers Jumo 213A-1 3,300 32,810 560   7,700 9,300 10,670 1 1    
Ger Junkers Ju-88 Ju 88A-4 Jun-39 2,000 292 6       4,400 1,350 Junkers Jumo 211J-1   26,904 1,697   21,737 25,000 30,864 4 2    
Ju 88G-6 Jun-44   360   1 6     1,750 Junkers Jumo 213A-1   31,498 1,364   25,000 28,000 34,000 4 2    
GB Bristol Beaufighter Beaufighter TF Mk. X Jun-43 5,562 320 4   4   2,000 1,770 Bristol Hercules XVII   19,013 1,470   15,600 25,400   2 2    
GB Gloster Gladiator Gladiator II Jun-36 527 257 4         830 Bristol Mercury IX   33,499 441   3,444 4,863   1 1    
GB Hawker Hurricane Hurricane Mk. I Mar-38 4,407 330 8         1,030 R.R. Merlin III 2,520 36,000 600   5,251 6,666   1 1 Mk X, Sea Hurr.  
Hurricane Mk. IIB Jan-41 9,644 340 12       1,000 1,185 R.R. Merlin XX 2,950 40,000 480   5,590 7,440   1 1 Mk XII, Sea Hurr.  
GB Hawker Typhoon Typhoon Mk. IB Jun-41 3,330 404     4   2,000 2,145 Napier Sabre IIA   34,122 951   8,700 12,919   1 1    
GB de Havilland Mosquito B.IV Jun-42 7,800 380         2,000 1,230 Rolls-Royce Mk.21   31,170 1,218   13,100 22,300   2 2    
NF.II Jun-42 incl 370 4   4     1,440 R.R. Merlin 23   36,091 1,200 1,703 13,433 22,300   2 2    
FB Mk. VI Jun-43 incl 380 4   4   2,000 1,250 R.R. Merlin XXI   36,091 1,206   14,299 22,300   2 2    
NF Mk.30 Jun-44 incl 410     4     1,710 R.R. Merlin 76     1,181   15,157 22,300   2 2   radar in nose
GB Supermarine Spitfire

Spitfire Mark II Aces 1939-41

Mark I Aug-38 1,566 355 8         1,030 R.R. Merlin II 2,530 34,000 395   4,810 5,784   1 1    
Mark II Sep-40 920 354 8         1,175 R.R. Merlin XII         5,000 6,000   1 1   eng+
Mark V Mar-41 6,464 374 4   2   500 1,440 R.R. Merlin 45   37,000 470   5,099 6,417 6,786 1 1   eng+
Mark VII Jun-42 140 408 4   2     1,710 R.R. Merlin 64   43,000 660   5,350 7,000 7,875 1 1   eng+
Mark IX Jul-42 5,665 408 4   2     1,565 R.R. Merlin 61 4,100 44,000 435   5,635 7,500 9,500 1 1   counter Fw190
Mark VIII Jun-43 1,658             1,565 R.R. Merlin 61         5,635 7,500 9,500 1 1   followed Mk IX
Mark XIV Mar-44 957 448 4   2   500 2,050 R.R. Griffon 65 4,580 44,500 850   6,700 8,500 10,280 1 1    
Mark XVI Jun-44 1,054   4   2     1,705 Packard Merlin 266         6,000 8,000 10,000 1 1    

Sources:

In Association with Amazon.com    America's Hundred Thousand, by Francis H. Dean

Order 'America's Hundred Thousand' at Amazon.comThis book covers in detail the eleven U.S. fighter aircraft types produced just before and during World War II - with a combined production total of just over 100,000 aircraft. Covered are the Army Lockheed P-38 Lightning, P-39 Airacobra, Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk/Kittyhawk/Warhawk, P-47 Thunderbolt, North American P-51 Mustang, Northrop P-61 Black Widow, and the Navy F2A - Buffalo, F4F - Wildcat, F4U - Corsair, and F6F - Hellcat fighters. The text is supplemented by more than 650 photographs, and 200 tables and graphs. Fighter production figures are also included.

After an introduction of each type, a heavily illustrated overview of earlier inter-war production from 1920-on, along with a discussion and illustration of wartime experimental types, is provided. A lengthy section considering several technical factors affecting fighter performance follows. These include engine models, supercharger types, propellers, aerodynamic thrust, lift and drag, aircraft weight, balance, stability and control, and armament.

America's Hundred Thousand also provides details of each U.S. World War II production fighter in terms of models and changes, numbers produced, and major engine and aircraft performance aspects - in tabular and graphical form - details of weights, discussion of handling qualities and general comments, along with detailed descriptions containing many illustrations of aircraft structures and systems showing the technology of that time. In addition a comprehensive week-to-week and month-to-month chronology of development and wartime combat operational life for each fighter is provided, including many photos. This study concludes with comparisons of the eleven types in terms of program milestones, aircraft drag, power available at various altitudes, speed, climb, rolling and turning, acceleration, and diving performance, as well as general evaluations by World War II pilots.

Buy ''America's Hundred Thousand'' at Amazon.com

sample pagesample page sample page, P-47 diagramcutaway view P-40 cockpit and Allison engineAllsion engine


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