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Lockheed P 38E Lightning Controversial from its inception, the P-38 was an important element in the American aerial arsenal in the European, North African and Pacific theaters throughout the war. It was one of the most powerful fighters, with two turbocharged engines and opposite rotating props. It saw use in reconnaissance, fighter, and night fighter versions. In 1943, a P-38 shot down Admiral Yamahoto, the originator of the plan to attack Pearl Harbor. With endurance and speed it was flown by some of the leading American aces.

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North American P-51D Mustang Possibly the best fighter of all, the P 51 appeared in the second half of the war. Powered by a Rolls Royce Merlin engine it was one of the most powerful and successful piston powered aircraft ever to take the skies. Its operational career found it in use on all fronts during the war. Its greatest role was the ability to escort the US daylight bombers deep into enemy territory. They were as vitally important as the B-17’s and B-24’s in the success of the late warbombing campaigns. The Mustang is credited with destroying 4,950 enemy aircraft. A variant of the P-51 flees in the last mission of WWII over Japan on August 14, 1945. Its active duty continued into the Korean Conflict.

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Republic P47D Thunderbolt The P47 was a work horse in the Allied arsenal in the later part of the war. It was one of the largest single seat, single engine, aircraft of the war. It was utilized as air to air fighter, a bomber escort, and devastating ground attack bomber and became a foremost factor in ground operations. Its heavy firepower accounted for major losses to German forces during the invasion of Europe and operations on the Western front including the relief of Bastogne. It was used in the Pacific theater as a bomber escort and a ground attack fighter. The Thunderbolt carried nearly 2,000 lbs of weapons and ammunition.

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De Havilland Mosquito One of the most versatile combat aircraft ever produced. The fast and agile Mosquito operated as a heavily armed fighter, a radar equipped night fighter, and an attack bomber. There were unarmed reconassance variants that depended on unmatched speed for protection. No other aircraft enjoyed its reputation of being involved in so many special missions. It’s light, all wood, airframe had enormous ability to absorb punishment and was easy to repair. Its ability to make speed precision attacks enhanced the RAF’s contribution to victory.

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Supermarine Spitfire "Never in the field of conflict was so much owed to so many by so few". In this famous statement Sir Winston Churchill must have referred to not only to the pilots of the British fighter command during the Battle of Britain but to the legendary Spitfire as well. Designed by Reginald Mitchell, it reached production in 1938 and fulfilled its destiny by being matched against the Messerschmidt Bf109 in the Battle of Britain. No aircraft achieved such fame in all its variants as the Spitfire. No other aircraft of the war has such an aura of the glamour and mystique as the Spitfire. It was one of the first truly modern aircraft to emerge during WWII. Constant improvements in power, armament and engineering during the war gave the Spitfire a margin of superiority over its adversaries.

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Supermarine Spitfire IX (clipwing) This version of the Spitfire was assigned to territorial defense and operated from 1943 until the end of the war. These variants of the Spitfire enjoyed an excellent record along with the Hawker Typhoon for low altitude operations and ground support. A speed of 368 miles per hour in level flight sea level made it a favorite with R.A.F. pilots.

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Hawker Hurricane The first monoplane fighter of the Royal Air Force. The Hurricane with its fabric covered tail section will forever be associated with the Battle of Britain. A distinction it shares with the famous Spitfire. Never intended as a dog fighter, the Hurrican's value lay in its great versatility. It performed superbly, taking on the German bombers while the faster Spitfire occupied the Escorts.

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Hawker Typhoon The Typhoon was almost a total disaster. Later after difficult development it sprang into favor by demonstrating that it could overtake and destroy the fastest fighter bombers in the Luftwaffe. Heavily armed with four cannon and eight rockets it was a devastating ground support fighter. On one occasion, operating from forward bases it proved its mettle by attacking the German forces with devastating effect destroying 175 German tanks in one day.

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Focke Wulf FW 190A The FW 190 was designed to complement to the Bf109. In 1942, the FW190 was far superior to the Spitfire MKV. It was faster than any allied fighter and carried heavier armament. It appeared in different variants with the FW190D proving again to be one of the fastest fighters in the sky. Many of the great aces of the Luftwaffe flew the FW190 in all theaters.

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Focke Wulf FW 190D In the evolution of the FW190, the D variants with its nickname, "Dora" was the most successful version of the entire family. The Dora maintained remarkable performance especially in its ability to climb. The Fw 190D’s competed with the American P 51 and the British Spitfire. It was a feared fighter by American bomber crews and was a factor until the end of the war. What hampered the effectiveness of this fighter was the lack of skilled pilots toward the latter period of the war.

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Messerschmidt Bf 109F The BF109 was the result of structural and aerodynamic modifications to the basic Bf109 airframe and the installation of higher performance power plants. With input from Adolf Galland and other noted fighter aces the Bf109F was given increased firepower. In the early period of the War the Bf109F ruled the skies over Europe. It served the Luftwaffe in almost every capacity including, interceptor, fighter-bomber, night fighter, escort fighter, and ground attack plane. With a capable pilot it was normally more than a match for any of its allied counterparts.

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Messerschmidt ME 262 In 1944 a revolutionary fighter, the ME 262 the first operational jet fighter in the history of aviation attacked USAAF B 17’s and B 24’s. Had the German jet program not been held back by official disinterest the ME 262 might have given the Luftwaffe complete air superiority. The ME 262 proved to be exceptional. It was faster than any other existing aircraft and was maneuverable and heavily armed. It represented the Luftwaffe’s swan song. This example of the best German engineering was credited with destroying over 100 allied bombers and fighters.

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Messerschmidt Bf110 Destroyer The Bf110 was designed to meet a request from the Luftwaffe for a strategic long range fighter. It proved too heavy and not maneuverable enough to compete with Spitfire or even the Hurricane. Soon the Bf109 was having to escort the escort fighter. Later variants were packed with radar and night fighting equipment. These models played a major part in the night battles over the Reich against the British. During the Polish campaign, the Bf110 was impressive in a close support role. Able to inflict heavy damage on ground troops while destroying aerial opposition they encountered, the Bf110 proved to be tough and versatile plane, especially as a night fighter.