WWII Aircraft

Throughout WWII there were many advances in technology, and it is also the first war to have ever experience air war fare. Because of this, many different aircrafts were built, but they all normally fall under three groups, Fighters, Attackers and Bombers.

Fighter aircraft were a major asset during the war, as they had to be produced to help defend against bombing attacks and fight off attack aircraft. These planes were simply designed to bring down other planes. One of the most iconic fighter aircraft of World War Two was the spitfire. This was used by the RAF and many of the allied countries during the war. Most people have heard of it through its use of helping defend Britain against German air attacks during the Blitz. The aircraft was used for numerous other reasons and is the only plane to have continual production before and after the war. No other basic attack craft like this throughout World War II could rival it for its speed.

Attack Aircraft were used to attack ground forces. These forms of planes would either be fitted with standard machine guns or Anti Tank weapons. All sides had them, although one of the most infamous types was the Junkers Ju 87, although more widely known as Stuka aircrafts. These were piloted by Germans and were primarily used to attack ground troops by dive bombing them with machine guns. Special design features within it gave it an automatic pull up system that enabled the plane to level itself out if the pilot passed out from the high velocity dive bombing attacks.

The final type of aircraft to feature in World War II was the bombers. These aircraft were capable of releasing bombs from great altitudes, making it possible to pass over cities and military targets and destroy them from the air. One of the more widely known ones is the Lancaster Bomber. This British design featured in the second part of the war in 1942. Its four engines meant it could carry heavier loads, so more bombs, and it was the main heavy bomber for the RAF. It was most commonly used for night bombings yet in excelled in precision day bombings as well.