Most "Bad Ass" looking Aircraft of WW2

[Smokey Stover]

The Beaufighter has been described as "two engines closely followed by an aircraft".

The Beaufighter has also always been a favourite of mine because my granny on my mothers side helped build them in WW2

Ahh yes, but as my late grandfather (Aussie) would say about the bea, "Great visibility, no nose to get in the road!" lol

 

[Smokey Stover]

Some good mentions here folks....
But for me i think
Sitting on the ground - P 61 "Black widow"
In the air - Me - 262
On you're tail (Rear view mirror) - Fw -190 A series
Diving at you on the ground with full armament - Hawker Typhoon

 

[Shortround6]

mean looking even without torpedo or rockets. Out guns just about anything, I believe the Australians mounted a pair of .50 cal guns in each wing to replace the .303s,

 

[CORSNING]

There is only one way an AT-6 could look badass...

View attachment 502162

Actually the North American AT-6 was converted into a three blade-prop attack
aircraft capable of 250 mph and was extremely maneuverable: A-27

 

[CORSNING]

Ok, I agree these don't count. I'm just saying.....

 

[parsifal]

Cornered and fighting for life....HMS illustrious vs FKX January 1941. nowhere to run or hide. no way to give up. Fight to the end
HMS Illustrious in Grand harbor January 1941

 

[CATCH 22]

Biff, the back of the truck looks like it says "Shell" - hard to say, though.

The cars parked all around the perimeter are definitely American and could be the Lockheed Air Terminal (currently the Bob Hope/Hollywood Airport - BUR), which was the delivery site for Lockheed's new aircraft being delivered to the USAAF's Technical Service Command.

Below is a description of the 2x7 rocket installation from Bert Kinzey's D&S Vol.58:

This particular a/c is a P-38L-1, s/n 44-24490. Tests showed that firing rockets in this configuration was causing wing skin deformations.

 

[GrauGeist]

This particular a/c is a P-38L-1, s/n 44-24490. Tests showed that firing rockets in this configuration was causing wing skin deformations.

The launch was probably pretty hard on the Pitot Tube, too.

 

[CATCH 22]

Great pic Greg, it isn't Susie Q from Midway, do you know when/where/etc. anything about that pic?

September 1943: "Earthquake McGoon", Martin B-26B-1-MA Marauder s/n 41-17747 from the 37th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force.
For more check here.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Great pic Greg, it isn't Susie Q from Midway, do you know when/where/etc. anything about that pic?

September 1943: "Earthquake McGoon", Martin B-26B-1-MA Marauder s/n 41-17747 from the 37th Bomb Squadron, 17th Bomb Group, 12th Air Force.
For more check here.

Suzie Q (#40-1391) was the 30th of the original B-26 MA order, and differed from the B-26Bs in that it had only a single .50 cal. in the tail, could only carry one 250 gallon bomb bay tank, had less armor. The first B-26Bs upgraded the tail to a twin .50 mount, added armor and plumbing for up to 4 x 250 gallon (US) bomb bay tanks. The B-26B-1 was a stock B-26B MA that had been depot modified with upgraded engines (R-2800-41), modified cowlings for desert air filters, increased armor, and most significantly, upgrading all .30 caliber defensive guns to .50 caliber. The photo is a rare shot that shows all three waist guns (left, right, ventral).

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Badass because its already chucked its spear hehe

Nah, I don't think so. Looks like there's some small object (looks like a blivit) hanging from the torpedo station. No spear chuckin' on this hop! Hey, where's your manners, man, referring to Lady Kate as "it"? Show some respect, man!
Cheers,
Wes

 

[Thud-Dud89]

Besides what has already been said on the Stuka and P-40, what about the B7A Grace? Actually, pretty much any plane with inverted gull wings looks aggressive to me.

 

[gomwolf]

Bf109 every variation since Friedrich. No doubt.

 

[calic]

US: F4U Corsair
Ger: Messerschmidt BF109
Jap: Mitsubishi A6M Reisen (Zero-Sen)
UK: Supermarine Spitfire
Rus: Yak-9T

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

View attachment 502414

Bf109 every variation since Friedrich. No doubt.

Red 7, Seen her fly on many occasions over in Germany. Once together with an Me 262 in formation. Lovely sight. Beautiful aircraft.

 

[Smokey Stover]

Armament of the US P-47 Thunderbolt attack aircraft close-up. Well visible wings 12,7-mm machine guns "Browning" M2 and guides for three 4.5 inch rockets. I know the rocket accuracy was poor, but i h

ave to say, this looks pretty menacing.....

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Armament of the US P-47 Thunderbolt attack aircraft close-up. Well visible wings 12,7-mm machine guns "Browning" M2 and guides for three 4.5 inch rockets. I know the rocket accuracy was poor, but i hView attachment 502650 ave to say, this looks pretty menacing.....

How high tech can you get? Those rocket launcher look like sonotubes stuck together with electrical tape and tie-wraps. Field mod?
Cheers,
Wes

 

[Shortround6]

How high tech can you get? Those rocket launcher look like sonotubes stuck together with electrical tape and tie-wraps. Field mod?
Cheers,
Wes

Sort of
developed from/with this.

 

[GrauGeist]

How high tech can you get? Those rocket launcher look like sonotubes stuck together with electrical tape and tie-wraps. Field mod?
Cheers,
Wes

Still looks better than a couple of Panzerfausts cobbled together on a Bü181's wing...

 

[redcoat]

Sort of
developed from/with this.
View attachment 502675

It also went the other way, aircraft rockets fitted on a Sherman.
It was a field modification on a few Coldstream Guard tanks