Most "Bad Ass" looking Aircraft of WW2

[Husky]

A-36View attachment 574080

Savoia-Marchetti SM79 Sparviero
View attachment 574083

A36 is pretty bad ass

 

[maxmwill]

That's no airplane, that's a torpedo with fins on it!

All the better

 

[Hardlydank]

The Skypirate is an absolute beast - 70ft wingspan, 3,000hp, an "8-bladed Hamilton-Standard Super Hydromatic contra-rotating individually fully-feathering constant-speed propeller", capable of carrying 4 torpedoes, and 7 0.50 cals.

 

[DerAdlerIstGelandet]

And only two were built, having flown just before the war ended.

 

[gjs238]

Y'know, scrolling down, yes, those might be some rather badass flying machines, however, for pure badassery from both an offensive as well as for aircrew, my vote would have to be the Flying Prostitute herself, the B-26, so called because she seemed to have no visible means of support, a point that was reinforced by one of her other names, One a Day in Tampa Bay. She was so hot that she looked like she truly was flying at high speed just sitting on the ground. After all, "badass" can be looked at both ways. This bird had to be flown all the way, from taxying, to landing, no gentle flaring before touchdown here. View attachment 574236

Always thought this was a badass pic of the B-26:

 

[XBe02Drvr]

And only two were built, having flown just before the war ended.

And that monster was supposed to fly off a carrier?? Usurp the title "Whale" a whole decade before the A3D.

 

[pgeno71]

I like the P-38. I just looks fast.

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Always thought this was a badass pic of the B-26:
View attachment 581961

"Texaco nine seven, Hooker two six is precontact."
"Hooker two six cleared to contact position. You're scheduled eight thousand pounds this tank, will that do it?"
"Affirm, Texaco, good flow."

 

[Hardlydank]

And that monster was supposed to fly off a carrier?? Usurp the title "Whale" a whole decade before the A3D.

Apparently it could only operate from the Essex and Midway class carriers. The Navy cancelled their orders for 23 planes around when the war ended

 

[XBe02Drvr]

Apparently it could only operate from the Essex and Midway class carriers. The Navy cancelled their orders for 23 planes around when the war ended

A seagoing Flying Fortress!

 

[RagTag]

Always thought this was a badass pic of the B-26:
View attachment 581961

badass bombardier!

 

[Torch]

badass bombardier!

Looks like he's smoking a joint...

 

[NevadaK]

I've always thought that the American "gunship" bomber had a certain look that could be defined as badass. Aesthetically, I prefer the A-26 Invader to the Mitchell, but the B-25 just looks more pugnacious.

 

[Denniss]

the gunships may have looked badass but if used against an enemy operating lots of flak they would have gotten their ass shot off.

 

[Token]

I've always thought that the American "gunship" bomber had a certain look that could be defined as badass. Aesthetically, I prefer the A-26 Invader to the Mitchell, but the B-25 just looks more pugnacious.

View attachment 582066View attachment 582067

A book (fiction) that brings this aircraft home is "Whip" by Martin Caidin.

T!

 

[gjs238]

the gunships may have looked badass but if used against an enemy operating lots of flak they would have gotten their ass shot off.

Weren't the forward firing guns for flak suppression?

 

[Hardlydank]

Weren't the forward firing guns for flak suppression?

They were used for ground attack in general, so yes, sometimes they did that. Idk how often flak suppression missions were done

 

[XBe02Drvr]

They were used for ground attack in general, so yes, sometimes they did that. Idk how often flak suppression missions were done

The flak suppression was for inbound on a skip-bombing run. Pretty effective against lackluster Japanese flak, as the Japanese disregard for defensive measures left their gunners poorly shielded.
Against emplaced 88s in the ETO, I suspect they wouldn't have fared so well.

 

[Greg Boeser]

Airfield strafing was another common mission in the PTO, while dropping parafrags at treetop heights.

 

[Greg Boeser]

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