Most numerous surviving ww2 warbird type?

[Maxrobot1]

Forgive me if this has been asked before, but in 2023, which is the most numerous surviving WW2 warbird type? I just read that "...[The] Avenger is a rare survivor of a type of warplane that was produced in great numbers in World War II, but of which few have survived. Of the 9,839 that were manufactured by Grumman Aircraft and General Motors, it is estimated that only 75 to 100 remain."
Not limiting the count to flight worthy specimens, what might be the top contenders? Mustangs would be in the group, of course. DC-3/C-47s too.

 

[Thumpalumpacus]

Not a warplane, just a trainer, but I'd imagine the T-6 has got to be in the mix somewhere.

 

[cvairwerks]

Stearman, in all forms probably outnumber everything else.

 

[pbehn]

It can be a vexed question. Some WW2 types didnt take part in the war while others are in effect new planes, built around a recovered data plate.

 

[Maxrobot1]

Can you think of some non-U.S. types that might be around? Tiger Moths maybe? Spitfires?

 

[33k in the air]

It can be a vexed question. Some WW2 types didnt take part in the war while others are in effect new planes, built around a recovered data plate.

The ancient Ship of Theseus question.

 

[Snautzer01]

Dc-3 /c-47 hands down. Still commercially used even now.

 

[Frog]

Dc-3 /c-47 hands down. Still commercially used even now.

There must also exist quite a few C-46s.

 

[pbehn]

Can you think of some non-U.S. types that might be around? Tiger Moths maybe? Spitfires?

There are a lot more Spitfires flying now than there used to be. When the movie "The Battle of Britain" was made, Spitfires were restored to flying condition to make it THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN - The making of the movie - Spitfires

Now there are lots of all types.
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MDRMGpWT0W0

 

[GrauGeist]

Beleive it or not, there are almost 100 surviving Douglas A-26 Invaders across the globe.

 

[Maxrobot1]

Holy mackeral! I had no idea! "Airworthy Survivors & Current Restorations Scroll Down for Restorations As of September 2008, there were aproximately 1,400 DC-3/Dakota airframes remaining worldwide."

 

[SaparotRob]

Holy mackeral! I had no idea! "Airworthy Survivors & Current Restorations Scroll Down for Restorations As of September 2008, there were aproximately 1,400 DC-3/Dakota airframes remaining worldwide."

That's not a funny I gave you. It's a great big toothy smile!

 

[Capt. Vick]

T6/SNJ???

 

[mjfur]

Here's a list of most warbirds that exist. Not sure how up to date they all are.

Warbird Registry - A Warbirds Resource Group Site

The warbird registry follows the history of all aircraft that survived military service.

www.warbirdregistry.org

Warbird Information Exchange • View topic - Worldwide Numbers of Warbirds Flying by Type

warbirdinformationexchange.org

The AT-6/SNJ or Stearman would be first place, C-47/DC-3 second place. For fighters, the P-51 wins, Spitfires second, P-40's third, Corsair's fourth.

Approx six C-46's still flying.

 

[cvairwerks]

Be advised that Scott's website is way behind on updates. The one aerial photo I found of the 2022 Stearman National Flyin, had more than 90 Steamans on the active line. There's probably double that at Oshkosh every year.

 

[salutewwii]

Speaking of the Avenger.......here is my panel (authentic) from either the XTBF or TBF-1 program. I've managed to find all correct instruments except the right artificial horizon indicator ( I've made a look alike)....should be a Horizon Mark II. If anyone knows the whereabouts of one I'm REALLY interested! Wanted to bring this panel up again in case anyone can positively identify which one it is. I've been working with the Grumman History Center and Smithsonian and still no positive answers. It matches exactly to a pic of a panel labeled "XTBF" from the famous "WWW" but that's not a confirmation by a long shot. The only part numbers on it are on the brackets on the rear and they match numbers verified by the Grumman History Center to only be associated with the XTBF and TBF-1. I also received the first two production panel blueprints (TBF-1) from them and neither match this panel. If anyone has any squirreled away documentation that would help I would greatly appreciate it.

 

[mjfur]

US Navy and US Marine Corps BuNos--Second Series (0001 to 5029)

2539/2540 Grumman XTBF-1 Avenger Model G-40, MSN 644/645.
2539 first flight Aug 7, 1941. Suffered fire in air prior to delivery over Brentwood, NY, 2 bailed out 11/28/1941.
2540 first flight Dec 7, 1941 at Bethpage, NY. Assigned to NACA Langley Memorial Aeronautical Laboratory, Langley Field, VA May 18, 1942 to Jun 11, 1943.

Grumman G-40 XTBF-1 Avenger

 

[salutewwii]

Thanks so much mjfur, I have this info and it does confirm that this panel couldn't be from the crashed 2539. Very doubtful the panel would have survived the crash. Here is the photo of reference for my panel. The Grumman photo number is 8994, the best clue to find out exactly which TBM this panel is from. I think the Grumman History Center has the answers just hard to get them to do the research as they are all volunteers. I received this photo from GHC labeled "XTBF-1". Matches my panel EXACTLY, they said XTBF-1 at first then said it might have been mislabeled. So no confirmation yet.

 

[Admiral Beez]

There must be tons of Mustangs out there.

List of surviving North American P-51 Mustangs - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[special ed]

By weight or by number?