We have dicussed the best fighter, the best bomber, the best nightfighter, our 10 favourite planes so why not name the most important combat aircraft for respective countries. Each country has a plane which they used extensively with a degree of success, some indigenous designs, some not. Which aircraft played the most vital role for any given country. Lets avoid transport aircraft. Feel free to include minor nations as well.
UK: The Hurricane takes the cake for me. It gave a good account of itself against the Germans in France, guaranteed the security of the country in the Battle of Britain where it was the workhorse. It also served as a NF. After it was deemed obsolete as a front line fighter it achieved considerable success in Africa as a fighter-bomber and tankbuster where it was vital to an ultimately successful campaign. It also saw considerable action in Burma where it served honourable against the Japanese. It took the hits and did the bulk of the hard work when Britain was in dire straits until superior British designs entered combat in numbers.
Honourable mention to the Spitfire, survived a huge amount of upgrades and was at the pinnacle of fighter development from the start of the war to the finish. It was always a feared opponent.
Germany: The Me109 remained a competent fighter from the start of the war till the finish. It was produced in more numbers (over 33,000) than the FW-190 and entered combat 2 years earlier. It gained air superiority for Germany in the early years of the war and enabled a swift invasion of mainland Europe. It performed in the Battle of Britain over enemy soil and in Africa where for sometime it was the dominant fighter in the theatre. On the Eastern Front it proved dominant over early Soviet designs and was a key part of the campaign. In the final years of the war, where many argue its airframe was stretched to far it continue to be a integral instrument in the defense of German cities.
A close second is the JU-88 for its effectiveness in a variety of roles, bomber, NF, recon, anti-shipping.
USSR: The IL-2 it wasn't a fancy plane or a pretty plane but it was built in more numbers that any other aircraft and it was rugged and bloody effective. It was a vital cog in the Soviet war machine and its destruction of German armour was decisive. It became a symbol of the defence of the USSR. It was fitted with a variety of weapons and excelled in the role for which it was designed.
Honourable mention to the Yak 9. A simple plane in construction, pumped out in huge numbers which was a truly competitive performer with its German counterparts.
Japan: The Zero, it was the beacon of Japanese invincibility in the early years of the Pacific war and it was produced in larger numbers than any other Japanese plane. It carried the fight on admirably even after its design flaws became clear. It had a myth about its abilities in the early stages of the war and dictated the development of the Hellcat.
USA: Its hard to pick, it depends on what you consider more important the Pacific or Europe theatre. In the interests of defense of the US it is the pacific theatre. In the Pacific it was the Hellcat that did the damage. It shot down a staggering number of Japanese planes and enabled the US to achieve air superiority in the Pacific. It was by no means the best fighter in the theatre, but it was numerous, and carrier capable. It allowed B24's and B29's to pummel Japanese cities into submission. In the Western theatre it was clear that bombers had to be escorted if strategic bombing was to be sustained. The P51 was the plane for the job and could fight the Germans on level terms in their own sky. I'm not a huge P51 fan, but the results speak for themselves, the sheer numbers available destroyed the luftwaffe and saved the lives of many American bomber crews.
Australia: The Bristol Beaufort, the Australians were able to use this bomber very effectively in the light bomber, anti-shipping and close support role. It served with distinction in the Pacific. It fulfilled a desperate need that Australia had for a versatile light bomber and was available in numbers when it was badly needed. It was also locally manufactured by the DAP and paved the way for the production of the Beaufighter and Mosquito.
Close second to the Beaufighter which was a vital anti-shipping, long range fighter and close support aircraft. Its range and firepower were used effectively by the Australians to ensure its coastline was protected from Japanese shipping.
UK: The Hurricane takes the cake for me. It gave a good account of itself against the Germans in France, guaranteed the security of the country in the Battle of Britain where it was the workhorse. It also served as a NF. After it was deemed obsolete as a front line fighter it achieved considerable success in Africa as a fighter-bomber and tankbuster where it was vital to an ultimately successful campaign. It also saw considerable action in Burma where it served honourable against the Japanese. It took the hits and did the bulk of the hard work when Britain was in dire straits until superior British designs entered combat in numbers.
Honourable mention to the Spitfire, survived a huge amount of upgrades and was at the pinnacle of fighter development from the start of the war to the finish. It was always a feared opponent.
Germany: The Me109 remained a competent fighter from the start of the war till the finish. It was produced in more numbers (over 33,000) than the FW-190 and entered combat 2 years earlier. It gained air superiority for Germany in the early years of the war and enabled a swift invasion of mainland Europe. It performed in the Battle of Britain over enemy soil and in Africa where for sometime it was the dominant fighter in the theatre. On the Eastern Front it proved dominant over early Soviet designs and was a key part of the campaign. In the final years of the war, where many argue its airframe was stretched to far it continue to be a integral instrument in the defense of German cities.
A close second is the JU-88 for its effectiveness in a variety of roles, bomber, NF, recon, anti-shipping.
USSR: The IL-2 it wasn't a fancy plane or a pretty plane but it was built in more numbers that any other aircraft and it was rugged and bloody effective. It was a vital cog in the Soviet war machine and its destruction of German armour was decisive. It became a symbol of the defence of the USSR. It was fitted with a variety of weapons and excelled in the role for which it was designed.
Honourable mention to the Yak 9. A simple plane in construction, pumped out in huge numbers which was a truly competitive performer with its German counterparts.
Japan: The Zero, it was the beacon of Japanese invincibility in the early years of the Pacific war and it was produced in larger numbers than any other Japanese plane. It carried the fight on admirably even after its design flaws became clear. It had a myth about its abilities in the early stages of the war and dictated the development of the Hellcat.
USA: Its hard to pick, it depends on what you consider more important the Pacific or Europe theatre. In the interests of defense of the US it is the pacific theatre. In the Pacific it was the Hellcat that did the damage. It shot down a staggering number of Japanese planes and enabled the US to achieve air superiority in the Pacific. It was by no means the best fighter in the theatre, but it was numerous, and carrier capable. It allowed B24's and B29's to pummel Japanese cities into submission. In the Western theatre it was clear that bombers had to be escorted if strategic bombing was to be sustained. The P51 was the plane for the job and could fight the Germans on level terms in their own sky. I'm not a huge P51 fan, but the results speak for themselves, the sheer numbers available destroyed the luftwaffe and saved the lives of many American bomber crews.
Australia: The Bristol Beaufort, the Australians were able to use this bomber very effectively in the light bomber, anti-shipping and close support role. It served with distinction in the Pacific. It fulfilled a desperate need that Australia had for a versatile light bomber and was available in numbers when it was badly needed. It was also locally manufactured by the DAP and paved the way for the production of the Beaufighter and Mosquito.
Close second to the Beaufighter which was a vital anti-shipping, long range fighter and close support aircraft. Its range and firepower were used effectively by the Australians to ensure its coastline was protected from Japanese shipping.
