What plane shot down most in WW2?
Table of Contents
What plane shot down most in WW2?
The number 1 is no surprise: the North American P-51 Mustang. Often and usually considered the best fighter of the war, the P-51 was a game-changer for Allied forces. Employed as a long-range bomber escort, the P-51 was unmatched by German planes, especially at high altitudes.
How many planes did the B 17 shot down?
M/SGT Michael Arooth shot down 17 enemy aircraft to reach triple “Ace” status. But he wasn’t a fighter pilot. In fact, he wasn’t a pilot at all . Arooth, a tail gunner on the B-17 “Tondelayo” who shot down a total of 17 enemy fighters in the course of 14 missions.
What was the main fighter plane in WW2?
P-47, also called Thunderbolt, fighter and fighter-bomber used by the Allied air forces during World War II. A single-seat low-wing fighter developed for the U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) by Republic Aviation, it was the largest single-engined piston fighter ever produced.
How many B 17s were shot down during the Second World War?
Of the 291 B-17s in the attack force, 60 were lost, 17 were heavily damaged and most of the others incurred some damage, but were repairable. These losses amounted to 25 percent of the attacking force. Although the Luftwaffe lost 38 fighters, many of the downed pilots bailed out and returned to duty.
How many B 29s were shot down?
B-29 gunners were credited with shooting down 27 enemy aircraft. In turn 78 B-29 were lost; 57 B-29 and reconnaissance variants were lost in action and 21 were non-combat losses.
How many B 29s were shot down over Japan?
On March 10, 1945, flying in darkness at low altitudes, more than 300 B-29s dropped close to a quarter of a million incendiary bombs over Tokyo. LeMay’s gamble was successful. Perhaps as many as 100,000 Japanese were dead, almost 16 square miles of the city destroyed, and a million people homeless.
How many Messerschmitt Me 262 were shot down?
542 Allied aircraft
Me 262 pilots claimed a total of 542 Allied aircraft shot down, although higher claims are sometimes made. The Allies countered its effectiveness in the air by attacking the aircraft on the ground and during takeoff and landing….Messerschmitt Me 262.
| Me 262 Schwalbe | |
|---|---|
| Role | Fighter aircraft and fighter-bomber |
| Manufacturer | Messerschmitt |
How many Luftwaffe planes were shot down?
More than 1700 Luftwaffe (German air force) planes were destroyed. The 2662 German casualties included many experienced aircrew, and the Luftwaffe never fully recovered from the reverse it suffered in August-October 1940. The Royal Air Force (RAF) lost 1250 aircraft, including 1017 fighters.
Who had the best airplanes in WW2?
These Were The 10 Best Planes Of WW2
- 1 De Havilland Mosquito – Ultimate Multi-Role Aircraft.
- 2 North American P51 Mustang – Best Allied Fighter.
- 3 Avro Lancaster – Best Heavy Bomber.
- 4 Supermarine Spitfire – Best British Fighter.
- 5 Boeing B29 Superfortress – Best Long-Range Bomber.
- 6 Focke-Wulf FW-190 – Best Fighter.
What racer’s plane was shot down during World War II?
The P-51 was also used by Allied air forces in the North African, Mediterranean, Italian, and Pacific theaters. During World War II, Mustang pilots claimed to have destroyed 4,950 enemy aircraft….North American P-51 Mustang.
| P-51 Mustang | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| First flight | 26 October 1940 |
| Introduction | January 1942 (RAF) |
How many B-17s were made in WW2?
The B-17 Flying Fortress was used in every single World War II combat zone and by the time production ended in 1945, Boeing along with Douglas & Vega had built 12,731 bombers.
What was the B-17 bomber offensive?
During the month of January 1943, the Allies decided to carry out the Combined Bomber Offensive against the Germans. The B-17 was chosen by the Americans while the British primarily chose the Wellington or Lancaster bomber. The US would attack during the day while the British would carry out operations during the night.
Why did Boeing fail to build the B17 bomber?
Boeing competed against both Martin and Douglas for the contract to build 200 units of such a bomber but failed to deliver as the first B-17 Flying Fortress crashed. The Air Corps loved the design so much that they ordered 13 units for evaluation and analysis.
Who shot down the most planes in WW2?
Erich Hartmann. Major Erich Hartman was a Luftwaffe fighter ace who is recognized for having shot down more enemy aircraft than any pilot in history. He became known as the “Blond Knight” or “Black Devil” by his enemies, shooting down 352 aircraft in his combat service between 1943 and 1945.