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List of aircraft of World War II

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The list of aircraft of World War II includes all of the aircraft used by countries which were at war during World War II from the period between when the country joined the war and the time the country withdrew from it, or when the war ended. Aircraft developed but not used operationally in the war are in the prototypes section at the bottom of the page. Prototypes for aircraft that entered service under a different design number are ignored in favor of the version that entered service. If the date of an aircraft's entry into service or first flight is not known, the aircraft will be listed by its name, the country of origin or major wartime users. Aircraft used for multiple roles are generally only listed under their primary role unless specialized versions were built for other roles in significant numbers. Aircraft used by neutral countries such as Spain, Switzerland and Sweden (or countries which did no significant fighting such as most of those in South America) are not included.

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Fighter aircraft

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Biplane fighters

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  1. Not in combat service by time of entry into WWII

Fighters and fighter bombers

This table includes single-engined and single-seat fighters and ground attack aircraft

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  1. Production only, not used by manufacturing nation

Heavy fighters (multi-engined or multi-seat), night fighters, dive bombers and torpedo bombers

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Jet- and rocket- propelled fighters

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  1. Total production to 1955
  2. total production to 1950
  3. Used as trainers
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Bomber and attack aircraft

Heavy and strategic bombers

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Medium bombers and maritime patrol

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Light bombers, ground attack, tactical reconnaissance and observation aircraft

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  1. Total produced across all roles
  2. Out of service by time of entry into WWII

Carrier-based naval bombers

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Strategic and photo-reconnaissance aircraft

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Strategic and photo-reconnaissance aircraft were frequently specially modified variants of high performance aircraft, usually fighters or bombers.

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Seaplanes

Flying boats

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Floatplanes

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Transport aircraft

Transport planes

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Transport gliders

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Trainers

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Primary trainers are used for basic flight training while advanced trainers were used for familiarization with the more complex systems and higher speeds of combat aircraft, and for air combat training. Multi-engined trainers were used to prepare pilots for multi-engine bombers and transports, and to train navigators, bombardiers, gunners and flight engineers. Most nations used obsolete combat types for advanced training, although large scale training programs such as the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan (BCATP) required more aircraft than were available and aircraft were designed and built specifically to fulfill training roles. Intermediate trainers were used in several countries but additional hours at the primary stage made them redundant.

Glider trainers

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Primary trainers

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Advanced trainers

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Bomber trainers, target tugs and misc. trainers

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Rotorcraft

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Lighter than air

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Rockets and drones

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Prototypes

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Prototypes were aircraft that were intended to enter service but did not, either due to changing requirements, failing to meet requirements or other problems. They may not have reached production before the end of the war but may have entered service post-war. If the aircraft was deployed to regular squadrons or used in an operational capacity other than evaluation, it should be listed above under its appropriate type. Napkinwaffe - paper projects and aircraft that first flew after the war are not included.

Fighter prototypes

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Bomber and attack aircraft prototypes

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Transport prototypes

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Glider prototypes

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Trainer prototypes

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Rotorcraft prototypes

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Missile prototypes

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Miscellaneous prototypes

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Experimental aircraft

Aircraft intended to prove a concept or idea and which were not intended or suitable for military service. Does not include operational aircraft modified for experimental purposes.

Flight behaviour research

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Engine research

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Misc research

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See also

References

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