What Was the Fastest Plane of WW2?

Aviation saw massive developments during the Second World War. The world went from refined planes that wouldn't be out of place in the First World War to jets in the span of a few short years. Today, we're ranking the fastest planes of WW2.

• Top speed: 414 mph
• Year entered service: 1939
• Production run: 9,923
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 416 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 600
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing, close-air support, maritime, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 421 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 1,266
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, maritime

• Top speed: 426 mph (tied)
• Year entered service: 1941
• Production run: 20,000
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), training

• Top speed: 426 mph (tied)
• Year entered service: 1944
• Production run: 1,827
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat

• Top speed: 433 mph
• Year entered service: 1942
• Production run: 15,660
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support

• Top speed: 434 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 16,769
• Crew: 1
• Country Soviet Union
• Roles: Air-to-air combat, interception, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 435 mph
• Year entered service: 1944
• Production run: 1,422
• Crew: 1
• Country United Kingdom
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing)

• Top speed: 437 mph
• Year entered service: 1942
• Production run: 15,586
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training

• Top speed: 441 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 36
• Crew: 2
• Country United States
• Roles: Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 446 mph
• Year entered service: 1942
• Production run: 12,571
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, maritime, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 461 mph
• Year entered service: 1944
• Production run: 232
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 472 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 43
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception

• Top speed: 497 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 304
• Crew: 1
• Country Sweden
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, close-air support

• Top speed: 522 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 275
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception

• Top speed: 559 mph
• Year entered service: 1944
• Production run: 1,400
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing)

• Top speed: 577 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 1,715
• Crew: 1
• Country United States
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, close-air support

• Top speed: 659 mph
• Year entered service: 1944
• Production run: 370
• Crew: 1
• Country Nazi Germany
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception