Was This the Fastest Plane of the Second World War?

The Second World War saw quite a bit of innovation when it came to aviation. The war started with propeller-driven aircraft that would be at home in the First World War. By the time of the war's end in 1945, jet engines were making their way to the battlefield. Today, we're looking at the fastest American airplanes of the Second World War.

• Top speed: 357 mph
• Year entered service: 1941
• Production run: 272
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training

• Top speed: 357 mph
• Year entered service: 1945
• Production run: 118
• Crew: 10
• Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), training

• Top speed: 358 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 3,970
• Crew: 10
• Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), search & rescue, aerial refueling, transport, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training

• Top speed: 365 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 500
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support

• Top speed: 366 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 742
• Crew: 3
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 378 mph
• Year entered service: 1941
• Production run: 16,800
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

• Top speed: 380 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 12,272
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Ait-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, maritime

• Top speed: 386 mph
• Year entered service: 1941
• Production run: 9,588
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support

• Top speed: 410 mph
• Year entered service: 1943
• Production run: 3,303
• Crew: 1
• Roles: Air-to-air combat, close-air support

• 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
• 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
• Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, maritime

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

• Top speed: 437 mph
• Year entered service: 1942
• Production run: 15,586
• Crew: 1
• 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
• Roles: Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance

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

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