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.
18. Lockheed P-38 Lightning
- 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
17. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair
- 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
16. Grumman F8F Bearcat
- 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
15. Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (Wurger)
- 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
14. Focke-Wulf Fw 190 (Dora)
- Top speed: 426 mph (tied)
- Year entered service: 1944
- Production run: 1,827
- Crew: 1
- Country Nazi Germany
- Roles: Air-to-air combat
13. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
- 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
12. Yakovlev Yak-9 (Frank)
- 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
11. Hawker Tempest
- 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)
10. North American P-51 Mustang
- 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
9. Northrop F-15 Reporter
- Top speed: 441 mph
- Year entered service: 1945
- Production run: 36
- Crew: 2
- Country United States
- Roles: Intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
8. Vought F4U Corsair
- 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
7. Arado Ar 234 (Blitz)
- Top speed: 461 mph
- Year entered service: 1944
- Production run: 232
- Crew: 1
- Country Nazi Germany
- Roles: Ground attack (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
6. Focke-Wulf Ta 152
- Top speed: 472 mph
- Year entered service: 1945
- Production run: 43
- Crew: 1
- Country Nazi Germany
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception
5. Saab J21
- 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
4. Heinkel He 162 Volksjager (Peoples Fighter)
- Top speed: 522 mph
- Year entered service: 1945
- Production run: 275
- Crew: 1
- Country Nazi Germany
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception
3. Messerschmitt Me 262 (Schwalbe / Sturmvogel)
- 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)
2. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star
- 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
1. Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet (Comet)
- Top speed: 659 mph
- Year entered service: 1944
- Production run: 370
- Crew: 1
- Country Nazi Germany
- Roles: Air-to-air combat fighter, interception
The image featured at the top of this post is ©"Lockheed T-33A-1-LO Shooting Star - 51168245834" by Eric Friedebach is licensed under BY 2.0..
