If you could rate?

The most significant, in all areas, warbird of WW2, The most valuable aircraft of the WHOLE WW2 experience. What aircraft would it be.

EITHER ... allied or axis ....

I'm sure this has been asked before. But who cares ... haha

[Dan K]

I'm with Ike: C-47

[Curtis Block]

No,

And I've watched too many shows and read too many articles that tried with poor standards, arguments and results.

[BigGrey]

I have to say allied.

Les

[Dan K]

I have to say allied.

Les

Doh! Thanks, Les. I misread the question...long day. I change my answer to "allied".

[The Inspector]

Whichever particular aircraft causes you to smile, even the tiniest amount when you see one or someone mentions it's name or designator, for me it's any model B-25 followed by a long string of other types-even the oddest and goofiest had some purpose or percieved tactical uniqueness

[BigGrey]

You didn't misread the question Dan. I was just messin' with Hellcat.

Les

[Mike]

EITHER ... allied or axis ....

Me too, it would be an Allied one.

[tom d. friedman]

i'd say the most multi-functional / versatile aircraft of ww 2 was the junkers ju-88...... ton's of variants, & most of those were put to use. should i hide??

I'd say the B-25 over all aircraft of WW2, started WW2, ended WW2 .... And try messing with me .... lololol

I guess my list would be:

B-25
ME109
Spitfire
P-40
B-17
B-24
PBY
P-47
P-38

These are significant warbirds ... IMHO

[Mike]

I'd say the B-25 over all aircraft of WW2, started WW2, ended WW2 .... And try messing with me .... lololol

I guess my list would be:

B-25
ME109
Spitfire
P-40
B-17
B-24
PBY
P-47
P-38

These are significant warbirds ... IMHO

Actually, WWII has been going for well over two years by the time the B-25 saw combat. Since it only saw action in significant numbers in the second half of the war, it can't have been as significant as types, on either side, that remained in front-line service throughout the whole of the war.

[Nathan]

The P-40 in my opinion. It flew with every allied nation and it even ended up in the hands of the Germans and Japanese as well! It fought from 1940-1945. It gave pilots the chance to fight in equal terms and the fact they could fight and live another day.

There is currently research being done to prove that the P-40 with all the nations using it shot down more planes then any other wwII fighter. When you think about it...that possiblity might be correct!

[Bill Greenwood]

Seems to me to be the Me 109. It fought the whole war, even for the Nazis in Spain before WW II., and all the way to the end. In the right hands like a Galland or Rahl or Hartmann, it was still a formidable weapon in 1945, the one most of their top aces chose even over the 190.. It seems to me to be the one aircraft they could not have done without.Early in the Battle of Britain, it became pretty obvious that a Stuka or He 111 could not live over England without 109 escort. The 190 or 262 were not there in the early years, the 262 never in enough numbers to make the difference. I think 109 probably shot down more planes than any other type. About all that the 109 did not do was carrier ops or the Pacific war, but that was not Germany's fight.

As great as the Spitfire was, and it fought the whole war, in all theaters and in many and ever more deadly variants, England had the the Hurricane also until later in the war when it had other planes including the Mustang. The Jug or P-51 could not be the most vital as they were not even there in the first years. The P-40 held up the American cause at the start of the war, but it was not very effective in the later years. A P-40 was no match for a Me 109 at 25,000 feet when that was the area of battle, it had little effect on the air war in Europe.

[Dan K]

Seems to me to be the Me 109. It fought the whole war, even for the Nazis in Spain before WW II., and all the way to the end. In the right hands like a Galland or Rahl or Hartmann, it was still a formidable weapon in 1945, the one most of their top aces chose even over the 190.. It seems to me to be the one aircraft they could not have done without.Early in the Battle of Britain, it became pretty obvious that a Stuka or He 111 could not live over England without 109 escort. The 190 or 262 were not there in the early years, the 262 never in enough numbers to make the difference. I think 109 probably shot down more planes than any other type. About all that the 109 did not do was carrier ops or the Pacific war, but that was not Germany's fight.

Ah, but Bill: Even the ubiquitous (my mudge for the morning) Bf-109 couldn't operate if the old Tante Ju-52 didn't bring her fuel, ammo, and replacment Daimler-Benzes. From Spain all the way to the end, even the Messerschmitt was only as good as its line of supply.

Of course, all those Luftwaffe Experten had to train on something before climbing in a fighter cockpit as well.

But I voted "allied" so I really can't comment.

[Nathan]

I cant really see picking a axis aircraft in helping out a cause. They lost. Indeed I beleive the 109 was the best axis fighter....even better then the Zeke. Look how many 109 models there are!