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Top service aircraft of WWII

Sun May 18, 2008 6:00 pm

What aircraft saw more service, in more theaters, with more countries than any other aircraft. My guess is the P-40.

PS .... thanks to the Chino pilots. It mean't a lot.

Mark

Sun May 18, 2008 6:03 pm

My guess would be the C-47.

Sun May 18, 2008 6:14 pm

Make that 2 votes for the "Goon" :wink:

P-40

Sun May 18, 2008 10:37 pm

That is going to be close I think.Dang near every country used the p-40 with some using them up to the 50s.Brazil I think.

Mon May 19, 2008 1:24 am

the 47 WINS...hands down....all though other countries and us used many P-40s, the C-47s(DC-3's) started production in 1935 and went until 45 i believe, but could be wrong with the stop production date.

10,655 built at Santa Monica, and Long Beach, California
Not to mention all the Ok city ones that were made, a small number of 5,354 plus the 2000+ the Russians made under the name LI-2 and about 500 in japan as L2D's.

over 400 DC-3's C47s remain in commercial service today.

both sides of the war produced them also as an interesting fact!

Mon May 19, 2008 2:54 am

As far as combat aircraft I'd think the Spitfire family would give the P-40 a run for its money. It served in Britain, Europe, the Mediterranean, North Africa, South East Asia, Australia, the Pacific on carriers, the Atlantic on carriers, etc...

Plus it was fighting from day one in the war through till the end. The P-40 never got into combat at the beginning of WWII and was almost obsolete by the end.

Mon May 19, 2008 3:22 am

Dave Homewood wrote:The P-40 never got into combat at the beginning of WWII ....

I'm going with the Gooney ...but Chennault probably would like to
have a few words with you Dave...

Mon May 19, 2008 3:36 am

Eh? You men the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tiger) guys?

That group that was formed two years into WWII?

Mon May 19, 2008 3:43 am

Dave Homewood wrote:Eh? You men the American Volunteer Group (Flying Tiger) guys?

That group that was formed two years into WWII?

True, Suh..."Whose WW2 are we talking about?" The Gooney still wins!! :D

Mon May 19, 2008 3:50 am

It probably depends which planet you're living on. :P

Mon May 19, 2008 4:07 am

Dave Homewood wrote:It probably depends which planet you're living on. :P

Same planet....Some were there at the beginning, then some came running with help... :wink:

Mon May 19, 2008 5:27 am

Interesting one....

Definate candidates as mentioned the C-47 and P-40 and indeed the Spitfire.

What about the B-25....???
Used by USAAF, USN etc as well as RAF and Commonwealth AF's and Soviet, Dutch, Free French etc., etc., in ETO, MTO and PTO.

Mon May 19, 2008 9:28 am

C-47 would be my guess but the Hurricane before the Spitfire.
Rick

Mon May 19, 2008 9:48 am

Concur with Firebird, the B-25 was used in every theater of Operations of WWII....from Training through Combat 8)

Mon May 19, 2008 1:07 pm

I think you guys are being very narrow minded in your choice, mostly US types with just a Spit as they only non-US, and relatively young.

The DC-2 was already well established when WW2 started, and being replaced by the DC-3, many where passed on to other countries. At least 1 DC-2 (and I think DC-1) was used in the Spanish Civil War as a combat aircraft (OK, a US build, but quite old)

Then consider the venerable Ju-52. It too was old when WW2 started, and it too was pressed into service everywhere, used both officially and unofficially.

Then you ignore trainers that trained those pilots:

Buckmister Junmann, a well loved German trainer common to find.

DeHaviland TigerMoth, hundreds still around today.


The question is broad, so too are the answers.
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