The demands of war acted as a catalyst for aircraft production in the United States during World War II. Much of Western Europe was ravaged by bombing raids from the air during the German’s Blitzkrieg strategy, or “Lightning War.” This strategy was highly effective in the beginning, however, Allies eventually found success in repelling German aircraft with a series of American fighter planes. (These are the oldest and newest fighter jets used in today’s Air Forces.)
United States aircraft production rose dramatically from 1939 to 1945. According to the U.S. Air Force Historical Division, the Air Force grew from a few hundred to nearly 80,000 airplanes by war’s end. Some of these fighter planes doubled as bombers capable of conducting their bombing raids and engaging other enemy aircraft. Others also played roles as escorts for heavy bombers that were not capable of defending themselves in air-to-air combat.
One of the most influential fighter-bomber aircraft was The Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Aptly nicknamed the “Fork-Tailed Devil” due to its effectiveness in combat, it served in a variety of roles. It was versatile enough to be used as a bomber escort, tactical bomber, and top-cover fighter. (Today, this American plane is the most widely-used fighter jet on Earth.)
To determine the least and most mass-produced American fighter planes from WWII, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of World War II aircraft, a list compiled by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We only included fighter planes that were active during the war, ranking them based on the grand total produced. Prototypes and concept aircraft were excluded. Supplemental information about year entered service, type, manufacturer, crew size, and top speed also came from Military Factory.
Here is a look at the American fighter planes of WWII ranked by production:
27. Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 62
- Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
- Type: Fighter / interceptor aircraft
The Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon entered service in 1939. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 314 mph.
26. Bell P-59 Airacomet
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 66
- Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
- Type: Jet-powered fighter aircraft
The Bell P-59 Airacomet entered service in 1945. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 389 mph.
25. Ryan FR Fireball
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 66
- Manufacturer: Ryan Aeronautical
- Type: Mixed-power fighter aircraft
The Ryan FR Fireball entered service in 1945. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 426 mph.
24. Vultee P-66 Vanguard (Model 48)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 146
- Manufacturer: Vultee Aircraft
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Vultee P-66 Vanguard (Model 48) entered service in 1941. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 339 mph.
23. Grumman F3F
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 147
- Manufacturer: Grumman
- Type: Carrierborne biplane fighter aircraft
The Grumman F3F entered service in 1936. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 264 mph.
22. Boeing P-26 Peashooter
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 151
- Manufacturer: Boeing
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Boeing P-26 Peashooter entered service in 1932. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 227 mph.
21. Douglas P-70 Nighthawk
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 163
- Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
- Type: Night fighter aircraft
The Douglas P-70 Nighthawk entered service in 1942. It could fit 3 crew members and had a maximum speed of 339 mph.
20. Seversky P-35
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 196
- Manufacturer: Seversky (Republic)
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Seversky P-35 entered service in 1937. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 308 mph.
19. Curtiss SBC Helldiver
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 257
- Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
- Type: Naval dive bomber / fighter aircraft
The Curtiss SBC Helldiver entered service in 1938. It could fit 2 crew members and had a maximum speed of 237 mph.
18. Republic P-43 Lancer
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 272
- Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The Republic P-43 Lancer entered service in 1941. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 357 mph.
17. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 509
- Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Brewster F2A (Buffalo) entered service in 1939. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 321 mph.
16. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 600
- Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical
- Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
The Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair entered service in 1943. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 416 mph.
15. Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 742
- Manufacturer: Northrop
- Type: Night fighter-reconnaissance aircraft
The Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow entered service in 1943. It could fit 3 crew members and had a maximum speed of 366 mph.
14. Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk)
- Number of aircraft produced: 1,115
- Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane Company
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk) entered service in 1938. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 322 mph.
13. Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk
Source: Public Domain / sdasmarchives / Flickr
- Number of aircraft produced: 1,180
- Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk entered service in 1941. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 351 mph.
12. Grumman F8F Bearcat
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 1,266
- Manufacturer: Grumman
- Type: Carrierborne interceptor aircraft
The Grumman F8F Bearcat entered service in 1945. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 421 mph.
11. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 1,715
- Manufacturer: Lockheed
- Type: Jet-powered fighter-bomber aircraft
The Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star entered service in 1945. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 577 mph.
10. Bell P-63 Kingcobra
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 3,303
- Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
- Type: Fighter aircraft
The Bell P-63 Kingcobra entered service in 1943. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 410 mph.
9. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 7,478
- Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
- Type: Light bomber / night fighter aircraft
The Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston entered service in 1941. It could fit 3 crew members and had a maximum speed of 339 mph.
8. Grumman F4F Wildcat
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 7,722
- Manufacturer: General Motors / Grumman
- Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
The Grumman F4F Wildcat entered service in 1940. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 332 mph.
7. Bell P-39 Airacobra
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 9,588
- Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The Bell P-39 Airacobra entered service in 1941. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 386 mph.
6. Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 9,923
- Manufacturer: Lockheed
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The Lockheed P-38 Lightning entered service in 1939. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 414 mph.
5. Grumman F6F Hellcat
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 12,272
- Manufacturer: Grumman
- Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
The Grumman F6F Hellcat entered service in 1943. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 380 mph.
4. Vought F4U Corsair
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 12,571
- Manufacturer: Chance Vought / Brewster Aeronautical
- Type: Carrierborne night fighter-bomer aircraft
- Year entered service: 1942
- Top speed: 446 mph
- Crew: 1
The Vought F4U Corsair entered service in 1942. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 446 mph.
3. North American P-51 Mustang
Source: Hulton Archive / Archive Photos via Getty Images
- Number of aircraft produced: 15,586
- Manufacturer: North American Aviation
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The North American P-51 Mustang entered service in 1942. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 437 mph.
2. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Source: US Air Force / Public domain / Wikimedia Commons
- Number of aircraft produced: 15,660
- Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt entered service in 1942. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 433 mph.
1. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
Source: Fox Photos / Hulton Archive via Getty Images
- Number of aircraft produced: 16,800
- Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
- Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
The Curtiss P-40 Warhawk entered service in 1941. It could fit a crew of 1 and had a maximum speed of 378 mph.
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