One of the most important advancements in aviation was the introduction of aircraft carriers. These immense ships became mobile airfields and played a crucial role in especially the Pacific Theater of World War II. With the carriers came special planes that used these ships to fly missions against the German forces. This was a golden age for airplane manufacturing — during World War II America produced 297,000 aircraft.
To identify every carrier-based aircraft the United States used during WWII, 24/7 Wall St. referenced U.S. naval aircraft in the WWII era from the online military equipment database Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. The planes were listed in ascending order on production totals. We excluded prototype aircraft or those with limited production runs were excluded. Supplemental information about the aircraft’s type, crew size, top speed, roles, and year entered service also came from the Military Factory.
The initial production line of fighter aircraft used by the U.S. Navy and Marines was the Grumman F4F Wildcat. It served as the primary carrier-based fighter in the early stages of the war in the Pacific, proving to be an exceptionally rugged and reliable aircraft. (Also see, these are the most produced aircraft by any nation during WWII.)
Why we are Covering American Carrier-Borne Planes
Source: United States Navy U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Kaylianna Genier, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Although land-based aircraft have many advantages, the use of aircraft carriers with their planes far outweighs the disadvantages. America has a lot of enemies and potential threats relatively far away from land bases. The use of aircraft carriers therefore makes much more sense in these scenarios. Especially in our modern world with ever-shifting alliances and emerging threats to national security, the United States seeks to maintain combat readiness. The planes that are used on aircraft carriers are specially adapted for these conditions. As of April 2024, the United States has 11 large nuclear-powered fleet carriers — carrying around 80 fighters each. The production of these aircraft and ships is an important part of the weapons manufacturing business in the US.
Here is a Ranking of World War II American Carrier-Based Planes by Production Numbers During the War
20. Douglas BTD Destroyer
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 30 of the Douglas BTD Destroyer built. This Torpedo/dive bomber entered service in 1944. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 334 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attacks (bombing, strafing), and anti-ship.
19. Ryan FR Fireball
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 66 of the Ryan FR Fireball built. This Mixed-power fighter entered service in 1945. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 426 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, interception.
18. Douglas TBD Devastator
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 130 of the Douglas TBD Devastator built. This Navy torpedo bomber entered service in 1937. It had a crew of 3 and a top speed of 206 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attack (bombing, strafing), and anti-ship.
17. Martin AM Mauler
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 151 of the Martin AM Mauler built. This Attack aircraft entered service in 1948. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 384 mph. It was primarily used for Close-air support.
16. Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 180 of the Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf built. This Torpedo bomber entered service in 1944. It had a crew of 3 and a top speed of 306 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attacks (bombing, strafing).
15. Curtiss SBC Helldiver
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 257 of the Curtiss SBC Helldiver built. This Naval dive bomber/fighter entered service in 1938. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 237 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighters, ground attacks (bombing, strafing), and anti-ship.
14. Vought SB2U Vindicator
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 260 of the Vought SB2U Vindicator built. This Dive bomber entered service in 1937. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 251 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attacks (bombing, strafing), anti-ship, and training.
13. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 509 of the Brewster F2A (Buffalo) built. This Single-seat, single-engine monoplane fighter entered service in 1939. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 321 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighters.
12. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 600 of the Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair built. This Single-engine fighter entered service in 1943. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 416 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close air support, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
11. Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 739 of the Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer built. This Long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft entered service in 1943. It had a crew of 11 and a top speed of 300 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attack (bombing, strafing), anti-submarine, anti-ship, search & rescue, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
10. Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 771 of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer built. This Scout bomber entered service in 1941. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 273 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attacks (bombing, strafing), and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
9. Grumman F8F Bearcat
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 1,266 of the Grumman F8F Bearcat built. This Fighter/interceptor entered service in 1945. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 421 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, interception.
8. Douglas SBD Dauntless
Source: Wikipedia
There were 5,936 of the Douglas SBD Dauntless built. This Dive bomber entered service in 1938. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 255 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attacks (bombing, strafing), and anti-ship.
7. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Source: Public Domain / Wikipedia
There were 7,140 of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver built. This Dive bomber/reconnaissance aircraft entered service in 1943. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 260 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attack (bombing, strafing), anti-ship, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
6. Grumman F4F Wildcat
Source: KGrif / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
There were 7,722 of the Grumman F4F Wildcat built. This Single-seat, single-engine monoplane fighter entered service in 1940. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 332 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighters, and ground attacks (bombing, strafing).
5. de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
Source: Wikipedia
There were 7,781 of the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito built. This Multirole heavy fighter/fighter-bomber entered service in 1942. It had a crew of 2 and a top speed of 407 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighters, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close air support, anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, and training.
4. North American B-25 Mitchell
Source: Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
There were 9,816 of the North American B-25 Mitchell built. This Twin-engine medium bomber entered service in 1941. It had a crew of 5 and a top speed of 272 mph. It was primarily used for Ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship, transport, VIP service, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, and training.
3. Gruman TBF Avenger
There were 9,835 of the Gruman TBF Avenger built. This Torpedo bomber entered service in 1942. It had a crew of 3 and a top speed of 271 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, ground attack (bombing, strafing), airborne early warning, anti-submarine warfare, anti-ship, electronic warfare, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
2. Grumman F6F Hellcat
Source: rancho_runner / iStock via Getty Images
There were 12,272 of the Grumman F6F Hellcat built. This Fighter-bomber entered service in 1943. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 380 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), and close air support.
1. Vought F4U Corsair
There were 12,571 of the Vought F4U Corsair built. This Fighter-bomber entered service in 1942. It had a crew of 1 and a top speed of 446 mph. It was primarily used for Air-to-air combat fighter, interception, ground attack (bombing, strafing), close-air support, and intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance.
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