What kind of plane is a warbird?

Warbirds are military aircraft that were built and operated primarily during World War II. They encompass fighters, bombers, transport planes, trainers and more that were operated by the military forces of various countries. Some of the most iconic warbirds include the North American P-51 Mustang, the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, the Supermarine Spitfire, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, and the Mitsubishi A6M Zero. While they were built for combat during WWII, today warbirds are highly prized among aviation enthusiasts and collectors. Many have been restored to pristine condition and are still flown at airshows and events around the world.

History of Warbirds

Warbirds originated in the years leading up to WWII as military aviation advanced rapidly in the late 1930s. New fighters, bombers, and other aircraft were rolling off factory production lines in the major powers of the United States, Britain, Germany, Japan and the Soviet Union. The warbirds of WWII eclipsed the biplanes and other WWI-era designs that came before them. They were usually all-metal monoplanes powered by powerful piston engines, able to fly faster, higher and farther than earlier generations.

As WWII commenced in 1939, warbirds saw intensive action in all the major theaters of operation. Fighters dueled in the skies over Europe, the Mediterranean, Russia, China and the Pacific, while bombers struck strategic targets and transport planes ferried troops and supplies. Designs rapidly evolved as well – by the end of the war late model warbirds like the P-51D Mustang were vastly more advanced than their early counterparts. Production also ramped up massively, with some aircraft like the B-24 Liberator being built in the tens of thousands.

Warbirds by Country

Here are some of the major warbirds produced by different nations:

United States: P-51 Mustang, P-38 Lightning, F4U Corsair, B-17 Flying Fortress, B-24 Liberator, B-29 Superfortress

Britain: Spitfire, Hurricane, Lancaster, Mosquito

Germany: Bf 109, Fw 190, Ju 87 Stuka, Me 262 jet

Japan: Zero, Ki-43 Oscar, Betty bomber, Val dive bomber

Soviet Union: Yak-3, La-5, Il-2 Sturmovik, Pe-2

Warbirds after WWII

After WWII ended in 1945, most surviving warbirds were quickly retired from service as jet aircraft took over in the late 1940s and 1950s. A number were destroyed or scrapped, though some found use in secondary roles. For example, the Douglas DC-3 airliner was derived from the C-47 military transport. In the decades after WWII, warbird enthusiasts began seeking out and restoring the aging fighters and bombers, giving rise to the warbird movement. Groups like the Confederate (now Commemorative) Air Force formed to purchase, restore and fly warbirds at airshows. These efforts ensured that many WWII aircraft avoided the scrapyard.

Types of Warbirds

There are several major types of WWII warbirds, each with distinct attributes and combat roles:

Fighters

Fighters were single or two-seat aircraft designed primarily for air-to-air combat against enemy aircraft. They were small, fast and highly maneuverable to previal in dogfights. Famous WWII fighters include the Spitfire, Zero, P-51 Mustang and Bf 109.

Bombers

Bombers were larger multi-engine aircraft designed to carry heavy bomb loads to strike ground targets deep in enemy territory. They required defensive armament to survive against enemy fighters. Iconic bombers of WWII include the B-17 Flying Fortress, Avro Lancaster and Mitsubishi G4M.

Ground Attack

Ground attack aircraft were optimized to destroy tactical ground targets like armored vehicles, troop concentrations and railroads. Most were single-engine monoplanes able to carry bombs, cannons and rockets. The Junkers Ju 87 Stuka dive bomber was the most recognizable ground attack warbird of WWII.

Maritime Patrol

Maritime patrol aircraft carried out long-range missions against enemy shipping and submarines. Examples include the PBY Catalina and Short Sunderland flying boats along with the B-24 Liberator adapted for maritime patrol.

Trainers

Training aircraft were essential for teaching new pilots how to fly. Primarily two-seat designs optimized for visibility and ease of flight, trainers included the North American T-6 Texan and de Havilland Tiger Moth.

Transports

Transports flew troops, equipment and supplies all over the world during WWII. The most famous was likely the C-47 Skytrain derived from the Douglas DC-3 airliner. Other transports included the Junkers Ju 52 and Curtiss C-46.

Most Iconic Warbirds of World War II

Here are some of the most significant and recognizable warbirds that fought during World War II:

North American P-51 Mustang

The P-51 Mustang was arguably the best fighter aircraft of WWII. It escorted Allied bombers on raids over Europe and also served in the Pacific and Asia. The Mustang had outstanding range, speed and maneuverability along with heavy firepower in six .50 cal machine guns. It shot down over 5,000 enemy aircraft during WWII.

Supermarine Spitfire

The Supermarine Spitfire defended Britain during the Battle of Britain in 1940 along with the Hurricane. With its elliptical wings and liquid cooled Rolls-Royce V12 engine, the Spitfire reached speeds over 370 mph. It served throughout the war in Europe and also saw action in Asia and the Mediterranean.

Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress

The four-engine B-17 bomber was the backbone of the USAAF’s daylight strategic bombing campaign against Germany. Despite heavy losses, B-17s bombed key targets like oil refineries and factories. The aircraft’s defensive armament of 13 machine guns gave it its “Flying Fortress” nickname.

Mitsubishi A6M Zero

The Zero gained legendary status for its dogfighting prowess early in the Pacific war. With excellent maneuverability and range, it achieved kill ratios as high as 12 to 1 against Allied fighters early on. However, later American fighters like the F6F Hellcat and F4U Corsair outclassed it.

Messerschmitt Bf 109

The Bf 109 served as the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s fighter force beginning with the Spanish Civil War in the 1930s. The 109 remained in production throughout WWII with over 34,000 built. Its gull-shaped wings and narrow undercarriage were distinctive features. A capable dogfighter, Bf 109 pilots claimed over 100,000 air-to-air kills during WWII.

Surviving Warbirds Today

It’s estimated that several hundred WWII warbirds survive today in flyable condition around the world. Many are stored in museums but a number are still flown at airshows by collectors and preservation groups. Following is a table with numbers on some of the rarest warbirds still in flying condition:

As shown in the table, iconic aircraft like the B-29 Superfortress and Avro Lancaster are extremely rare today with only a couple left still capable of flight. More common types like the Mustang and Corsair number in the dozens.

Owner and Operators

Surviving warbirds are owned and operated by:

– Museums like the Smithsonian National Air & Space Museum
– Private collectors and foundations
– Preservation groups like the Commemorative Air Force
– Airshows and flyovers

It requires considerable expense and effort to keep vintage WWII aircraft restored and airworthy. Mechanics must hand-build or source replacement parts that may not have been manufactured in decades. Operating these warbirds is also challenging as most pilots are accustomed to modern aircraft, not antique ones with quirky flight behaviors.

Continuing Popularity

Warbirds likely will continue to be highly popular attractions at airshows and aviation events for decades to come. Seeing a restored P-51 Mustang, Spitfire or B-17 Flying Fortress perform a flyover is a powerful reminder of the courage of those who operated them during WWII. Future generations will still be able to experience the sights, sounds and heritage of these historic aircraft.

Conclusion

Warbirds represent an important segment of WWII aviation history. These fighters, bombers, trainers and other aircraft were at the forefront of technological advancement in the 1940s. They also played an integral role in the air war that raged over Europe, Asia and the Pacific between 1939 and 1945. While many warbirds were lost during the conflict, hundreds have been preserved and still fly today at airshows. For aviation enthusiasts, warbirds are an enduring symbol of innovation and sacrifice during one of history’s most significant conflicts. Their grace, power and legacy in the skies lives on.