Home : World War II : The Axis :Axis War Planes
A generation ago, the world suffered a six-year convulsion which for sheer impact on the life of our race has probably never been paralleled since the Flood. The Second World War directly or indirectly changed the national life of every country on the face of the globe; some were engulfed for ever, some were born, and some were brought suddenly and brutally into the mainstream of twentieth-century events. A whole new power structure emerged, involving every civilised community on earth. One of the most dramatic accelerations brought about by this unnatural stimulus was in the field of aviation. The Second World War came in with the last days of the fabric-covered fighter biplane; it went out with the jet interceptor and the nuclear bomb. In the first half of the War the battlefields of Europe, Africa and Russia were dominated by the greatest air power then in existence - the German Luftwaffe; and although annihilated in the closing months of the conflict, its terror spent for ever, the Luftwaffe will always occupy a special place in the imaginations of those who interest themselves in the history of men under arms. Carrying the brunt of air operations against the Allies during the Pacific War, the Imperial Japanese Navy had developed an efficient air arm which blazed the trail for the conquering Nipponese forces. Despite the fact that in December 1941 this Service was known to operate ten aircraft carriers capable of embarking 620 aircraft and to have land-based bombers capable of transoceanic raids, the Allies ignored its potential striking power; the Americans kept their battleships neatly aligned at Pearl Harbour whilst the British sailed their H.M.S. Prince of Wales and H.M.S Repulse without air cover. Within a week of the start of hostilities the aircraft of the Imperial Japanese Navy had achieved complete air superiority from Malaya to Hawaii. The strength and versatility of the Naval air arm at the outbreak of World War Two was the result of long-term planning which spanned the years between the two great world wars.
BETTYThis twin-engine land-based navy medium bomber made its first appearance in the Battle of Midway as a torpedo bomber but later was used for conventional bombing operations in all areas of the Pacific. In size and genera( layout, the Betty was much like the RAF Wellington. Built by Mitsubishi, it was the first Japanese plane with self-sealing gas tanks and armor, but could not stand up against largecallber machine-gun fire. Early models of the Betty attained a top speed of 275 miles per hour, and this was increased about 15 per cent with the installation of superchargers. As World War II progressed, many Betty bombers were converted to paratroop and cargo transports.DINAHDinah was designed by Mitsubishi in 1937 and came into operational use in 1940. As Japan's first twin-engine reconnaissance plane, it originally was unarmed and depended on speed and maneuverability for defense. Later models were modified for fighter and fighter-bomber operations. The fighters were used against the B-17, and the fighter-bombers against island bastions such as Saipan. Although Dinah was primarily an army weapon, the navy used some for reconnaissance missions.FW-190Manufacturered by Focke-Wulf, the FW-190, Germany's first modern fighter with a radial engine, became operational late in 1941. Primarily a medium altitude fighter, it had a high rate of climb and could land at high speed. However, it stalled readily and could not make tight turns. In the early days of World War ll. the FW-190 could outfly the Spitfire, but it lost its advantage as more advanced models of the RAF fighter became operational. It was used by the Germans as a low-altitude fighter-bomber; when equipped with auxiliary fuel tanks, it was used to bomb the British Isles; and one model was armed with rockets to fight against B-17 formations en route to targets in Germany.HE-111The Heinkel-built He-111 dates back to 1935, when Lufthansa Airlines used the plane in regular transport operations. Basically, however, it was a bomber and conversion to that configuration soon followed. In the Battle of Britain, the RAF was able to down a number of the He-111's which took part in daylight bombing, principally because the planes lacked armament and protection for their crews. Because of tnese deficiencies, the He-111 was relegated to night- and torpedo bombing missions in areas where the Allies' better fighters were not employed. Close to fifty models of this aircraft were produced.HELENThis medium bomber was designed by Nakajima in 1939 and went into production in 7941. It carried two engines, had self-sealing fuel tanks, and was well armored in an attempt to match the superior firepower of American fighters. Armament included a hand-operated dorsal turret and remote-controlled tail gun. Only 754 of the planes were built, presumably because of its short range and small bomb load. This was the first Japanese Army bomber to attack Darwin, and it was used against Allied vessels during the battle for the Philippines.JU-52One of Junkers' most famous designs, the three-engine version of the Ju-52 was first built in 1932, and the first LuftwafFe bomber squadrons were equipped with the aircraft in 1935. During World War 11, the Ju-52 was used extensively by the German Air Force to carry cargo or troops and to tow gliders. It could carry seventeen passengers and could tow up to three gliders simultaneously. Over 2,800 were built during World War II.JU-87 STUKAThe scourge of the skies at the beginning of World War ll, the Junkers Ju-87 dive bomber became operational early in 1937. It was tested with the Condor Legion in Spain and proved to be successful. During World War II, this success was repeated in the Polish campaign and over France and the Low Countries. In the Battle of Britain, where the LuftwafFe did not have control of the air, the weak points of the Ju-87 became evident. It was slow and unwieldy-no match for the Hurricanes and Spitfires of the Royal Air Force. In later actions, especially in the Mediterranean area, the Stuka performed efficiently where there was little fighter opposition, but it had lost its reputation as the plane that would win the war for Germany. About 5.000 were built.JU-88This Junkers-built twin-engine aircraft was considered during World War lI to be Germany's most versatile plane. It was utilized as a long-range day and night fighter, torpedo bomber and dive bomber, and was also used successfully for routine precision bombing operations. The first prototype, a civilian version, appeared in 1939. Thereafter, it passed through many modifications to accommodate a variety of missions. The earlier models of the Ju-88 had a very stubby nose which was later streamlined. In 1944, the plane was completely redesigned to become the Ju-188.KATEKate, officially known as the G-97, was designed and built by Nakajima. As a carrier-based torpedo bomber it took part in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor and was responslble for the sinking of the "Wasp," "Lexington," and "Yorktown." In terms of Allied shipping destroyed during World War 11, it probably was Japan's most successful bomber, although it was not considered to be an outstanding aircraft from the point of view of either design or performance. Its effectiveness was due to crew training, the numbers employed, and the absence of Allied fighter opposition. Kate was the first Imperial Navy shipboard plane with a retractable undercarriage.ME-109This fighter built by Messerschmitt was the backbone of the LuftwafTe at, the beginning of World War II. In a head-on attitude it was sometimes mistaken for the RAF Spitfire. During the war, the Me-109 was flown by German pilots on all fronts. It was heavily armed and some models were equipped with pressure cabins. One copy of the "F" model was captured in Africa, and later evaluation at Wright Field, in the United States, showed it to be inferior to the better Allied fighters in service during the war. Some later model Me-109's were equipped for photoreconnaissance missions.
ME-110The Messerschmitt 110 was designed in 1937 and used in the Polish campaign and on most of the early World War II fronts. However, it was oversized, and in spite of its two engines, was outfiown by most single-engine fighters. Both Spitfires and Hurricanes found it an easy mark in the Battle of Britain. With a two-man crew, the range of the plane normally was less than 700 miles, but this could be upped to 1,500 miles when additional fuel tanks were installed under the wings.ME-163 KOMETThe Messerschmitt Me-163 was the world's first operational rocket-powered fighter. It was designed by Dr. Alexander M. Lippisch, who had been commissioned to develop a high-altitude, high-speed, rocket-propelled research craft. This small, tailless airplane, powered with a single Walter 660-pound-thrust rocket, reached a speed of 341 miles per hour at the Peenemuende Rocket Test Center in 1940. !n 1939 I.ippisch was transferred to Messerschmitt A.G. He began work on the Me-163B, an operational rocket plane, in 1941, and this was ready for combat in 1944. Because of the short duration of its flight (eight to fifteen minutes) and the danger of explosion on landing, it was always considered an experimental plane. Records indicate that 364 Komets were built.ME-262 SWALLOWThe Messerschmitt Me-262 was the world's first jet fighter. Its development began in 1938; it flew for the first time on all-jet power in 1942. In spite of the enthusiasm of the German Air Ministry for the sensational new singleseat, twin-jet fighter, Adolf Hitler insisted that the plane be used as a bomber, and the first bomber version, the Me-262 Stormbird, flew on May I, 1944 (there was a production delay while the plane was redesigned). The plane was not a great success as a bomber, and it once again became primarily a fighter when Hitler realized his decision had been wrong. The double changeover made quantity production of the Me-262 imposslble. Only 1,433 had been turned out before the war ended, but the few Me-262's that did go into action were able to inflict considerable damage on Allied bombers.SALLYManufacturered by Mitsubishi, Sally dated back to 1937, when the Japanese used the twin-engine plane to bomb targets in China. This model was unarmored and had very little defensive capability. Attempts to correct these deficiencies in later models met with little success but the plane continued to be used in large numbers, probably because of Japan's investment in production facilities. This Army bomber carried a fiveto seven-man crew and featured stressed-skin construction of metal.TONYThis aircraft was manufactured by Kawasaki as a light Army fighter but was also fitted with bombs (for fighterbomber duties) and droppable wing tanks (for long-range escort). It was one of the earlier Japanese planes to have armor plating and leak-proof fuel tanks. Tony was well designed with clean lines. It was capable of making highspeed dives, had a fast rate of climb, and was highly maneuverable. The power plant in earlier models was a Japanese version of the Daimler Benz 601. The plane was used in New Guinea and also in defense of the main islands of Japan.VALEarly models of this single-engine Navy dive bomber took part in the Pearl Harbor attack. Neither these nor subsequent versions had armor or self-sealing fuel tanks, yet the plane was relatively sturdy when compared to Japanese fighters. Val operated with fighter cover from land and carrier bases. In normal operations, it dove sharply on its target, released its bombs and escaped on a zig-zag course. The plane was built by Aichi and was readily identified by its prominent dive brakes and fixed landing gear.ZEKEThe Zeke dated from pre-Pearl Harbor days. Model II, known as the Zero, was superseded by more advanced versions as World War lI progressed. The Zeke was initially designed by Mitsubishi as a carrier-based fighter but saw service with both the Japanese Army and Navy and operated extensively from land bases. The plane was also used as a night interceptor and fighter-bomber. In the original Zeke, the pilot was entirely unprotected, but subsequent models had some armor plate, although this was easily pierced by machine-gun fire. Attempts to leakproof the plane's gas tanks were also unsuccessful. Mitsubishi and Nakajima built more than 10,000 - a greater number than any other World War II Japanese aircraft - of these planes.ZEROThe Zero, probably the most famous of the Japanese fighters, came into prominence before World War II. Built by Mitsubishi, it was flown against the American Volunteer Group. The plane was very maneuverable and chalked up a good record against early U.S. and British fighters. Its effectiveness, however, probably was overplayed by the press. This carrier-bornc fighter was very flimsy by American standards and easily destroyed when hit by U.S. fighters. It was replaced by more advanced models early in World War 11. The nickname Zero evolved from Mitsubishi's designation for the plane, "Type 00." It was also known as the Zeke II.
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