Page 310 - (DK) Smithsinian - Military History: The Definitive Visual Guide to the Objects of Warfare

308 FIGHTER AND FIGHTER-BOMBER Four 30mm cannon

1914–1945 AIRCRAFT 1943–45 mounted in the nose

Some combatant nations—notably the Japanese—initially
favored lightweight, lightly armored fighter aircraft, on the

ARS grounds that maneuverability was all-important; others preferred
better protection and more powerful weaponry, and it was the latter
that were to prove more effective. Such fighter aircraft were also more
easily adapted to the ground-attack role, and this became increasingly
ORLD W important on both European fronts, and in the Pacific Theater. After the Retractable Small ailerons
brief appearance of rocket-powered aircraft, jet propulsion technology
took its first faltering steps in aircraft of this type toward the war’s end,
and within ten years piston-engined fighters had all but disappeared.
THE W Bubble canopy Elliptical wings nose wheel

Retractable Each wing could carry one
Wide-set main wheels for tail wheel 500lb (226.8kg) bomb
stability on the ground or four 3in rockets
▲ REPUBLIC P-47 Nicknamed the “Jug” due to its bulky ▲ HAWKER TEMPEST MK II The last and best of the British
THUNDERBOLT shape, the Thunderbolt was admired Date 1944 Origin UK piston-engined fighter aircraft,
for its high-altitude performance—no the Tempest was a fast and
Date 1942 Origin US Wingspan 41ft (12.5m)
German aircraft could out-dive it—and maneuverable interceptor—capable
Wingspan 40 ⁄4ft (12.42m) 1
3
its ability to take punishment. It proved Length 33 ⁄2ft (10.26m) of taking on the jet-powered
Length 36ft (11m) extremely effective as a ground-attack Top speed 432mph (695kph) Messerschmitts and Arados when
Top speed 435mph (700kph) fighter-bomber. Engine 2,590hp (1,931.3kW) deployed intelligently—while also
Engine 2,535hp (1,890.3kW) Bristol Centaurus V radial excelling in the ground-attack role.
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-59W
Double Wasp radial
Rolls-Royce Merlin
Large fin and rudder improved
engine
stability and maneuverability

Four-bladed Each wing could carry four
Hamilton propeller machine-guns and 1,700
rounds of 0.5in ammunition

▲ NORTH AMERICAN Produced in response to a request
P-51 MUSTANG from the UK, the Mustang was an
Date 1943 Origin US underachiever until it was fitted with
a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine. It went
Wingspan 37ft (11.3m)
on to become a mainstay of the US
1
Length 32 ⁄4ft (9.83m) Army Air Forces, both as an escort and Retractable tail wheel Plywood-covered
Top speed 438mph (705kph) as a fighter-bomber. Its rear fuselage rear fuselage
and tail were completely redesigned
Engine 1,590hp (1,185.6kW)
Packard Merlin V-1650-7 V-12 during the aircraft’s production.
Four 20mm Cockpit well forward, to Straight, square-
cannon in nose give pilot the best view tipped wings ◀ GLOSTER METEOR The Allies’ first operational jet
Date 1944 Origin UK aircraft, the Meteor was the
product of a long development
1
Wingspan 37 ⁄4ft (11.3m)
program. It saw active service
Length 44 ⁄2ft (13.6m) in World War II and in Korea;
1
Tailplane Top speed 600mph (965kph) its last variant was withdrawn
high-mounted, Engine Twin 3,500lb (1,590kg) as late as 1965.
out of jet exhaust Rolls-Royce Derwent turbojets