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The P-38 Lightning was the first American fighter to be designed as a long-range high-altitude interceptor, but due to technical problems, failed to achieve its full potential in its intended role, and was quickly replaced by the P-51 Mustang.  The Lightning did perform well in tactical fighter-bomber roles however, thanks to its long range, heavy armament, and its ability to carry a heavy bomb load.  Despite its size, the P-38 could maneuver with the best of the German fighters at low altitude, and was often referred to as the "Fork-Tailed Devil" by German pilots. P-38 F was the first model of Lightning to considered fit for combat. It got wing attachements to become a fighter-bomber. The P-38 F first saw fire in August of 1942 in the Aleutians but its first massive engagements took place in New Guinea in the automn and the landing in North Africa in November of 1942.
Although not so maneuvrable and outperformed by the Zero, the F4F Wildcat could take far more punishment than its Japanese opponent and its armament was superior. It was on the deck of every carriers during the battles of the Coral Sea, Midway and the Solomons).  The TBF-1 Avenger landed for the first time on the decks of the the US carriers in the course of the year 1942, while the War in the Pacific is already in full swing. They replaced the Devastator. They played a major role during the campaign for Guadalcanal in the Solomons in 1942 and went on playing that part until the end of the war. 
For four years, the SBD Dauntless would remain the standard emabarked dive bomber of the US Navy. It sank more Japanese ships than any other model of planes. It made its first flight in July of 1938 and was fully operational when the war started three years later. In Midway, they played a major role, since they sank the four Japanese carriers opposed to them. The F4U Corsair started as a pure fighter but variant D had already attachements for payload and proved a powerful fighter-bomber. It was reserve to the US Marines Corps oprating from land bases. To answer the numerous orders, the firms Brewster under the designation "F3A-1" and Goodyear (as "FG-1") also contributed to the production. Almost 400 units were delivered to New Zealand and more than 2000 to Great Britain. The British were the first to use successfully the Corsair from the deck of a carrier and pass over their method to the US Navy, which followed suit.
The Boeing B-17 "Queen of the Skies", the most celebrated four-engine bomber of the war, was the US 8th Air Force's principle weapon in the air war against Germany.  Bristling with machine-guns, it was the most heavily armed bomber in the European theater.  It was a tough plane to bring down, and was able to return its crew back home, even with major components missing. 
At the end of the war, the B-24 Liberator was the most plentiful bomber in the US 8th Air Force inventory.  B-24's could carry bigger loads, had longer range, and could fly faster than B-17's.  It was, however, a difficult plane to fly, especially at high altitudes with a heavy bomb load, and was not able to take the amount of punishment that the B-17 could.
Although it was the first shot that North American made at a bomber, it was winner. As a tactical bomber, it was employed on every fronts where the US fought during the war. It was the two-engined bombers with the highest production numbers in the USA. The Mitchell proved to be better adapted to the fighting conditions in the Pacific, from where it finally ousted its competitor: the B-26 Maurauder. In the heart of the crews too, the Mitchell was way above the Marauder.
The P-40 project was started, in March 1937. It was based upon another Curtiss design the P-36A "Hawk". The Curtiss P-40 although not an exceptional aircraft, was the most important American fighter during the first two years of World War II. Its two strengths, during this time was its immediate availability for service, and its availability in large quantity. Its operational service was extensive, and it was used on all fronts. Curtiss P-40M was a single-seat all-metal cantilever low-wing fighter with retractable undercarriage. The P-40 started as a fighter, but because performance was falling short it turned into an attack aircraft. Even though it was put to good use in a couple of theatres as a fighter bomber. The P-40 was rugged, capable of taking a lot of damage and able to pull high G's but mediocre performance, especially in the medium to high range.
The P-39 were exported to Great Britain arriving in April of 1941.  No.601 squadron exchanged its Hurricanes for these new aircraft. The P-39's performance was unacceptable for deployment in the European theatre. Only about 80 of the total order entered service with the RAF. The final production P-39N and Q were built in large numbers to supply Russia under Lend-Lease. The P-39 Air Cobra was limited in potential as a fighter, it was used with a great degree of success as ground attack aircraft. USA impounded or bought back more than 350 examples to use them either in the Pacific or in North Africa under the name "P-400".  F4U Corsair started as a pure fighter but variant D had already attachements for payload and proved a powerful fighter-bomber.  P-40 - See Previous page -.
The Wildcat was outclassed by the Japanese Zero in pure performance. In contrast, its successor the Hellcat enjoyed a comfortable superiority for the whole of its career. Developped in record time, it first landed on an operational carrier in August of 1943. In the next two years, it downed more than 5000 Japanese planes. Outside the US Navy, the Marine Corps and the Royal Navy made use of Hellcats (the British first rename them "Gannet" before reverting to the US designation).
The P-40 project was started, in March 1937. It was based upon another Curtiss design the P-36A "Hawk". The Curtiss P-40 although not an exceptional aircraft, was the most important American fighter during the first two years of World War II. Its two strengths, during this time was its immediate availability for service, and its availability in large quantity. Its operational service was extensive, and it was used on all fronts. Curtiss P-40M was a single-seat all-metal cantilever low-wing fighter with retractable undercarriage. The P-40 started as a fighter, but because performance was falling short it turned into an attack aircraft. Even though it was put to good use in a couple of theatres as a fighter bomber. The P-40 was rugged, capable of taking a lot of damage and able to pull high G's but mediocre performance, especially in the medium to high range.
The PV-1 Ventura, a sea patroller was close to the Venrtura IIa, but its range was increased and it carried the equipments needed by its main user, the US Navy (among other depth charges or torpedoes). It entered service in February of 1943 and first saw fire in the Aleutians in April. Most of them were employed in the Pacific area. Great Britain also got many of them and used them as the "Ventura GR V"
First version of the Ki-43 entered service in 1941. Just like the Zero of the Imperial Navy, the Oscar of the Army outclassed the allied fighters at the beginning of the war in dog fights. Since it was engaged on fewer fronts against the western allies, it did not reach the fame of its colleague of the Navy. The armament was and remained the weak point of this machine.  In January of 1944, appeared the first variant of the Ki-61 and maintained their superiority against any allied fighter above Japan until the arrival of the Mustang in the spring of 1945.  The B5N Kate was very advanced when it appeared in 1937 but was outdated at the outbreak of the Pacific War. It was the largest part of the carrier-based torpedo bombers of the combined fleet from 1941 until 1943.  
The Ki-45 became immediately popular among the crews because of its armor and its (relatively) powerful armament. The armament of Ki-45 KAIa was massively increased. The 37 mm guns made that plane formidable against bombers or light ships. On the field, the armament was increased once more, with two heavy machine guns firing obliquely (like the German "Schrge Musik").  Ki-46 Dinah was developped as a strategic reconnaissance plane from scratch, instead of adapting an existing plane designed for other missions. The Dinah remained one of the rare plane, which could intrude in the allied airspace with a reasonable chance to get back, even in the last months of the war. Well regarded by its crews despite some initial weaknesses, its speed allowed it to fullfill its missions. The plane was also converted into heavy fighter, a role for which it was less successful, but that it pursued until the end of the war.
The J1N1 Irwing was a twin-engine long-range escort fighter (J1N1), reconnaissance aircraft (J1N1-C and J1N1-R) or night fighter (J1N1-S and J1N1-Sa). All-metal construction with fabric-covered control surfaces.
The A6M Zeke or Zero remained as a symbol of the Japense expansion in the Pacific. It is one of the very few Japanese plane widely known among non specialists. That fame rewards the best carrier based fighter in the world at the time of its appearance. It was not only superior to all other carrier based fighters, but also to most land-based ones, when the Pacific war broke out. That superiority was only temporary, but, even outclassed, the Zero went on being produced until the end of the war. The surname "Zero" gained universal acceptance on allied as well as Japanese ("Reisen" a shortcut for "Rei Sentoki" meaning "Type Zero Fighter") sides. The Zero was the terminal digit of the year, when the plane entered service (2600 in Japanese calender, corresponding to the year 1940 for the Westerners).
"Kikka" meaning "Orange Blossom" was Japan's first jet-powered aircraft. It was developed late in World War II, the first prototype had only flown once before the end of the conflict. 
Ki-21 "Sally" had its first war experience in China in late 1938. It was largely superior to any opponents there, but several variants were needed to address the few drawbacks of the plane, among them an insufficient defensive armament and protection. With more powerful engines, it became the Ki-21-II, which had become standard when the Pacific War broke out.  P1Y 'Ginga' or Frances that was the allied designation, was one of the best Japanese aircraft produced during the war. This land-based bomber of the Japanese Navy was undertaken at the same time as an horizontal and a dive-bomber. Its maneuvrability qualitified it to to become a fighter too and it had a range superior to most plane of its category. It was handicapped by the lack of experienced pilots and of raw materials. In Japanese, "Ginga" means "milky way".
The "Val" was for the Japanese Imperial Navy what the Stuka once was for the Luftwaffe: the standard dive bomber and almost the symbol of its superiority. It is the winner of Pearl Harbor (with the Kate) and achieved a rate of 90% hits during the attack against the Dorsetshire and Cornwall during the raid in the Indian Ocean off Trincomalee. Its fortune started to fade after 1942. New and better allied fighter appeared on the stage but first of all, the crack pilots at the start of the war had been decimated at Midway and in the Solomons. It was replaced from 1944 onwards by the Judy on the deck of the heavy carriers. It operated from land airfields during the campaign in the Philippines in 1944-45 and was extensively used as kamkize in the last phase of the war.
The "Betty" played for the heavy bombers the same role that the Zero played for the fighter of the Imperial Navy. Sovereign at the start of the Pacific War, it went on fighting and being produced until the bitter end, despite a growing inferiority facing the allied air opposition. To become the first heavy bomber of the Imperial Navy, the Betty had to answer stringent specifications as to its payload and range. It passed the test brilliantly, but only by sacrificing protection. The Betty did a spectacular entry in the Pacific War: as soon as the second day, it destroyed the Force Z, sinking two capital ships, the Prince of Wales and the Repulse off the Malaysian coast. In January of 1943, it added the heavy cruiser Chicago to its score during the battle of the Rennels Islands in the Solomons. From 1943 onwards, the luck turned against it.
It was less a plane than a missile guided by a human pilot. It was designed to replace the planes for the suicide attacks. An especially converted Betty launched them a dozen kilometers far from its objective, which the Okha reached at the end of a dive. Its reduced size and speed made it a difficult to intercept. Its only operational use was in Okinawa when it sank a single US ship. 80 were effectively used in combat. Two models were ready at the end of the war, but almost ten had been studied or were in developement. They used either rocket engines or turbojet. There was even a training glider and a rocket powered glider derived from the Okha. The allied dubbed it "Baka", meaning "mad" in Japanese. The official nickname was "Okha", "cherry blossom".
Wingspan :
Length :
Height :
Wing Area :
Engine :
Fuel :
Loaded Weight :
Wing Loading :
Maximum Speed :
Service Ceiling :
Rate of Climb :
Range :
Armaments :
Lockheed P-38F 'Lightning'
15.86 meters
11.53 meters
3.90 meters
328 sq. ft
2 x Allison V-1710-49/53,Power (total): 2 650 HP
300 gal internal
empty 5 563 kg,loaded: 7 212 kg
50 lb./sq. ft
650 kph
12 000 meters
870 m/min.
600 km
1 x 20mm Hispano cannon, 4 x .50 cal. Browning machine-guns 2x 450 kg bombs
Lockheed P-38J 'Lightning'
52 ft 0 in
37 ft 10 in
12 ft 10 in
328 sq. ft
2 x Allison V-1710-89/91 rated at 1,600 hp
410 gal internal
17,500 lb.
53 lb./sq. ft
414 mph
44,000 ft
3,800 ft/min
350 miles
1 x 20mm Hispano cannon, 4 x .50 cal. Browning machine-guns
Grumman F4F-4 'Wildcat'
11 meters
8.8 meters
3.6 meters
24.15 sq m.
Pratt & Whitney R-1830-86 'Twin Wasp' (1200 HP)
????
empty: 2 109 kg,loaded: 2 767 kg
115 kg/sq m
509 kph
10 670 meters
1000 m/min.
1 448 km
4 x 12.7 mm machine guns, 2 250-lbs bombs
Grumman TBF 'Avenger' 
16.50 meters
12.20 meters
5.00 meters
45.52 sq m.
Wright R-2600-8 'Double Cyclone' (1 700 HP)
????
empty: 4 580 kg,loaded: 7 214 kg
158 kg/sq m
445 kph
7 132 meters
376 m/min.
1 600 km
2 x .50 Browning M2 mg, 2 x .30 Browning M2 mg, 1 x 559 mm torpedo
Douglas SBD-1 'Dauntless'
12.65 meters
10.06 meters
3.94 meters
????
Wright R-1820-32 'Cyclone' (1 000 HP)
????
empty: 2 970 kg,loaded: 4 320 kg
????
406 kph
7 400 meters
457 m/min.
730 km
1 x .50 Browning M2 mg, 1 x .30 Browning M2 mg, 1 454 kg (1000-lbs) bomb, 2 x 45 kg (100-lbs) bombs
Vought F4U-1 'Corsair' 
12.5 meters
10.16 meters
4.60 meters
29.17 sq m.
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-8 (W) 'Double Wasp' (1 850 HP)
????
empty: 3 944 kg,loaded: 5 461 kg
187 kg/sq m
685 kph
11 300 meters
951 m/min.
1 630 km
6 x .50 Browning M2 machine guns,900 kg of bombs
Boeing B-17F Flying Fortress
103 ft 9 in
74 ft 9 in
19 ft 1 in
????
4 x Wright R-1820-97 Cyclone rated 1,200 hp
????
65,500 lb.
????
287 mph
37,500 ft
????
1,000 miles
6,000 lb. of bombs, 12 x .50 cal. machine-guns
Consolidated B-24D Liberator
110 ft 0 in
66 ft 4 in
17 ft 11 in
????
4 x Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43 Twin Wasp rated 1,200 hp 
????
60,000 lb.
????
303 mph
32,000 ft
????
1,000 miles
8,000 lb. of bombs, 11 x .50 cal. machine-guns
North American B-25 Mitchell
67 ft 7 in (20.60 m)
52 ft 11 in (16.13 m)
14 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
610 sq ft (56.67 sq m)
Two Wright R-2600-A71-3 Double Cyclone engines, 1500hp each for takeoff 1275hp at 12,000 feet. 
????
19,480 lbs (8836 kg); 35,000 lbs (15876 kg). Overload weight of 41,800 lbs (18960 kg). 
????
272 mph (438 km/h) at 13,000 ft (3960 m); cruising speed 230 mph (370 km/h)
24,200 ft (7375 m)
1,500 ft (460 m) per minute. (later models) typically 1,100 ft (338m) per minute.
1200 miles with a 2100 pound load. 
Three 0.30-inch flex mg in nose top turret an aft position portable between waist and ventral loc. Two fixed 0.30-inch guns in each wing (optional) 3,000 lbs (1361 kg) of bombs  
Curtiss P-40N Warhawk
11.4 m
10.16 m
3.75 m
????
Engine: Allison V-1710-99, 1200 HP
????
Empty: 3000 kg, Loaded: 3800 kg
????
586 kph at 6100 m
9000 m
635 m/min
1200 km
6 x .50 Browning M2 machine guns + 500 kg of bombs
Bell P-39 Airacobra
10.36 m
9.19 m
3.61 m
19.79 sq m.
(P-39M) Allison V-1710-83 inline piston engine, 1,200 hp. (P-39L) Allison V-1710-63 12-cylinder Vee piston engine, 1,325 hp. (P-39J) V-1710-59 engine with automatic boost control, 1,100 hp.
????
2545 kg/3810 kg
????
322 km/h at 10970 m, 621 km/h at 2895 m
36,000 ft (10970 m)
4,000 ft (1220 m) / min
650 miles (1046 km) on internal fuel. Droptank while cruising at 160 mph (256 km/h) 1,475 miles (2360 km).
One 37 mm T9 cannon with 30 rounds, two synchronised 12.7 mm Colt-Browning mg and 4*7.62 mm (0.30 in) machine guns in outer wing, plus 1*227 kg bomb.
Curtiss P-40K Warhawk
37 ft  4 in 
33 ft  4 in 
12 ft  4 in 
236 sq ft 
Engine: Allison V-1710-73, 1 325 HP
????
empty: 6,400 lb loaded: 10,050 lb
????
363 mph
28,000 ft
2,000 fpm
350 to 1,600 miles
6 x 12.7 mm machine guns
Curtiss P-40C Tomahawk 
11.36 meters
9.70 meters
3.75 meters
????
Allison V-1710-33, 1 040 HP
????
empty: 2 636 kg loaded: 3 393 kg
????
555 kph,
9 144 meters
807 m/min.
1 175 km
6 x .303" machine guns
F6F-3 Hellcat
13.05 meters
10.02 meters
3.99 meters
31.03 sq m.
Pratt & Whitney R-2800-10 'Double Wasp' (2 000 HP)
????
empty: 4 101 kg,loaded: 6 000 kg
193 kg/sq m
605 kph
11 430 meters
990 m/min.
1 755 km
6 x .50 Browning M2 machine guns
Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk 
11 meters
10 meters
3.75 meters
21.93 sq m.
Allison V-1710-39, 1 150 HP
????
empty: 2 880 kg, loaded: 3 756 kg
171 kg/sq m
583 kph
8 839 meters
640 m/min.
1 078 km
6 x 12.7 mm machine guns
Lockheed PV-1 'Ventura'  
19.96 meters
15.77 meters
3.63 meters
51.19 sq m.
2 x Pratt & Whitney R-2800-31 'Double Wasp' (total 4 000 HP)
????
empty: 9 161 kg, loaded: 14 097 kg
275 kg/sq m
518 kph
8 016 meters
680 m/min.
2 519 km
4 x 12.7 mm machine guns, 2 .30" machine guns,1 361 kg of bombs
Nakajima Ki-43 'Hayabusa' Oscar
11.44 meters
8.92 meters
3.27 meters
21.40 sq m.
1 Nakajima Ha-115 engine (1 150 HP)
????
loaded: 2 655 kg
124 kg/sq m
530 kph
11 215 meters
990 m/min.
1 700 km
2 x 250 kg (551-lbs) bombs, 2 x 12.7mm Ho-103 (Army Type 1) mg
Kawasaki Ki-61 'Hien' Tony
12.00 meters
8.95 meters
3.70 meters
20.00 sq m.
1 Kawasaki Ha-40 engine (1 175 HP)
????
empty: 2 630 kg, loaded: 3 470 kg
174 kg/sq m
560 kph
10 000 meters
????
1 900 km
2 x 250 kg (551-lbs) bombs, 2 x 20mm Ho-5 guns, 2 x 12.7mm Ho-103 (Army Type 1) mg
Nakajima B5N2 Kate
15.52 meters
10.30 meters
3.70 meters
37.70 sq m.
1 Nakajima Sakae 11 engines (1 115 HP)
????
empty: 2 227 kg, loaded: 3 800 kg
101 kg/sq m
378 kph
7 460 meters
????
980 km
2 x .303" machine guns, 1 x 457mm torpedo
Kawasaki Ki-45 'Toryu' Nick
15.02 meters
11.00 meters
3.70 meters
32.00 sq m.
2 Mitsubishi Ha-102 engines (1 080 HP)
????
empty: 4 000 kg, loaded: 5 500 kg
172 kg/sq m
540 kph
10 000 meters
700 m/min.
2 000 km
2 x 250 kg (551-lbs) bombs,1 x 37mm Ho-203 gun (16 rnds),2 x 20mm Ho-5 guns (200 rnds),1 x 7.92mm Type 98 mg (1050 rnds)
Mitsubishi Ki-46 'Dinah' 
14.70 meters
11.00 meters
3.88 meters
????
2 Mitsubishi Ha-26-I engines (870 HP)
????
empty: 3 379 kg, loaded: 4 822 kg
????
540 kph
10 500 meters
600 m/min.
2 100 km
1 x .303" machine gun
Nakajima J1N1 'Gekko' Irving
16.98 meters
12.18 meters
4.56 meters
40.00 sq m.
2 Nakajima NK1F 'Sakae 21/22' engines (1 130 HP)
????
empty: 4800 kg, loaded: 6900 kg
172 kg/sq m
507 kph
????
????
2700 km
1 x 20mm Type 99 Model 1 gun 6 x 7.7mm Type 97 (Navy) mg
Mitsubishi A6M3 'Reisen' Zeke
11.00 meters
9.06 meters
3.51 meters
21.53 sq m.
1 Nakajima NK1F 'Sakae 21' engine (1 130 HP)
????
empty: 1 807 kg, loaded: 2 544 kg
118 kg/sq m
544 kph
11 050 meters
1372 m/min.
2 380 km
2 x 60 kg (132-lbs) bombs 2 x 20mm Type 99 guns (120 rnds) 2 x 7.7mm Type 97 (Navy) mg (1000 rnds)
Mitsubishi A6M5 'Reisen' Zeke
11.00 meters
9.12 meters
3.51 meters
21.30 sq m.
1 Nakajima NK1F 'Sakae 21' engine (1 130 HP)
????
empty: 1 876 kg, loaded: 2 733 kg
128 kg/sq m
565 kph
11 741 meters
????
1 900 km
2 x 60 kg (132-lbs) bombs, 2 x 20mm Type 99 Model 2 Mk3 guns (200 rounds), 2 x 7.7mm Type 97 (Navy) mg
Nakajima J9N "Kikka"
10m
8.13m
2.95m
13.2m2 
2 x He-20 turbojets, 475kg
????
Start mass: 3500-4080kg, Empty mass: 2300kg
????
700kph
12000m
????
940km
1 x 800-kg bomb, 4 x 30mm MK-108 cannons
Mitsubishi Ki-21 'Sally' 
22.50 meters
16.00 meters
4.85 meters
????
2 Nakajima Ha-5 KAI engines (850 HP)
????
empty: 4 691 kg, loaded: 7 492 kg
????
432 kph
8 600 meters
350 m/min.
2 700 km
750 kg of bombs, 3 x 7.7mm Type 89 machine guns
Yokosuka P1Y Ginga 'Frances'
20.00 meters
15.00 meters
4.30 meters
55.00 sq m.
2 Nakajima NK9B 'Homare 11' engines (1 820 HP)
????
empty 7 265 kg, loaded: 10 500 kg
????
546 kph
10 220 meters
650 m/min.
1 919 km
2 x 20mm Type 99 guns,1 x 457mm torpedo
Aichi D3A2 Val
14.53 meters
10.25 meters
3.35 meters
????
1 Mitsubishi Kinsei 54 engine (1 300 HP)
????
empty: 2 618 kg, loaded: 3 800 kg
????
430 kph
10 500 meters
????
1 470 km
1 x 250 kg (551-lbs) bomb, 2 x 60 kg (132-lbs) bombs, 1 x 7.7mm Type 92 mg, 2 x 7.7mm Type 97 (Navy) mg
Mitsubishi G4M3 Betty
25.00 meters
19.50 meters
6.00 meters
78.13 sq m.
2 Mitsubishi MK4T 'Kasei 25' engines (1 825 HP)
????
empty: 8 350 kg,loaded: 12 500 kg
160 kg/sq m
470 kph
9 920 meters
????
4 335 km
1 000 kg of bombs,4 x 20mm guns,2 x .303" machine guns
MXY7 'Okha'
5.12 meters
6.07 meters
1.16 meters
6.00 sq m.
Engine: 3 x Yokosuka Type 4 Mk 1 Model 20
????
empty: 440 kg,loaded: 2 140 kg
357 kg/sq m
648 kph
????
????
37 km
1 200 kg of explosives
