Top 5 World War II Fighter Planes

1: North American P-51 Mustang (United States)

The Mustang was designed to dominate the skies and help end World War II and it did just that accounting for more kills than any other Allied aircraft. When the bombers of the 8th Air Force fought their way deep into Hitler's German heartland, it was the Mustang that cleared the skies of Luftwaffe fighters as it provided sorely needed long-range, high altitude escort for the U.S. bombing campaign against Germany. The Mustang also saw service against the Japanese air forces in the Pacific War and later in the Korean War.

2: Supermarine Spitfire (Great Britain)

The Spitfire was a British single-seat fighter aircraft used by the Royal Air Force and other Allied countries during World War II and is remembered as the sleek, thoroughbred fighting machine that turned the tide during the Battle of Britain. The Spitfire was designed as a short-range interceptor aircraft and was among the fastest and most manoevrable fighters of World War II. It was the only British fighter produced continuously throughout the war.

3: Messerschmitt Bf-109 (Germany)

The Messerschmitt first saw operational service in 1937 during the Spanish Civil War and later became the backbone of the Luftwaffe's fighter force during World War II . The 'Emil' as it was known was the most renowned fighter of the Axis countries during the war and was a symbol of its air power. It's performance in the earlier stages of the war was so dominant that it gave Germany the upper hand.

4: Mitsubishi A6M Zero (Japan)

The Mitsubishi Zero was a long-range carrier-based fighter that was the spearhead of the Imperial Japanese Navy. In the early stages of World War II it was absolutely dominant with a kill ratio of 12 to 1 as no American fighter could match it in firepower, agility, or range. The successes of the Zero were due in part to its light weight, power, armament and manoeuvrability.

5: Vought F4U Corsair (United States)

The Corsair was designed as a carrier-based aircraft and saw action mostly against the Japanese in the Theatre of the Pacific where it totally outclassed the much vaunted Japanese Zero in the later stages of World War II. The speed, strength, and firepower of the Corsair enabled it to dominate Japanese opposition, shooting down 2,140 against a loss of 189. Known as the 'Bent-wing Bird' the Corsair went on to be a ground-assault plane in the Korean War.