WORLD WAR TWO COLOR PHOTOS :: Illustrations

:: ILLUSTRATION GALLERY ::

~ AIRCRAFT ~

IV

Messerschmitt Me 262A Schwalbe The world's first turbojet to be used operationally in the fighter-bomber role, the Me 262 marked the peak of German aircraft design in the Second World War.	Mitsubishi A6M2 Zero This celebrated Japanese wartime aircraft was used as a fighter, trainer, dive-bomber and eventually as a suicide plane.
North American B-25 Mitchell The famous USAAF medium bomber was employed in every war theatre during the Second World War and remained in service during three decades after the war in many world air forces.	North American P-51B Mustang One of the finest piston-engined fighters of the Second World War.
North American P-51D Mustang The sleek Mustang with its high performance was one of the outstanding fighter-bombers of the Second World War.	Northrop P-61 Black Widow The first American aircraft to be designed specifically as a night-fighter, Black Widows operated both in Europe and the Pacific.
Savoia Marchetti SM.79 The Sparviero was the most efficient of all Italian bombers in the Second World War and was developed from experience gained in the Spanish Civil War.	Supermarine Spitfire 1a The Spitfire ranks as one of the most famous fighter aircraft of all time. The illustration shows the version flown during the Battle of Britain.
Supermarine Spitfire VB More Spitfire Vs were built than any other variant of the most famous of all fighter aircraft. This version carried the air war to Europa after the Battle of Britain.	Vickers Armstrong Wellington B.III Popularly known as the 'Wimpey' this was the standard RAF night-bomber in the early years of the Second World War. More Wellingtons were produced than any other British bomber, being completed 11,450 units of all versions.
Vought F4U-1D Corsair Immediately recognisable by its inverted gull wing, the Corsair of the US Navy performed brilliantly against the Japanese in the Pacific where it was known as the Whispering Death.	Vought Kingfisher Built in both landplane and floatplane versions and operated by the US services and the Royal Navy.
Westland Lysander Initially used in the Army cooperation role, the Lysander gained fame as a spy transport.	Westland Whirlwind Low level anti-shipping and train-busting sorties were the speciality of the RAF Whirlwind squadrons.
Yak-9D Probably the most famous of Soviet Second World War fighters, the Yak was a simple but extremely efficient machine.