5 of the Largest Aircraft of WWII

During World War II, aviation saw one of its most transformative eras. Countries were developing bigger and more powerful aircraft to gain an advantage in the conflict. Both the Allied and Axis powers focused heavily on producing large military planes for transporting troops, supplies, and for carrying out strategic bombing. Here’s a look at some of the largest aircraft produced during that period.

Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant

The Me 323 Gigant, which means “Giant” in English, was the largest land-based transport aircraft used in World War II. This German plane had a wingspan of 181 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 94,799 pounds. It was designed to transport troops and military vehicles. A total of 213 units were built, which included 15 conversions from the Me 321 glider.

The Me 323 was originally created from the Me 321 military glider. The Germans needed a large assault glider for Operation Sea Lion, the planned invasion of Great Britain. Though the invasion never occurred, the Me 323 saw action in the Invasion of Crete, the Invasion of the Soviet Union, and the North African campaign. It could carry around 100 fully-equipped troops and several military vehicles, making it a valuable asset for the German forces.

Boeing B-29 Superfortress

The B-29 Superfortress was one of the most successful large aircraft built during World War II. With a wingspan of 141 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 133,500 pounds, it primarily played the role of a strategic bomber. The United States produced a total of 3,970 B-29s.

Arriving late in the war, the B-29 was mostly used in the Pacific against Japan. It is well-known for its role in the fire-bombing of Japanese cities and for dropping the two nuclear bombs that led to Japan’s surrender. Apart from its wartime role, the B-29 was technologically advanced for its time, equipped with an analog-computer-controlled fire-control system, a pressurized cabin, and a dual-wheeled tricycle landing gear. The plane remained in service through the Korean War and was retired in 1960.

Douglas XB-19

The Douglas XB-19 was an experimental heavy bomber built by the United States. It had a wingspan of 212 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 162,000 pounds. The military produced only one prototype of this aircraft.

The XB-19 was intended as a strategic bomber and was slightly larger than the B-29. While it was under development, rapid advancements in aviation technology made the XB-19 obsolete before it could be fully utilized. Initially planned for conversion to a cargo aircraft, these modifications were never completed. The XB-19 had its final flight on August 17, 1946, and was later scrapped in 1949.

Hughes H-4 Hercules

Often called the “Spruce Goose,” the Hughes H-4 Hercules was one of the largest aircraft ever built. It featured a wingspan of 319 feet and an empty weight of 250,000 pounds. This American prototype was intended to serve as a strategic airlift flying boat for transatlantic flights.

Constructed mostly of birch due to wartime restrictions on aluminum, only one prototype of the H-4 was built. The aircraft made just one short flight on November 2, 1947, and the project was subsequently canceled. It now resides in the Evergreen Museum. The Hercules was designed to transport large quantities of men and materials across the Atlantic, bypassing the threat posed by German U-boats. Despite its limited use, the H-4 remains the largest flying boat ever built.

Blohm & Voss BV 238

The Blohm & Voss BV 238 stands out as one of the heaviest aircraft developed during World War II. This German flying boat had a wingspan of 197 feet and a maximum takeoff weight of 220,462 pounds.

Only one prototype was completed, and it first took to the skies in 1944. The BV 238 was intended to be a slow but well-armored bomber capable of landing on water. Equal in weight to two B-29 Superfortresses, it had a range of over 6,000 miles. The Allies destroyed the lone prototype by strafing it, causing it to partially sink near the town of Lübeck. This ambitious project aimed to show German technological advancements in aviation.

Each of these aircraft played its own role during the conflict, reflecting the incredible pace of innovation and the significant resources allocated to airpower during World War II.