The Rarest World War II Planes That History Forgot

The Forgotten Sides of Air Power

When most people think of World War II aircraft, names like the Spitfire, Hurricane, or P-51 Mustang come quickly to mind. These aircraft earned fame in major battles and became symbols of the era. But behind the headlines were other machines, often strange, experimental, or built for very specific roles. Some were ahead of their time, others seemed stuck in the past, yet each left an imprint on aviation history.

These planes rarely appear in museums and are often overlooked in stories of the war. Yet they played their part in missions that demanded both courage and ingenuity. What follows are five of the rarest aircraft that history has nearly forgotten.

Bristol Blenheim – From Airliner to Bomber

The Bristol Blenheim began life as a sleek civilian design in the 1930s, known as the Bristol Type 142. With its streamlined fuselage and twin Mercury engines, it was faster than many fighters of its day. When war loomed, the Air Ministry saw its potential and asked for a bomber version. The result was one of Britain’s earliest modern light bombers.

The Blenheim featured retractable landing gear, powered gun turrets, and variable-pitch propellers, making it advanced for its time. Early in the conflict, it could dash into enemy territory and deliver bombs before defenders reacted. But as German fighters grew more powerful, the Blenheim’s light armament became inadequate. Still, it flew dangerous reconnaissance and bombing missions through the hardest years of the war, with over 4,400 built and deployed worldwide.

Westland Lysander – The Secret Pickup Plane

At first, the Westland Lysander was used for artillery spotting and reconnaissance. Its ungainly fixed landing gear and oversized wings made it look outdated, yet those same features gave it extraordinary short takeoff and landing abilities. That unique trait made it the perfect aircraft for one of the most dangerous tasks of the war: delivering spies into occupied Europe and bringing them back out.

Painted black, Lysanders would slip into small fields at night, landing in barely more than 150 yards. A built-in ladder allowed agents to climb aboard in seconds. Missions were flown in terrible weather, often under fire, with the smallest error meaning capture or death. By the end of the war, Lysanders had carried out more than 400 clandestine flights, supporting resistance groups and rescuing downed airmen.

Fiat CR.42 Falco – The Last Biplane Fighter

By 1940, most nations had switched to sleek monoplanes, but Italy introduced the Fiat CR.42 Falco, a biplane fighter. At first glance, it seemed outdated. Yet in the air it was surprisingly effective. Light, maneuverable, and durable, it could dive at nearly 270 miles per hour and turn tighter than many faster opponents.

Its weakness was firepower. With only two machine guns, it was badly outgunned against Hurricanes and Spitfires bristling with weapons. Still, Italian pilots used the Falco’s agility to score victories, especially in North Africa and the Mediterranean. Over 1,800 were built, serving not only Italy but also Hungary, Belgium, and Sweden, proving that an older design could still hold its place in combat.

Fairey Swordfish – The Stringbag That Sank Giants

The Fairey Swordfish looked hopelessly obsolete even at the start of the war. With a fabric-covered biplane design and a top speed of just 138 miles per hour, pilots joked it seemed stitched together with string. Yet the Swordfish achieved some of the most important naval successes of the conflict.

Most famously, Swordfish torpedo bombers crippled the German battleship Bismarck in 1941 by damaging its rudder, leaving it unable to maneuver. They also struck the Italian fleet at Taranto, sank submarines, and flew in brutal Arctic conditions. By war’s end, Swordfish aircraft had sunk over 300,000 tons of enemy shipping, proving that slow and outdated did not mean ineffective.

Cierva C.30A – The Autogyro Trainer

Before helicopters were widely available, the Royal Air Force experimented with autogyros, and the Cierva C.30A became a vital training tool. With its freely spinning rotor and open cockpit, it looked strange, but it was stable and safe to operate.

The C.30A was used to train radar operators during long flights over Britain. By circling radar stations, it allowed crews to test and refine equipment, learning to distinguish real enemy formations from harmless signals. This routine training proved vital when German aircraft attacked Britain, as radar operators could recognize incoming raids with greater accuracy. Though not glamorous, the autogyro quietly contributed to the defense of the nation.