Which World War II Fighter Aircraft Had the Most Kills? Here are the top 5
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Which WWII fighter planes had the most kills? Here are the top five with the highest tallies of the best fighters during WWII:
5. F6F Hellcat
The Hellcat has an estimated 5,200 kills. It’s placed in the prime spot to succeed in the war as it entered the conflict a little too late mainly in the Pacific Theater. This carrier-based fighter was designed to counter the Japanese Zero and served the role well using the same engine as the P-47.
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It can achieve speeds up to 380 mph and utilized six wing-mounted 50-caliber machine guns and was able to make a significant contribution in the Pacific during the last years of the war. Only 270 Hellcats were lost in aerial combat while wracking up thousands of enemy fighters destroyed, making it the second US fighter plane with the second-highest kill count.
4. Focke-Wulf 190
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This was one of the most advanced fighters used in the European theater packed with an armament of both machine guns and 20 mm cannons. Although the 190 wasn’t as widely used as the German Bf-109, it was a favorite among many German aces. It’s estimated to have downed anywhere from five thousand to seven thousand Allied planes.
3. North American P-51 Mustang
This plane truly dominated the skies in 1944 and 1945 with an estimated total of 5,900 total enemy aircraft destroyed. It’s equipped with six 50-caliber machine guns as an armament, but unlike the F6F, the P-51 had an extremely long range, making it ideal for bomber escort. This significantly helped in the Allied bomber campaigns in Europe, helping the Allies gain air superiority over the Luftwaffe.
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During late 1944 and 1945, many skilled German pilots had already been killed or captured, giving the Mustang an advantage over the skies. Because of these factors, this famous warbird was able to take down a large number of enemy aircraft in the war.
2. Supermarine Spitfire
The Spitfire has a total of 6,300 aerial kills, and this renowned British fighter saw action at the start of the conflict until the very end and was the main fighter of the Royal Air Force. This fighter was absolutely loved by pilots and was one of the world’s fastest aircraft when it first saw flight.
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During the Battle of Britain, it helped drive back the German fighters and bombers attempting to bomb England into submission. One of the reasons why this fighter was able to log more victories than the Mustang is that it was one of few fighters that participated as a frontline aircraft throughout the entire duration of the conflict.
1. Messerschmitt Bf-109
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This plane has a staggering kill total that’s likely between 15,000 to 20,000 total aerial victories. This overwhelming tally can be explained by a number of factors. First, the Bf-109 was history’s mass-produced fighter and saw a great deal of action.
It became the Luftwaffe’s backbone and saw high numbers from the very first day of the war until the last.
