Top 5 World War II Fighter Planes with the Most Confirmed Kill-to-Loss Ratios in Combat

During World War II, air combat played a major role, and several fighters earned a reputation for high kill-to-loss ratios. These planes helped their countries gain control of the skies. We explore the top five fighters by confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed, and also honors three notable mentions.

5. Curtiss P‑40 Warhawk

The P‑40 Warhawk served across many theaters, including the Pacific, Mediterranean, and China‑Burma‑India. American pilots based in the Dutch East Indies claimed 49 Japanese aircraft in a fierce campaign, losing 17 of their own. In China, pilots from the US and China recorded nearly a thousand kills with P‑40s. Some air units in Europe managed a 2:1 kill ratio. Between April and October 1943 alone, pilots scored 133 air-to-air victories while losing 17 Warhawks. Overall, the P‑40 earned around 18 kills for every loss in air combat.

4. Supermarine Spitfire

The Spitfire is famous for its role in defending Britain during the Battle of Britain when it faced off against German fighters. During that campaign, Spitfires destroyed 529 enemy aircraft while losing 208. Across all theaters, they scored approximately 5,988 kills. A total of 449 pilots were lost. The kill-to-loss ratio was around 13 to 1, showing the Spitfire’s effectiveness and resilience in varied combat situations.

3. Grumman F6F Hellcat

Built for carrier duty, the Hellcat made its mark in the Pacific War. In one clash over Tarawa, it downed around 30 Mitsubishi Zeros, suffering only one loss. In a long skirmish above Rabaul, combined with F4U Corsairs, it achieved nearly 50 Japanese aircraft destroyed. Overall, pilots flying Hellcats claimed 5,223 enemy planes, while losing 270 in combat, plus 2,462 total losses from all causes. Its kill-to-loss ratio reached 19 to 1.

2. Messerschmitt Bf 109

The German Bf 109 claimed more aerial victories than any other fighter in history. Over 100 Bf 109 pilots achieved at least 200 kills, with two surpassing 300 kills each. The entire Bf 109 force claimed nearly 15,000 enemy aircraft destroyed. During Operation Barbarossa, pilots flying Bf 109s claimed 7,355 Soviet aircraft while losing 350 German fighters—a 21 to 1 ratio on that front. Overall, its kill-to-loss ratio stood at about 21 to 1.

1. Brewster F2A Buffalo

Though not effective against advanced Japanese fighters, the Buffalo saw remarkable success with the Finnish Air Force. Finnish pilots scored 477 Soviet aircraft kills between 1941 and 1945, while only losing 19 Buffalo fighters. This led to an astonishing kill ratio of 26 to 1. Other nations, including Britain, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Finland, also used the Buffalo early in the war.

Honorable Mentions
Three other fighters deserve mention for high kill scores:

• P‑38 Lightning— Known for its twin-boom design and powerful armament, the Lightning scored 3,785 confirmed kills across all theaters. It held a collective kill ratio of 7 to 1, with leading American aces Richard Bong and Thomas McGuire scoring 40 and 38 victories, respectively.
• P‑51 Mustang— With long range and excellent performance, the Mustang claimed 5,599 enemy aircraft. Its kill-to-loss ratio was approximately 11 to 1, making it the top-scoring American fighter in Europe.
• F4U Corsair— A beloved carrier-based fighter-bomber, the Corsair brought down 2,140 enemy planes while losing 189 to enemy action, achieving another 11 to 1 ratio.