This US WWII Bomber Flooded the Skies, 18,000 Produced by War’s End

Aircraft played a pivotal strategic and tactical role in World War II. The aircraft used to fight the enemy in this war and the brave pilots who flew them were essential to America’s success. Bombers, fighters, and transport planes underwent improvements to their form and technology in real-time as the war progressed. The introduction of streamlined, all-metal fighters, pressurized cabins, more powerful engines, and radar allowed the Allies to protect their soldiers and bring the war to places difficult to access. Aircraft carriers in the Pacific Ocean allowed them to bring the war to Japan and the islands surrounding it.

24/7 Wall St. has compiled a ranking of the most produced American planes in WWII by taking data from the Army Air Forces Statistical Digest: World War II, December 1945 edition, which cataloged production numbers of US aircraft during the war. This list includes planes with a production run of over 1,000. 

These warplanes were responsible for advancing the Allies and maintaining air superiority during the war. This list includes the Consolidated B-24 Liberator, the North American P-51 Mustang, and the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. At the top of the list is the B-24 Liberator, the American bomber with the highest production during the war, reaching over 18,000 units. A powerful bomber, it provided the US and the Allies with essential strategic bombing capabilities, targeting enemy infrastructure and crippling their war-making capacities. With its remarkable long-range features, the B-24 became a primary asset in the air campaign against Nazi Germany, helping to disrupt its supply chain and weaken its war effort.

The North American P-51 Mustang was another extensively produced warplane, with over 14,000 units manufactured between 1940 and 1945. Evolving into a versatile and highly effective aircraft, the P-51 demonstrated remarkable long-range capabilities. Its significance became evident through its invaluable roles in ground attacks and as an escort for heavy bombers. This dual capacity contributed to the destruction of enemy aircraft both in the air and on the ground.

Why This Matters

The urgency of creating new technology during WWII led to a lasting legacy of medical, technological, and scientific advances that changed the world. The military advances made by the U.S. during the war have led to the development of powerful weapons, including having the most advanced air force in the world. 24/7 Wall St. is looking at the warplanes that not only helped to end the war but inspired technological advances in aviation that helped shape our world today.

Here are the most produced military planes of World War II.

26. C-61 Forwarder

• Total built: 1,009
• Year most produced: 1943 & 1944 (400 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Fairchild
• Top speed: 133 mph
• Crew: 1

25. Douglas C-54 Skymaster (DC-4)

• Total built: 1,089
• Year most produced: 1945 (635 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Top speed: 275 mph
• Crew: 4

24. L-3 Grasshopper

• Total built: 1,439
• Year most produced: 1942 (813 aircraft built)
• Type: Communication
• Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 87 mph
• Crew: 2

23. Martin Baltimore

• Total built: 1,575
• Year most produced: 1943 (675 aircraft built)
• Type: Light bomber
• Manufacturer: Glenn L Martin Company
• Top speed: 302 mph
• Crew: 4

22. Beechcraft C-45 (Expeditor)

• Total built: 1,771
• Year most produced: 1944 (1060 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 224 mph
• Crew: 9

21. Vultee A-35 Vengeance

• Total built: 1,931
• Year most produced: 1943 (875 aircraft built)
• Type: Light bomber
• Manufacturer: Vultee Aircraft
• Top speed: 279 mph
• Crew: 2

20. Taylorcraft L-2 Grasshopper

• Total built: 1,940
• Year most produced: 1943 (1,161 aircraft built)
• Type: Communication
• Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 92 mph
• Crew: 2

19. Lockheed Hudson

• Total built: 2,189
• Year most produced: 1941 (1,100 aircraft built)
• Type: Light bomber
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 249 mph
• Crew: 6

18. Douglas A-26 Invader

• Total built: 2,449
• Year most produced: 1945 (1,729 aircraft built)
• Type: Light bomber
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Top speed: 355 mph
• Crew: 3

17. Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando

• Total built: 3,144
• Year most produced: 1945 (1,423 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Top speed: 270 mph
• Crew: 4

16. Cessna C-78 Bobcat

• Total built: 3,206
• Year most produced: 1943 (2,548 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Cessna Aircraft Company
• Top speed: 175 mph
• Crew: 5

15. Bell P-63 Kingcobra

• Total built: 3,273
• Year most produced: 1944 (1,786 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 410 mph
• Crew: 1

14. Stinson L-5 Sentinel

• Total built: 3,590
• Year most produced: 1944 (1,361 aircraft built)
• Type: Communication
• Manufacturer: Stinson
• Top speed: 165 mph
• Crew: 2

13. B-29 Superfortress

• Total built: 3,763
• Year most produced: 1945 (2,507 aircraft built)
• Type: Very heavy bomber
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Top speed: 358 mph
• Crew: 10

12. Martin B-26 Marauder

• Total built: 5,157
• Year most produced: 1943 (2,364 aircraft built)
• Type: Medium bomber
• Manufacturer: Glenn L Martin Company
• Top speed: 282 mph
• Crew: 7

11. Piper L-4 Grasshopper

• Total built: 5,611
• Year most produced: 1944 (1,904 aircraft built)
• Type: Communication
• Manufacturer: Piper Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 85 mph
• Crew: 1

10. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston

• Total built: 7,385
• Year most produced: 1944 (2,317 aircraft built)
• Type: Light bomber
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Top speed: 339 mph
• Crew: 3

9. Lockheed P-38 Lightning

• Total built: 9,536
• Year most produced: 1944 (4,186 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: Lockheed Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 414 mph
• Crew: 1

8. Bell P-39 Aircaobra

• Total built: 9,588
• Year most produced: 1943 (4,947 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 386 mph
• Crew: 1

7. North American B-25 Mitchell

• Total built: 9,816
• Year most produced: 1944 (3,677 aircraft built)
• Type: Medium bomber
• Manufacturer: North American Aircraft Corporation
• Top speed: 272 mph
• Crew: 5

6. Douglas DC-3

• Total built: 10,323
• Year most produced: 1944 (4,900 aircraft built)
• Type: Transport
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft Company
• Top speed: 237 mph
• Crew: 5

5. B-17 Flying Fortress

• Total built: 12,692
• Year most produced: 1944 (5,352 aircraft built)
• Type: Heavy bomber
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Top speed: 287 mph
• Crew: 10

4. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

• Total built: 13,738
• Year most produced: 1942 (4,454 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright Corporation
• Top speed: 378 mph
• Crew: 1

3. North American P-51 Mustang

• Total built: 14,501
• Year most produced: 1944 (6,908 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Top speed: 437 mph
• Crew: 1

2. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

• Total built: 15,585
• Year most produced: 1944 (7,065 aircraft built)
• Type: Fighter
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation Corporation
• Top speed: 433 mph
• Crew: 1

1. B-24 Liberator

• Total built: 18,190
• Year most produced: 1944 (9,519 aircraft built)
• Type: Heavy bomber
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Top speed: 290 mph
• Crew: 10

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