The US Built Over 16,000 of These Bombers During WWII

Air warfare was a major part of World War II. Allied forces like Great Britain and the United States took it very seriously and organized powerful bomber forces much larger than those of the Axis Powers. This gave them a clear advantage, even in predominantly ground-based battles. Before the war, America only had a few hundred airplanes, but by the end, it had the largest air force that ever existed, with more than 80,000 aircraft. (This American plane is the most widely-used fighter jet on Earth.)

To determine the most mass-produced American fighter planes from WWII, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed a catalog of World War II aircraft compiled by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. We only included fighter planes active during the war, ranking them based on the total number produced. Prototypes and concept aircraft were excluded. Supplemental information about the year entered service, type, manufacturer, crew size, and top speed also came from the Military Factory.

Some of these fighter planes were dual-purpose, capable of conducting bombing raids and engaging other enemy aircraft. Others functioned as escorts to protect heavy bombers from enemy aircraft. (These are the oldest and newest fighter jets used in today’s Air Forces.)

The Lockheed P-38 Lightning, for example, was one of WWII’s most influential fighter-bomber aircraft. The Germans actually nicknamed it the “Fork-Tailed Devil” due to its effectiveness in combat. It served in various roles, including as a bomber escort, tactical bomber, and top-cover fighter. Outfitted with a series of high-caliber machine guns and a 20mm automatic cannon in its nose, the P-38 Lightning had a top speed of just over 400 mph. It was also equipped with high-explosive aerial rockets and conventional drop bombs. 

Why We’re Covering This

Fighter planes significantly impacted the outcome of WWII. In addition, many of the innovations and technologies from these aircraft are incorporated into today’s newest generation of fighter jets, the F-35 Lightning II. 

Here is a look at the most mass-produced American fighter planes of World War II:

27. Curtiss-Wright CW-21 Demon

• Number of aircraft produced: 62
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
• Type: Fighter/interceptor aircraft
• Year entered service: 1939
• Top speed: 314 mph
• Crew: 1

26. Bell P-59 Airacomet

• Number of aircraft produced: 66
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Type: Jet-powered fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1945
• Top speed: 389 mph
• Crew: 1

25. Ryan FR Fireball

• Number of aircraft produced: 66
• Manufacturer: Ryan Aeronautical
• Type: Mixed-power fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1945
• Top speed: 426 mph
• Crew: 1

24. Vultee P-66 Vanguard (Model 48)

• Number of aircraft produced: 146
• Manufacturer: Vultee Aircraft
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 339 mph
• Crew: 1

23. Grumman F3F

• Number of aircraft produced: 147
• Manufacturer: Grumman
• Type: Carrierborne biplane fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1936
• Top speed: 264 mph
• Crew: 1

22. Boeing P-26 Peashooter

• Number of aircraft produced: 151
• Manufacturer: Boeing
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1932
• Top speed: 227 mph
• Crew: 1

21. Douglas P-70 Nighthawk

• Number of aircraft produced: 163
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
• Type: Night fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1942
• Top speed: 339 mph
• Crew: 3

20. Seversky P-35

• Number of aircraft produced: 196
• Manufacturer: Seversky (Republic)
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1937
• Top speed: 308 mph
• Crew: 1

19. Curtiss SBC Helldiver

• Number of aircraft produced: 257
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
• Type: Naval dive bomber/fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1938
• Top speed: 237 mph
• Crew: 2

18. Republic P-43 Lancer

• Number of aircraft produced: 272
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 357 mph
• Crew: 1

17. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)

• Number of aircraft produced: 509
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1939
• Top speed: 321 mph
• Crew: 1

16. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair

• Number of aircraft produced: 600
• Manufacturer: Brewster Aeronautical
• Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1943
• Top speed: 416 mph
• Crew: 1

15. Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow

• Number of aircraft produced: 742
• Manufacturer: Northrop
• Type: Night fighter reconnaissance aircraft
• Year entered service: 1943
• Top speed: 366 mph
• Crew: 3

14. Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk)

• Number of aircraft produced: 1,115
• Manufacturer: Curtiss Aeroplane Company
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1938
• Top speed: 322 mph
• Crew: 1

13. Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk

• Number of aircraft produced: 1,180
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 351 mph
• Crew: 1

12. Grumman F8F Bearcat

• Number of aircraft produced: 1,266
• Manufacturer: Grumman
• Type: Carrierborne interceptor aircraft
• Year entered service: 1945
• Top speed: 421 mph
• Crew: 1

11. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star

• Number of aircraft produced: 1,715
• Manufacturer: Lockheed
• Type: Jet-powered fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1945
• Top speed: 577 mph
• Crew: 1

10. Bell P-63 Kingcobra

• Number of aircraft produced: 3,303
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Type: Fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1943
• Top speed: 410 mph
• Crew: 1

9. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston

• Number of aircraft produced: 7,478
• Manufacturer: Douglas Aircraft
• Type: Light bomber/night fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 339 mph
• Crew: 3

8. Grumman F4F Wildcat

• Number of aircraft produced: 7,722
• Manufacturer: General Motors / Grumman
• Type: Carrierborne fighter aircraft
• Year entered service: 1940
• Top speed: 332 mph
• Crew: 1

7. Bell P-39 Airacobra

• Number of aircraft produced: 9,588
• Manufacturer: Bell Aircraft
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 386 mph
• Crew: 1

6. Lockheed P-38 Lightning

• Number of aircraft produced: 9,923
• Manufacturer: Lockheed
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1939
• Top speed: 414 mph
• Crew: 1

5. Grumman F6F Hellcat

• Number of aircraft produced: 12,272
• Manufacturer: Grumman
• Type: Carrierborne fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1943
• Top speed: 380 mph
• Crew: 1

4. Vought F4U Corsair

• Number of aircraft produced: 12,571
• Manufacturer: Chance Vought / Brewster Aeronautical
• Type: Carrierborne night fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1942
• Top speed: 446 mph
• Crew: 1

3. North American P-51 Mustang

• Number of aircraft produced: 15,586
• Manufacturer: North American Aviation
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1942
• Top speed: 437 mph
• Crew: 1

2. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt

• Number of aircraft produced: 15,660
• Manufacturer: Republic Aviation
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1942
• Top speed: 433 mph
• Crew: 1

1. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk

• Number of aircraft produced: 16,800
• Manufacturer: Curtiss-Wright
• Type: Fighter-bomber aircraft
• Year entered service: 1941
• Top speed: 378 mph
• Crew: 1

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