During WW2, development of military machines, not in the least bombers, was expedited greatly. The United States benefited from a strong economy and a large workforce protected far away from the battlefield. The Americans had some mighty bombers to offer the Allied forces, and the American participation was a turning point in the course of WW2.
The United States entered World War 2 in 1941 after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. Pearl Harbor was an American harbor in the pacific ocean that housed battleships and aircraft. As a result, the United States joined the allied powers.
During the second war, the United States played a major role. The United States supplied their allied partnering countries with soldiers, supplies and weapons. One of the major contributions of the United States to the war effort during World War 2 were bombers and fighter planes.
The United States and the use of bombers go hand in hand when discussing matters based around World War 2. The United States invented many new bombers at this time. The United States also improved some existing bombers.
Many American bombers were used over the period that World War 2 took place in. Here is a list of some of the best, most recognizable and most well known American bombers of World War 2.
Table of Contents
1. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is one of the best American bombers that was used in World War 2 due to multiple facts.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was first invented in 1935 by the American company named Boeing. The first flight took place in 1938 in Dayton, Ohio. Boeing initially made the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress to be used by the United States Army Air Corps, also known as the USAAC for short, but it was soon picked up and used more frequently by the United States Army Air Forces, also known as the USAAF for short.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is the third most manufactured bomber in all of history, not just in WW2. There were 12,713 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses made during the span of its reign. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was retired in 1968. Today, 46 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses survive in existence.
The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress was well known for being fast. The fastest that a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress could fly is 287 miles per hour. The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress is 74 ft long, 19 ft high and has a wingspan of 103 ft.
The crew of a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress consisted of 10 soldiers. This included a pilot, a copilot, a bombardier, a flight engineer, a radio operator and 4 gunners; two for the waist, one for the tail and one for the ball turret.
It is estimated that, during World War 2, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses dropped 640,000 tons of bombs on enemies and enemy land.
2. North American B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell is one of the best American bombers of World war 2 and for a good reason.
The North American B-25 Mitchell was first invented in 1941 by an American company called North American Aviation. North American Aviation initially produced the North American B-25 Mitchell to be used by the United States Army Air Corps, after they requested an aircraft that was small but could carry 2,400 lbs.
Throughout its manufacturing period, approximately 9,274 North American B-25 Mitchells were made. The North American B-25 Mitchell was retired in 1979. Today, due to its many varieties, multiple North American B-25 Mitchells are around for both military uses and on display for archival uses.
The North American B-25 Mitchell was best known for its ability to work in high levels of altitude. This medium-sized bomber could fly as fast as 272 miles per hour. The North American B-25 Mitchell is 52 ft long, 16 ft high and has a wingspan of 67 ft.
The crew of a North American B-25 Mitchell consisted of 5 soldiers. This included the pilot, the navigator, the engineer, the radio operator and the tail gunner. As the North American B-25 Mitchell was on the smaller size of bombers, many crew members had to take on multiple jobs. For example, the radio operator was also often the waist gunner, the navigator was also often the bombardier and the engineer was also often the turret gunner.
3. Douglas SBD Dauntless
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was one of the best American bombers of World War 2 according to countless causes.
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was first invented in 1937. This occurred after the Douglas Aircraft Corporation company took over the company called Northrop Corporation and continued to work on their existing models by implementing a variety of improvements. The Douglas SBD Dauntless was mostly used by the United States Navy, also known as the USN for short, and by the United States Marines, also known as the USM for short.
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was made starting in 1940 and a total of 5,936 were produced. The Douglas SBD Dauntless was retired in 1959. Currently, 24 Douglas SBD Dauntlesses survive with only one located outside of the United States in Christchurch, New Zealand in the Royal New Zealand Air Force Museum.
The Douglas SBD Dauntless was best known for being sturdy. The fastest speed that a Douglas SBD Dauntless could fly is 255 Miles per hour. The Douglas SBD Dauntless is 33 ft long, 13 ft high and has a wingspan of 41 ft.
The crew of a Douglas SBD Dauntless consisted of only 2 soldiers as this plane was mostly used for scouting purposes and dive-bombing.
4. Boeing B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is remembered as being one of the best American bombers during World War 2 for one main event which gained its popularity. That one main event is the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress was first invented in 1939. It was made by the American company named Boeing who based the concept after their original bomber called the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress. The first flight of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress took place in 1940. Boeing took their initial Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and modified it into the Boeing B-29 Superfortress to create a bomber that could carry larger and more bombs.
The first instance of Boeing making the Boeing B-29 Superfortress occurred in 1939 and continued until retiring it in 1960 when the last model rolled off the production lines. In that period, 3,970 Boeing B-29 Superfortress was made. Of those, 29 are still in existence but only 2 are operational.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is known for its size. The fastest that a Boeing B-29 Superfortress can fly is 357 miles per hour. The Boeing B-29 Superfortress measures at 99 ft long, 27 ft high and 141 ft for its wingspan.
The crew of a Boeing B-29 Superfortress consists of 11 soldiers. These soldiers include a pilot, a co-pilot, an engineer, a bombardier, a right gunner, a left gunner, a navigator, a radio operator, a radar overseer, a center firing controller and a tail gunner.
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