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You Won’t Believe the Speed of These WWII Planes World War II was a time of intense struggle and conflict among many of the largest nations. Though aircraft was in its infancy at the start of this widespread war, the U.S. was highly motivated to develop top of the line aircraft to help the Allies excel. One of the most well-known American planes was the P-51 Mustang, a fighter jet with amazing speed. Bombers were essential to the war effort, as they were used to drop ammunition on unsuspecting enemies. The B-17 Flying Fortress was one such plane used for extensive bombing missions. Additionally, certain planes were designed for ground support, such as the A-10 Thunderbolt.
The second World War saw a wide variety of craft being developed at a rapid pace. Because each craft was built with a particular purpose in mind, some of these planes were much faster (or much slower) than others. One plane known for its incredible speed is the North American P-51 Mustang, outfitted with a Merlin engine. This craft was capable of speeds up to 440 mph. Another speedy craft is the Lockheed P-38 Lightning. Due to its twin-piston engine, it reached speeds of 414 mph.
To determine the fastest American military planes from World War II, 24/7 Wall St. reviewedNone , a list compiled by Military Factory, an online database of military vehicles, aircraft, arms, and more. Only military planes that had production runs of more than 150 and that served during World War II were included. 24/7 Wall St. ranked these aircraft based on their top speed. Prototypes and concept aircraft were excluded. Supplemental information about the year the craft entered service, crew size, and roles also came from Military Factory.
Why This Matters
World War II brought about a dramatic shift in technology. New aircraft emerged far surpassed anything used just a few decades earlier. These new American planes fundamentally altered the technical aspects of warfare and how soldiers and pilots approached fighting. Understanding the fastest and slowest American planes used in World War II illustrates the scale and impact of aviation on the war and those fighting in it.
Here are the fastest and slowest aircraft fielded by the United States in WWII:
66. Piper L-4 Grasshopper
Top speed: 85 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 5,500Crew: 1Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance
65. Stinson L-1 Vigilant (Model 74)
Top speed: 121 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 324Crew: 3Roles: Special mission, surveillance, reconnaissance, trainer
64. Naval Aircraft Factory N3N (Yellow Peril)
Top speed: 127 mphYear entered service: 1936Production run: 997Crew: 2Roles: Trainer
63. Stinson L-5 Sentinel
Top speed: 165 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 3,896Crew: 2Roles: Close-air support, special mission, maritime, surveillance, reconnaissance
62. Curtiss SOC Seagull
Top speed: 165 mphYear entered service: 1935Production run: 322Crew: 2Roles: Ground attack, Special mission, surveillance, reconnaissance, trainer
61. Curtiss SO3C Seamew
Top speed: 172 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 796Crew: 2Roles: Maritime, surveillance, reconnaissance
60. Stinson Reliant
Top speed: 177 mphYear entered service: 1933Production run: 1,327Crew: 1Roles: Trainer, surveillance, reconnaissance
59. Consolidated PBY Catalina
Top speed: 179 mphYear entered service: 1936Production run: 3,305Crew: 10Roles: Ground attack, transport, surveillance, reconnaissance
58. Vultee BT-13 Valiant
Top speed: 183 mphYear entered service: 1939Production run: 11,537Crew: 2Roles: Trainer
57. Grumman J2F Duck
Top speed: 183 mphYear entered service: 1939Production run: 11,537Crew: 2Roles: Trainer
56. Beech AT-10 Wichita
Top speed: 199 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 2,371Crew: 2Roles: Trainer
55. Grumman Goose (G-21)
Top speed: 201 mphYear entered service: 1937Production run: 345Crew: 2Roles: Transport, trainer, surveillance, reconnaissance
54. Northrop A-17 (Nomad)
Top speed: 208 mphYear entered service: 1935Production run: 411Crew: 2Roles: Ground attack, close-air support, surveillance, reconnaissance
53. North American T-6 Texan
Top speed: 209 mphYear entered service: 1936Production run: 15,495Crew: 2Roles: Close-air support, trainer
52. Beech AT-11 Kansan
Top speed: 214 mphYear entered service: 1937Production run: 1,606Crew: 6Roles: Ground attack, trainer
51. Douglas B-18 Bolo
Top speed: 215 mphYear entered service: 1936Production run: 360Crew: 6Roles: Ground attack, special mission, transport, surveillance, reconnaissance
50. Curtiss O-52 Owl
Top speed: 221 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 203Crew: 2Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance
49. Consolidated PB2Y Coronado
Top speed: 223 mphYear entered service: 1940Production run: 217Crew: 10Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance, ground attacks
48. Beechcraft C-45 (Expeditor)
Top speed: 224 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 1,300Crew: 9Roles: Transport
47. Boeing P-26 Peashooter
Top speed: 227 mphYear entered service: 1932Production run: 151Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat
46. Douglas C-47 (Skytrain / Dakota)
Top speed: 230 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 12,748Crew: 3Roles: Ground attacks, close-air support, transport
45. Curtiss SBC Helldiver
Top speed: 237 mphYear entered service: 1938Production run: 257Crew: 2Roles: Special missions, air-to-air combat, ground attacks
44. Lockheed Hudson
Top speed: 249 mphYear entered service: 1939Production run: 2,941Crew: 6Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance, training, ground attacks, transport
43. Douglas A-24 Banshee
Top speed: 250 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 953Crew: 2Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance, training, ground attacks, close-air support
42. Vought SB2U Vindicator
Top speed: 251 mphYear entered service: 1937Production run: 260Crew: 2Roles: Training, ground attacks, special missions
41. Douglas SBD Dauntless
Top speed: 255 mphYear entered service: 1938Production run: 5,936Crew: 2Roles: Ground attacks, special missions
40. Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Top speed: 260 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 7,140Crew: 2Roles: Ground attacks, special missions, surveillance, reconnaissance
39. Curtiss-Wright C-46 Commando
Top speed: 270 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 3,181Crew: 4Roles: Transport
38. Grumman TBF Avenger
Top speed: 271 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 9,835Crew: 3Roles: Air-to-air combat, ground attacks, surveillance, reconnaissance, special missions
37. North American B-25 Mitchell
Top speed: 272 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 9,816Crew: 5Roles: Reconnaissance, training, transport, surveillance, ground attacks, close-air support, special missions
36. Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
Top speed: 273 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 771Crew: 2Roles: Maritime warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance, ground attacks
35. Douglas C-54 Skymaster (DC-4)
Top speed: 275 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 1,170Crew: 4Roles: Transport
34. Vultee A-35 Vengeance
Top speed: 279 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 1,962Crew: 2Roles: Ground attacks
33. Martin B-26 Marauder
Top speed: 282 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 5,288Crew: 7Roles: Ground attacks, training
32. Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress
Top speed: 287 mphYear entered service: 1937Production run: 12,731Crew: 10Roles: Ground attacks, close-air support, special missions, transport, surveillance, reconnaissance, training
31. Consolidated B-24 Liberator
Top speed: 290 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 18,482Crew: 10Roles: Ground attacks, special missions, transport, surveillance, reconnaissance
30. Consolidated PB4Y-2 Privateer
Top speed: 300 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 739Crew: 11Roles: Ground attacks, special missions, maritime warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance
29. Martin Baltimore
Top speed: 302 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 1,575Crew: 4Roles: Ground attack
28. Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf
Top speed: 306 mphYear entered service: 1944Production run: 180Crew: 3Roles: Ground attacks, maritime warfare
27. Seversky P-35
Top speed: 308 mphYear entered service: 1937Production run: 196Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat fighting, interception, ground attacks, training
26. Curtiss SC Seahawk
Top speed: 313 mphYear entered service: 1944Production run: 577Crew: 1Roles: Special mission, maritime warfare, surveillance, reconnaissance
25. Martin Maryland
Top speed: 316 mphYear entered service: 1940Production run: 450Crew: 3Roles: Ground attacks, reconnaissance, surveillance
24. Brewster F2A (Buffalo)
Top speed: 321 mphYear entered service: 1939Production run: 509Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, maritime warfare
23. Lockheed Ventura / Harpoon
Top speed: 322 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 3,028Crew: 6Roles: Ground attacks, special missions, surveillance, reconnaissance, training
22. Curtiss P-36 Hawk (Hawk 75/Mohawk)
Top speed: 322 mphYear entered service: 1938Production run: 1,115Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat
21. Grumman F4F Wildcat
Top speed: 332 mphYear entered service: 1940Production run: 7,722Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, ground attacks, maritime warfare
20. Douglas P-70 Nighthawk
Top speed: 339 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 163Crew: 3Roles: Air-t0-air combat fighting, interception, training
19. Douglas A-20 Havoc / Boston
Top speed: 339 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 7,478Crew: 3Roles: Air-t0-air combat fighting, ground attacks, surveillance, reconnaissance
18. Lockheed C-69 Constellation (Model L-049)
Top speed: 346 mphYear entered service: 1945Production run: 856Crew: 4Roles: Transport
17. Curtiss P-40 Tomahawk
Top speed: 351 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 1,180Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, ground attacks
16. Douglas A-26 / B-26 Invader
Top speed: 355 mphYear entered service: 1944Production run: 2,452Crew: 3Roles: Ground attacks, close-air support, surveillance, reconnaissance, training
15. Republic P-43 Lancer
Top speed: 357 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 272Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, ground attacks,surveillance, reconnaissance, training
14. North American A-36 Mustang
Top speed: 365 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 500Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat fighting, ground attacks, close air support
13. Northrop P-61 / F-61 Black Widow
Top speed: 366 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 742Crew: 3Roles: Air-to-air combat, surveillance, reconnaissance
12. Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
Top speed: 378 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 16,800Crew: 1Roles: Surveillance, reconnaissance, air-to-air combat
11. Grumman F6F Hellcat
Top speed: 380 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 12,272Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat fighting, interception, ground attacks, close-air support
10. Martin AM Mauler
Top speed: 384 mphYear entered service: 1944Production run: 151Crew: 1Roles: Close-air support, maritime warfare
9. Bell P-39 Airacobra
Top speed: 386 mphYear entered service: 1941Production run: 9,588Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, interception, ground attacks, close-air support
8. Bell P-63 Kingcobra
Top speed: 410 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 3,303Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, close-air support
7. Lockheed P-38 Lightning
Top speed: 414 mphYear entered service: 1939Production run: 9,923Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, ground attacks (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
6. Brewster F3A (F4U-1) Corsair
Top speed: 416 mphYear entered service: 1943Production run: 600Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat,interception, ground attacks (bombing, strafing), intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
5. Grumman F8F Bearcat
Top speed: 421 mphYear entered service: 1945Production run: 1,266Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, interception, maritime warfare
4. Republic P-47 Thunderbolt
Top speed: 433 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 15,660Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, close-air support, interception, ground attacks
3. North American P-51 Mustang
Top speed: 437 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 15,586Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat,interception, close-air support, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance, training
2. Vought F4U Corsair
Top speed: 446 mphYear entered service: 1942Production run: 12,571Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, interception,ground attacks (bombing, strafing), close-air support, maritime warfare, intelligence-surveillance-reconnaissance
1. Lockheed P-80 / F-80 Shooting Star
Top speed: 577 mphYear entered service: 1945Production run: 1,715Crew: 1Roles: Air-to-air combat, close-air support
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