Boeing Stearman PT-17/N2S
The fixed-gear biplane trained more military pilots, including Navy flier George H.W. Bush and the Tuskegee Airmen, than any other basic trainer in World War II.
During the Arsenal of Democracy Flyover on Friday, a wide array of legendary World War II aircraft will be seen over the Mall. Here’s a guide to recognizing them. The aircraft will depart from Culpeper and Manassas regional airports around 11:30 a.m. and will fly in 15 flyover formations. The first formation is estimated to be over the Lincoln Memorial at 12:10 p.m.
The fixed-gear biplane trained more military pilots, including Navy flier George H.W. Bush and the Tuskegee Airmen, than any other basic trainer in World War II.
Army, Navy and Marine pilots learned how to dogfight and shoot in this single-engine advanced trainer, which also saw “action” in Hollywood movies about World War II, standing in for Japanese aircraft.
Developed as a civilian transport aircraft, the two-engine plane was given a glassed-in nose and trained bombardiers and pilots for America’s bombers.
The military version of the famous Piper Cub flew for reconnaissance and artillery spotting missions, evacuated the wounded and transported supplies. Flying low and slow in France, it spotted German tanks and sometimes destroyed them with bazooka fire.
Claire Lee Chennault’s American Volunteer Group – the Flying Tigers -- made this single-engined fighter, outmoded at the start of the war, famous through their hit-and-run tactics against the Japanese in China. The British, the Russians and other allied air forces used it in all theaters.
This bomber was used by Col. Jimmy Doolittle in the Tokyo Raid in 1942. During World War II, this plane was flown by many allied air forces, including those of the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians and Australians.
In the early years of the Pacific war, skilled Navy and Marine pilots held their own against the superior Japanese Zero through innovative tactics and the ruggedness of this single-engine fighter. Marine Capt. Joe Foss surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker’s World War I mark for kills with the Wildcat.
The rugged dive bomber, which first flew in 1940, became one of the most decisive weapons of World War II by sinking four Japanese aircraft carriers at the Battle of Midway, turning the tide of war in the Pacific.
The versatile twin-engine Navy flying boats were known as “Dumbos” for air-sea rescue missions and “Black Cats” for night torpedo raids against the Japanese, but their most pivotal moment was spotting the Japanese fleet at the Battle of Midway while the U.S. fleet remained undetected.
In the early years of the Pacific war, skilled Navy and Marine pilots held their own against the superior Japanese Zero through innovative tactics and the ruggedness of this single-engine fighter. Marine Capt. Joe Foss surpassed Eddie Rickenbacker’s World War I mark for kills with the Wildcat.
Co-designed by the legendary designer Kelly Johnson, creator of Lockheed’s “Skunk Works,” the twin-engine fighter was dubbed “the fork-tailed devil” by the Germans. It had its greatest success in the Pacific, where America’s leading aces flew it against the Japanese. P-38 pilots shot down the bomber carrying Adm. Isoroku Yamamoto, the architect of the Pearl Harbor attack, in a daring long-range ambush.
The most-produced heavy bomber in history. It flew in every combat theater during World War II between 1943 and 1945. More than 18,000 Liberators were produced.
Made its first flight in 1940 and operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and ground-attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang possessed excellent speed and maneuverability and was last used in combat by the USAF during the Korean War. Foreign air forces used it until the early 1980s.
Made its first flight in 1940 and operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and ground-attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang possessed excellent speed and maneuverability and was last used in combat by the USAF during the Korean War. Foreign air forces used it until the early 1980s.
First used in combat in 1941 (though prototypes were flown before then), the B-17 is one of the most famous bombers ever built. This aircraft was pivotal in the destruction of Germany’s industrial fabric and the allied victory in Europe.
The military version of the famed DC-3 airliner carried paratroopers into combat in the D-Day invasion and cargo from India to China over “The Hump,” the famed route over the Himalayas.
The heaviest carrier-based U.S. aircraft of the war was developed by Grumman and made by General Motors. It first saw action at the Battle of Midway and was a mainstay of the carrier wars. Future president George H.W. Bush flew it in combat.
A carrier-based dive bomber produced between 1943 and 1945. Versions of this aircraft were used by the Navy and were in active service in other countries until the mid-1950s.
The fastest U.S. bomber of World War II served with distinction in Europe as a light attack bomber and stayed in service through the Cold War and Vietnam. It is still used today as a water bomber to fight forest fires.
The gull-winged Corsair was the first U.S. fighter to exceed 400 mph in level flight. Late to enter carrier service because of landing gear problems, it became famous flying from island bases in the Pacific with such squadrons as the Black Sheep Squadron led by Marine Corps ace Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. The Japanese called it “Whistling Death,” and it served through World War II and the Korean War. It served in Central American air forces until the early 1970s.
A long-range heavy bomber that entered active service toward the end of World War II. One of the largest aircraft of its time, the B-29 was used in the nuclear attacks on the Japanese cities of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945.
The heaviest carrier-based U.S. aircraft of the war was developed by Grumman and made by General Motors. It first saw action at the Battle of Midway and was a mainstay of the carrier wars. Future president George H.W. Bush flew it in combat.
The gull-winged Corsair was the first U.S. fighter to exceed 400 mph in level flight. Late to enter carrier service because of landing gear problems, it became famous flying from island bases in the Pacific with such squadrons as the Black Sheep Squadron led by Marine Corps ace Gregory “Pappy” Boyington. The Japanese called it “Whistling Death,” and it served through World War II and the Korean War. It served in Central American air forces until the early 1970s.
Claire Lee Chennault’s American Volunteer Group – the Flying Tigers -- made this single-engined fighter, outmoded at the start of the war, famous through their hit-and-run tactics against the Japanese in China. The British, the Russians and other allied air forces used it in all theaters.
Made its first flight in 1940 and operated primarily as a long-range escort fighter and ground-attack fighter-bomber. The Mustang possessed excellent speed and maneuverability and was last used in combat by the USAF during the Korean War. Foreign air forces used it until the early 1980s.
SOURCE: Arsenal of Democracy Flyover, National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, National Air and Space Museum, Air & Space Magazine, National Naval Aviation Museum, Air Force Historical Research Agency, Boeing and the Library of Congress. GRAPHIC: Shelly Tan, Denise Lu, Alberto Cuadra, Vincent Rinehart, Samuel Granados and Kevin Uhrmacher. Published May 7, 2015.
A quick guide to which WWII-era planes will be in each formation.
Ahead of the commemoration of V-E Day’s 70th anniversary, Michael E. Ruane took to the skies.