Fighters Collection (page 6)

Mig-3 -One of the new breed of fast Soviet fighters All too many were lost to rapidly advancing Germans forces in July 1941

Vickers FB26 Vampire completed in May 1917, this was the last of a line of Vickers pusher engined fighters Only a handful built

Vickers FB 12c single-seat fighter plane, which first flew in spring 1917. Seen here is the second of two which were built, serial no. A 7352. The design was a failure. Date: circa 1917

Sukhoi Su-2 -already obsolete by mid-1941, this 1937 light bomber took a battering from the Luftwaffes fighters 910 built

Sikorsky Ilya Mourometz -only two of the 73 built were ever shot down, while their tally was three enemy fighters

Siemens Schuckert DIII -only few of these impressive fast climbing fighters were delivered before hostilities ended

Royal Aircraft Factory SE 5a single-seat fighter, operational from mid-1917. Seen here is serial no. B4897. Date: circa 1917-1918

Royal Aircraft Factory reconnaissance bomber RE 8
Royal Aircraft Factory two-seat reconnaissance bomber RE 8, of which over 4, 000 were built from mid-1916. It sadly proved ready prey to German fighters. Date: circa 1916

Republic P-47B-developed from the P-35 and P-43 fighters, the high powered P-47 became operational in Europe at the end of 1942

PZL P-11 -initially flown in August 1931, these antiquated fighters were pitted against the Luftwaffe when Germany invaded Poland and sustained heavy losses

Potez 6311 -the French built over 700 to fill various roles including fighters, light bomber and reconnaissance Underpowered they were ready prey to German fighters

Nakajima Ki-84-1a Frank -first flown in March 1943, the type entered service at the end of 1944 One of the best Japanese fighters

Nieuport 17s awaiting delivery These single seat fighters were used by all the Allies

Mitsubishi A6M5 Model 52 Zeke -remained superior to most Allied fighters it was likely to encounter until early 1943

Mitsubishi A6M3 Model 22 Zeke -nearly 11, 000 of the long range, agaile fighters were produced for the Japanese Navy

Lohner Type L first of the WW1 flying boat fighters

Lockheed P-38-this nose close up shows the fighters concentrated 5-gun punch

Ikarus IK-2 -these elderly Yugoslavian fighters proved no match for the Axis invaders

Heinkel He 162A -built from wood and other non-strategic materials, only a few of these jet fighters were in service at wars end

Heinkel He 100D -a handfful of these fighters were built, but the type lost out in competition to Messerschmitts Bf 109

Focke Wulf FW 190A hit and rolling

Focke Wulf FW 190D-9 -the last of this formidable fighter line

Focke Wulf FW 190A pair in playful mood, belying their effectiveness as butcher birds

Focke Wulf FW 187A trio of this twin engined losing competitor to Messerschmitts Bf 110

Fisher XP-75A -seen with Allisons test pilot, BT Red Hulse First flown in November 1943, only 13 of these experimental interceptors were built

Fiat G55 -one of the most effective of the Italian late wartime fighters produced

Fiat CR42 -the Italians were reluctant to abandon the biplane fighter and CR42s took part in the November 1940 raids on England

Douglas P-70 Havoc -used by the US Army Air Force as a radar-equipped night fighter

De Havilland DH100 Vampire I -the type was too late to see wartime service

Curtiss Wright XP-55 -an interesting but unproductive back to front experimental fighter

Curtiss P-40L -most later versions of the Warhawk found extensive use in the Pacific theatre - Photo Hugh W Cowin

Curtiss P-40E Warhawk-while inferior to German fighters encounter over Europe, the type served well in other theatres

Curtiss P-40B being manually refuelled of AVG

Curtiss H75 C1 -flown against the Luftwaffe with some success in 1940, this was one of several US aircraft bought to meet the shortfall in home production - Photo Hugh W Cowin

Dornier Do 335A -a rare cine still of the first of its breed Fortunately this very fast twin propeller engined fighter was too late to have any impact in combat

Commonwealth CA-13 Boomerang - first flown in May 1942 when the Japanese were already ashore in New Guinea, the Boomerang became operational in April 1943

Caudron C714-a lightweight fighter, powered by a Renault engine Not very successful and only a few built - This one being flown by the Finns

Bristol 156 Beaufighter IF entered service in September 1940, with many later fitted with radar to serve as night fighters

Bristol 156 Beaufighter IC found its way into the RAF s
Bristol 156 Beaufighter IC found its way into the RAFs Coastal Command to worry enemy shipping, especially E-Boats

Bristol 156 Beaufighter -born from an urgent need to find a long ranged fighter, the prototype shown flew in July 1939 and used many parts from the earlier Beaufort

Bristol 142M Blenheim IF trio (running-up), Singapore, April 1941 These Far East-based Blenhiem fighters did not carry radar

Bristol 142M Blenheim IF-in an effort to counter the German Blitz on England of 1940-41, a number of Blenheim Is were converted to radar-carrying night fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant I fresh from final assembly The Defiant carried a heavy 4-gun turret, but no fixed forward firing armament leaving it ready prey to enemy fighters

Boulton Paul Defiant NFII - after its initial mauling at the hand of Luftwaffe fighters, the Defiant became a night fighter when fitted with AI 4 radar

Blackburn Roc-a woeful attempt to mimic all the shortfalls of the Boulton Paul Defiant onto a carrier-going fighter

Bell XP-77-a one off lightweight fighter built of wood to avoid using valuable alloys

Bell P-39N Airacobra-most US operated P-39 were deployed in places where meeting enemy fighters was unlikely

Bell XP-59 Airacomet-Americas first jet fighter was a conservative design that proved to be heavy and unpowered

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