The Museum of Flight in Seattle, Washington, is the largest independent, non-profit air and space museum in the world. The J. Elroy McCaw Personal Courage Wing is a two-story gallery that highlights the stories of courage, dedication, heroism and the triumph of the human spirit of those involved in fighter aviation in World War I and World War II. Shown below are some British, German, Japanese, and Soviet fighters.
Supermarine Spitfire
Supermarine Aviation Works produced the prototype of the Spitfire in 1936 and by the summer of 1940, Spitfires were dueling with the German Luftwaffe’s Messerschmitt 109E. Never a long-range machine, the Spitfire was nonetheless ideal for scrambling into the air at a moment’s notice to defend the British Isles from attack.
The Spitfire has a cruising speed of 324 mph, a top speed of 408, a range of 434 miles, and a service ceiling of 43,000 feet. It carries one Hispano-Suiza 20 mm cannon and two .303 Browning machine guns.
Messerschmitt Bf 109E
The Messerschmitt Bf 109 first flew in 1935 and was used in the Spanish Civil War. The Spanish Civil War provided German pilots with combat experience and made the Luftwaffe more effective and deadly in World War II. At the time of its first flight, it was the world's most advanced fighter aircraft. Small, agile, and well-armed, it proved a serious weapon in the hands of an experienced pilot. Over 33,000 of these planes were produced.
The Bf 109 has a cruising speed of 240 mph, a top speed of 348, a range of 412 miles, and a service ceiling of 37,500 feet. It carries two MG FF 20 mm cannons, two 7.92 mm machine guns and one engine-mounted MG FF 20 mm cannon that fired through the propeller spinner.
Nakajima Ki-43-IIIa Hayabusa (reproduction)
Nakajima's Ki-43 Hayabusa ("Peregrine Falcon") was the most important Imperial Japanese Army Air Force (IJAAF) fighter of World War II. It entered service in late 1941 and served the entire duration of the war. A total of 5,919 were built.
Yakovlev Yak-9U
Initially a glider designer in the mid-1920s, Aleksandr Sergeyevich Yakovlev would eventually lead one of the Soviet Union’s most famous aircraft design bureaus. The Yak-9 was developed from the earlier Yakovlev fighters that included the successful Yak-3 and Yak-7. It first entered combat over Stalingrad in late 1942 as a lighter version of the Yak-7. The Yak-9 family was built in many different versions and is considered the most important Soviet fighter type of World War II. The Museum’s Yak-9 is one of approximately 10 surviving aircraft worldwide and is the only original Yak-9 on display in the West.
The Yak-9 has a cruising speed of 247 mph, a top speed of 442, a range of 539 miles, and a service ceiling of 34,120 feet.
More World War II airplanes
Museum of Flight: World War II American fighters (photo diary)
Planes of Fame: World War II American Fighters (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: World War II Fighters (Photo Diary)
Air Force Museum: World War II German Planes (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: World War II Japanese planes (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: The Memphis Belle (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: North American B-25 B Mitchell (photo diary)
Yanks Air Museum: World War II Bombers (Photo Diary)