There are countless books, DVDs and web sites on the great aircraft of the Second World War. Almost everyone would recognize the Spitfire, P-51 Mustang, Me109 or Lancaster. However, there are hundreds of types of aircraft used between 1939 and 1945, and, inevitably, some were an abject failure. I have always enjoyed the lists of “worst of”, and had an interest in aviation, so I thought it was time to combine the two.
So what makes a bad plane? Is it the slowest, most poor or obsolete aircraft armed? (. The Fairey Swordfish is a good example) is not as simple as some planes massively overachieved despite being outdated so my approach is simple: evil is a plane that could do the work that was assigned to do. Some of the aircraft designs were not bad, just obsolete. Others may have been great, but rushed into production and plagued by reliability problems. Others were simply wrong, period. Some may already know, but that others rightly faded into obscurity. There is a dark side here, as their shortcomings, no doubt, cost the lives of hundreds of young pilots. Although On the other hand, one could also argue that, failing that could not cause casualties.
The first rule I had was that the plane should have been used operationally for either training or combat because it is pure speculation debating whether a successful prototype. The second was an entry for each of the major players, if only for the sake of variety. There was still a surprising number of candidates for this list, so I went to those with an interesting story behind them, like reading “never saw combat and was used as a coach” on several occasions will not be as interesting. This is the first list that I submitted, so feel free to comments.
Top 10 worst aircraft of the Second World War 2
1 Wed Fairey Battle Great Britain
Its first flight in 1936, the 3-seat Fairey Battle light bomber represents a major advance over its predecessors over biplane. It was also the first operational aircraft to use the legendary Rolls Royce Merlin engine. Unfortunately, such was the pace of aircraft development during the decade of 1930, which was obsolete before it ever came to a squadron. But with the war that looming, the Air Ministry had intended to get that many aircraft, regardless of ability, in service and large-scale production ordered.
When war broke out ten RAF squadrons were sent in northern France as part of the Advanced Air Striking Force. During the first eight months were limited commitments, but the battle has claimed the first victory of the RAF in the war, when a tail gunner shot down a Messerschmitt Me 109. However, when the Wehrmacht swept into France and the Netherlands on May 10, 1940, defects in the battle were horribly exposed. Its armament of two cannon-caliber machine gun was useless against modern fighters, and slow become an easy target for AA gunners. 32 aircraft were sent on the day of the inauguration, of which 13 were lost, along with most of the 18 examples of Belgium. The next day, 7 of 8 were downed, and 14, 35 of the 63 were lost in a desperate attack against all German bridgeheads. In just one week, 99 aircraft were destroyed, taking a large number of more experienced crew personnel, and not to delay the German advance by one hour.
This was indeed the final race of the first line of the battle, and surviving the days passed quite peacefully as instructors or target tugs. Perhaps his most famous feat was the May 12 attack by 5 Battles Albert Canal Bridge. Directed by Donald Garland official flight, the teams of volunteers pressed home his attack in daylight without escort against all frightening predictions. A span of the bridge and was hit briefly unconscious, but at the cost of all aircraft 5. Both Garland and his navigator, Thomas Grey, received posthumous Victoria Crosses, the highest award for bravery a member of the Commonwealth or British armed forces can receive.
Italy
This list is in no particular order, however there is a plane is well above (or below should be?) the rest. Flew for the first time in 1936, the stylish and elegant lynx (Lynx) scored a propaganda victory for the regime of Mussolini, when he got two speeds distance records. Its military potential was evident, however, the additional weight required by the weapons, armor, and the team had a disastrous effect on their performance and handling.
First used against French airfields Corsica type has been found to be hopelessly underpowered and terrible flight characteristics. However, it was the only strong fighter available to the Regia Aeronautica (Italian Air Force), and a number were sent to North Africa. The addition of sand filters stolen what little power the aircraft had, to the point where it became virtually worthless. An attack on a British airfield in September 1940, had to be aborted when the aircraft fully loaded, no managed to reach the working height or keep training. If a regulator of registration, the Lynx now could only reach half of its claimed speed. Some sources even state of the aircraft had to take off in the direction he wanted to travel because it lacked the power to make a bank transfer.
As final ignominy, the survivors were parked and used as bait to attack allied aircraft. Others were discarded from the factory, completing and the career of possibly the worst ever in combat aircraft.
Initially conceived as a passenger plane, the amazingly ugly Zubr (Bison) became a terrorist as a backup in case something more advanced PZL.37 failed. Romania has also expressed interest in this new design – that is until the aircraft, carrying two senior officers, disintegrated in the air.
Quick war approaching, the Department of Aeronautics Bristol Pegasus engines ordered 50% more powerful than the prototype. The experts warned the aircraft structure was not strong enough, but the powers that be decided it was an acceptable risk. Crudely strengthened following examples sticking extra wood on the arms of the wing, but remained a number of serious defects. The main one was the landing gear, which lock mechanism was too weak and unreliable, resulting in most aircraft flying with it set down. This, and the extra boost, did nothing to carry out and poor and further reduce its payload.
Zubr was recognized that was outdated, and therefore assigned to training units. In all the weight could only operate from paved runways, and even then could only carry a small bomb load. Most were destroyed on the ground during the first days of the war, with Germany running the few survivors captured. Ironically, had a longer life and more useful in the hands of the Luftwaffe.
4 Wed Messerschmitt Me 210
Germany
Before the outbreak of war, the doctrine of the Luftwaffe placed great faith in Zerstorer (destructor) aircraft, two engine fighters, and the long-range heavy. The resulting aircraft, the me 110, in fact is a very effective terrorist murderer, as long as there were no escort fighters. Even before the war broke out, work had already begun in successor, designated me 210. The new design, which flew the day after the invasion of Poland, is 50 mph (80 km / h) faster, had a longer range and heavier armament. A very advanced feature was the use rear side-firing 13 mm (0.51 inch) MG 131 guns turret (sponsons), controlled remotely by the rear crew member. The testing process was fraught with difficulties, however, the prototype was very unstable prone to losses and, despite a total of 16 new designs, the problems were never adequately resolved. The chief test pilot commented that the I 210 had “all the less desirable attributes could own a plane.”
Despite the glaring deficiencies of large-scale production ordered. So unpopular was the aircraft that life lasted a little over a month, at which only 90 were delivered. It was decided that production must be stopped and restarted the program I 110. The debacle seriously hurt the reputation of the Messerschmitt, and forced the 110 to soldier on well past its expiration date. Most of the defects were fixed in Later models, however, such was his reputation that was re-designated the Me 410 Hornisse (Hornet). These improved models initially achieved success as bomber destroyers, but were shot down en masse when faced with P-47 and P- 51 fighter escorts.
This was not the end of history 210, and which was also built under license in Hungary, which was then part of the Axis Powers. 267 additional aircraft were built and delivered to Hungarian Air Force and the Luftwaffe. By all accounts well-Hungarian pilots of the aircraft and used it extensively in the close support and functions dive bombing.
5 Wed Blackburn Botha
Great Britain
Designed as a three-seat torpedo bomber / reconnaissance aircraft, the Botha flew for the first time on December 28, 1938. Despite being less than its competitor, Bristol Beaufort, on every roof on a bar, two planes were ordered to production. The Air Ministry then issued a fourth member of the crew should be added, further reducing performance and insufficient Botha.
In addition to its underpowered engines, the aircraft was involved in an alarming number of fatal accidents. Very soon developed a reputation as a death trap and, in one of the darkest episodes, was involved in a air collision with a challenging game. The aircraft was wounded in Blackpool Central railway station, killing the crew of five and thirteen civilians on the ground. While this is not to blame the shortcomings of the aircraft, which did nothing its terrible reputation. The tests had shown the aircraft structure extremely unstable and unfit for frontline service. A test pilot noted that “this thing is bloody lethal, but not the Germans do not want to see her again.” Another famous phrase “access to this plane is difficult. It should be impossible “is also attribution
Just a squad ever used the Botha in frontline operations. Even then not dropped a torpedo in anger, instead ...
Top 10 worst aircraft of the Second World War 2