History of Military Aviators (U.S.)

World War 2

The prime of U.S. military aviation was in World War 2. America built the best planes during the war and all planes used by the U.S. but one, The B-25J Mitchell, were american made.

From left to right:P-51 Mustang, P-47 Thunderbolt, P-38 Lightning, F4U Corsair, B-17g Flying Fortress, B-29 Super Fortress.

The Americans had the head start in airspace dominance. The P-51 was known for being superior in dogfights and it's long range. The P-47 was known for it's extreme firepower, high altitude capabilities, and it's medium range. The P-38 was known for it's distinct look and it's superiority over other aircraft because of it's nose turrets and maneuverability. The F4U was famous for it's one of a kind sound which got it the nickname "Corsair", it's folding wings, and it's wierd but cool wing design. The B-17 and B-29 were known for their size and capacity. The B-29 is most famous for being the plane that dropped the nuclear bombs on Japan (That bomber was nicknamed the "Enola Gay"), the B-29 was huge compared to other aircraft at the time period. The B-17 was the most popular bomber during WWII (followed by the B-24 Liberator) and was taken on numerous bombing runs. The most famous B-17 is the "Memphis Belle."

The Tuskegee Airmen were the greatest squadron of pilots the U.S. has ever seen. The Tuskegee Airmen primarily flew P-40s until they upgraded to P-51s with noticable and one-of-a-kind red tails.

During WWII, segregation was a big problem in society and even the military. These men were the only African-American pilots in WWII and they were the best. The Tuskegee Airmen were an important part of securing equal rights for African-Americans during WWII.

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