Most Beautiful Aircraft of WW2?

[DarrenW]

In fairness to Darren a plane doesn't have to be airborne to make an impression, in the air the Hellcat is much like many others but the pics of them ready for take off made a real impression on me, to be in the middle of that must have been an experience.
View attachment 490581

That photo is undeniably one of my favorites! Just a few days ago I had the distinct honor and pleasure of having lunch with a former Hellcat pilot who during the war was assigned to VF-81. He was present during the first attacks on Tokyo since the Doolittle raids of 1942. I was awestruck by what he told me. He still recalls all those intense launches from the deck of the USS Wasp like they just happened yesterday. Never boisterous or cocky, he's a true gentleman who feels that he was just doing his "job". Being married 65 years, he says that his greatest achievement in life is the family he and his wife began all those years ago and even at 95 he's still very active in the community. God bless him.

His name is Ray Owen by the way....

 

[Barrett]

The most beautiful plane I ever saw was The OS2U coming to pick me up."

F6F pilot off Truk Atoll, Feb 44.

 

[DarrenW]

I'd pick the Hellcat as most beautiful but I want to keep my impartial reputation intact here!

I have always thought of the early mark Spitfires and the P-51D Mustang as being the most aesthetically appealing aircraft of all time. They both just look right to me and with them it wasn't all eye appeal, they delivered exactly what one would expect from them!

I know what I said about my reputation but after seeing this today I humbly change my vote to the Hellcat!

 

[Dimlee]

" if Jesus came back as an airplane, he would be a P-38."
I don't know who said that, but I agreed wholeheartedly once I read that years ago.

The one and only.
P-38.
No debates, no discussions.

 

[pbehn]

" if Jesus came back as an airplane, he would be a P-38."
I don't know who said that, but I agreed wholeheartedly once I read that years ago.

The one and only.
P-38.
No debates, no discussions.


View attachment 490751

The two booms and the pilot don't seem to be going in the same direction

 

[billrunnels]

The B-17G is my choice. It has beautiful lines and brought me home safely!

 

[pbehn]

The B-17G is my choice. It has beautiful lines and brought me home safely!

The B 17 was a beauty before it had to have guns and turrets fixed here and there.

 

[billrunnels]

The B 17 was a beauty before it had to have guns and turrets fixed here and there.
View attachment 490752

Thanks for sharing the great picture.

 

[pbehn]

Thanks for sharing the great picture.

I just found it on the "net" since it carries RAF markings I presume it is a B-17C (happy to be corrected), In a more pleasant world it looks like a very nice airliner.

 

[billrunnels]

I just found it on the "net" since it carries RAF markings I presume it is a B-17C (happy to be corrected), In a more pleasant world it looks like a very nice airliner.

I don't know the history of the B-17 but was impressed with those flying in WWII.

 

[Ascent]

I present the Polikarpov I-153 and I-16.

I've always had a liking for these two fighters, don't know why. That whole period in the early months of the war and the short period beforehand brought up some interesting designs.

 

[Dimlee]

The two booms and the pilot don't seem to be going in the same direction

Directions of Jesus are beyond of our understanding.

 

[Auburnfan216]

How about the lines on this bird?

 

[wlewisiii]

Beautiful?
5) F15 Reporter
4) C-54
3) Y1B-17
2) P-40
1) P-12

With an honorable mention to the Beech 17.

 

[Ascent]

How about the lines on this bird?View attachment 490787

That's something only a mother could love.

 

[Auburnfan216]

That's something only a mother could love.

Come on, everyone loves a Roc

 

[GregP]

Here's a pretty one, albeit not quite exactly famous ... Republic XP-12 Rainbow ...

and another one, not very famous either ... Hughes XF-11 ...

Maybe not numerous, but surely pleasing lines.

 

[JJWilson]

The F7F Tigercat is above and beyond the most beautiful plane in my opinion, and it sounds beautiful with those two Pratt & Whitney R-2800 radials

 

[va155sf]

Ahhh .... too difficult for me to answer. Soooo many wonderful planes!

 

[manuel]

Macchi C202