Best WW2 Aircraft Manufacturer/Designer - Aircraft of World War II

dreadnought · 02-15-2007, 07:48 AM

Hawker and Sidney Camm, and Supermarine and R.J.Mitchell (unfortunately dead before he could see how brilliant his design was), kept Britain in the war with their superb aircraft during one of the country's most difficult times, the Battle of Britain. In my opinion they were the best aeroplane designers and manufacturers of the war as they produced some of the allies most important aircraft.
Of course this is only my opinion and I would like to know those of others.

FLYBOYJ · 02-15-2007, 08:41 AM

Based on innovation and product line I'd go with Willie Messerschmitt. Honorable mention to Hugo Junkers and Kelly Johnson.

DerAdlerIstGelandet · 02-15-2007, 10:23 AM

I go with Willi Messerschmitt, Kelly Johnson and Kurt Tank.

trackend · 02-15-2007, 10:46 AM

Douglas/Arthur Raymond

Gnomey · 02-15-2007, 12:07 PM

I like Reginald Mitchell, it would of been really interesting to see how the Spitfire would of developed with him in charge. I would also say Willi Messerschmitt, Kelly Johnson and Kurt Tank were excellent as well.

timshatz · 02-15-2007, 12:41 PM

I'm with Trackend, Douglas. Their birds are still being used.

davparlr · 02-15-2007, 01:47 PM

Don't forget North American, B-25, P-51, T-6, followed up with the F-86. Not many losers there! And a nice spread of categories.

Thorlifter · 02-15-2007, 02:04 PM

Messerschmidt, Boeing, Focke Wolf, North American are a few that come to mind.

Gimmeacannon! · 02-15-2007, 02:29 PM

So many people give all the credit for the original Spit design to reg Mitchell and as head of the department I suppose this is natural but he had a damned great design team behind him that did most of the work then took it to him for yea-or-nea decision on whether it would be used.
The design of the wing is always mentioned but if it was for Reg Mitchell it would have had a straight taper like his earlier designs, it was an aerodynamicist named Beverley Shenstone on his team that came up with the idea of an eliptical wing and designed it after stidying the He 70(?) single engined civil aircraft.
In an interview Shenstone said that Mitchells comment when asked about the eliptical wing concept 'he just said as long as it kept the plane in the air and covered eight machine guns he didnt give a sod what shape it was'.

bigZ · 02-15-2007, 03:45 PM

For me the 2 best designers of WWII are James Martin and Kurt Tank. Although none of the Martin Baker planes were put into production.

Not only were their planes excellent. But as an overall package they had also put more thought in for pilot ergonomics, maintenance, ground handling and ease of manufacture than any other design team. Kurt Tank proberly takes the lead due to his range of aircraft from the Condor, Owl, 190/152.

Love the Spit but look at how little thought has been given to the office typical of most British designs.

renrich · 02-15-2007, 05:35 PM

How about Rex Beisel and Ed Heineman. Is it just a conicidence that they(and many others appear to have German names?)

Aggie08 · 02-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Messerschmidt, Boeing, and North Atlantic, to name a few.

davparlr · 02-17-2007, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Aggie08

Messerschmidt, Boeing, and North Atlantic, to name a few.

I plain overlooked that North Atlantic manufacturer. Are they based in Greenland or Iceland?

pbfoot · 02-17-2007, 06:07 PM

Greenland.... Bluie West

Aggie08 · 02-17-2007, 06:40 PM

Oopsie... North American. I mean, uh, haven't you ever heard of the legendary North Atlantic PBY Frozen Guppy?

02-15-2007, 07:48 AM	#1
dreadnought Junior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: London, GB Posts: 17	Best WW2 Aircraft Manufacturer/Designer Hawker and Sidney Camm, and Supermarine and R.J.Mitchell (unfortunately dead before he could see how brilliant his design was), kept Britain in the war with their superb aircraft during one of the country's most difficult times, the Battle of Britain. In my opinion they were the best aeroplane designers and manufacturers of the war as they produced some of the allies most important aircraft. Of course this is only my opinion and I would like to know those of others.

02-15-2007, 08:41 AM	#2
FLYBOYJ IP/Mech THE GREAT GAZOO Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Colorado, USA Posts: 16,867	Based on innovation and product line I'd go with Willie Messerschmitt. Honorable mention to Hugo Junkers and Kelly Johnson. __________________ > I Support Doug Gillis <

02-15-2007, 10:23 AM	#3
DerAdlerIstGelandet Der Crewchief Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Ansbach, Germany Posts: 34,065	I go with Willi Messerschmitt, Kelly Johnson and Kurt Tank. __________________ fly boy:"isnt that the first jet bomber becasue i have flown one in a flight sim before and i know how it handles" Last edited by DerAdlerIstGelandet; 02-15-2007 at 11:54 AM.

02-15-2007, 12:07 PM	#5
Gnomey "World Traveller" Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Royal Deeside/St Andrews, Scotland, UK Posts: 16,510	I like Reginald Mitchell, it would of been really interesting to see how the Spitfire would of developed with him in charge. I would also say Willi Messerschmitt, Kelly Johnson and Kurt Tank were excellent as well. __________________ "Success is not Final, Failure is not Fatal, it is the Courage to Continue that Counts" Sir Winston Churchill "To him the People of the World Largely owe the Freedom and Liberties they Enjoy Today" Enscription on Hugh Dowding's (AOC Fighter Command 1936-40) statue in London WW2 Talk: A WW2 Discussion Forum My Photo Collections on Flickr

02-15-2007, 03:45 PM	#10
bigZ Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Posts: 570	For me the 2 best designers of WWII are James Martin and Kurt Tank. Although none of the Martin Baker planes were put into production. Not only were their planes excellent. But as an overall package they had also put more thought in for pilot ergonomics, maintenance, ground handling and ease of manufacture than any other design team. Kurt Tank proberly takes the lead due to his range of aircraft from the Condor, Owl, 190/152. Love the Spit but look at how little thought has been given to the office typical of most British designs. __________________ Lord Flasheart: [about planes] Always treat your kite like you treat your woman. Lieutenant George: How do you mean, sir? Do you mean, take her home at the week-end to meet your mother? Lord Flasheart: No! I mean get inside her five times a day and take her to heaven and back! Captain Blackadder: I'm beginning to see why the suffragette movement are wanting the vote. Lord Flasheart: Hey, hey! Any girl who wants to chain herself to my railings and suffer a jet movement gets my vote!

02-15-2007, 10:46 AM	#4
trackend Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Canvey Island, Essex Posts: 4,030	Douglas/Arthur Raymond

02-15-2007, 12:41 PM	#6
timshatz Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Phila, Pa Posts: 3,820	I'm with Trackend, Douglas. Their birds are still being used.

02-15-2007, 01:47 PM	#7
davparlr Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,562	Don't forget North American, B-25, P-51, T-6, followed up with the F-86. Not many losers there! And a nice spread of categories.

02-15-2007, 02:04 PM	#8
Thorlifter Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Dallas, Tx Posts: 4,729	Messerschmidt, Boeing, Focke Wolf, North American are a few that come to mind.

02-15-2007, 02:29 PM	#9
Gimmeacannon! Junior Member Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 24	So many people give all the credit for the original Spit design to reg Mitchell and as head of the department I suppose this is natural but he had a damned great design team behind him that did most of the work then took it to him for yea-or-nea decision on whether it would be used. The design of the wing is always mentioned but if it was for Reg Mitchell it would have had a straight taper like his earlier designs, it was an aerodynamicist named Beverley Shenstone on his team that came up with the idea of an eliptical wing and designed it after stidying the He 70(?) single engined civil aircraft. In an interview Shenstone said that Mitchells comment when asked about the eliptical wing concept 'he just said as long as it kept the plane in the air and covered eight machine guns he didnt give a sod what shape it was'.

02-15-2007, 05:35 PM	#11
renrich Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Montrose, Colorado Posts: 3,523	How about Rex Beisel and Ed Heineman. Is it just a conicidence that they(and many others appear to have German names?)

02-17-2007, 04:08 PM	#12
Aggie08 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,013	Messerschmidt, Boeing, and North Atlantic, to name a few. __________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..." Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group Matt

02-17-2007, 06:07 PM	#14
pbfoot Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: niagara falls Posts: 5,960	Greenland.... Bluie West

02-17-2007, 06:40 PM	#15
Aggie08 Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Texas Posts: 1,013	Oopsie... North American. I mean, uh, haven't you ever heard of the legendary North Atlantic PBY Frozen Guppy? __________________ "I had ten rockets on board, and as I wasn't particularly fond of head-on attacks, I salvoed the whole lot at him. The rockets didn't hit him but but they must have scared the bejesus out of him, for he did a steep turn to starboard... I let him have the full blast, all eight fifty-calibers. I had never seen an aircraft completely disintegrate in the air the way this Me-110 did..." Bill Dunn, 406th Fighter Group Matt

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