United States Navy World War 2 Aircraft (1941-1945) - American Carrier- and Land-based Warplanes of the Second World War

The U.S. Navy was blindsided in the opening rounds of World War 2, ultimately recovering and owning all in its path by the end of the conflict.

There are a total of 29 United States Navy World War 2 Aircraft (1941-1945) - American Carrier- and Land-based Warplanes of the Second World War in the Military Factory. Entries are listed below in alphanumeric order (1-to-Z). Flag images indicative of country of origin and not necessarily the primary operator.

Fighter concepts and prototypes are also included in this listing as are single- and twin-engined heavy fighters.

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Thumbnail picture of the Bell XFL Airabonita

Bell XFL Airabonita
The Bell XFL-1 Airabonita was a failed attempt to convert the land-based Bell P-39 Airacobra into a viable U.S. Navy carrierborne interceptor.

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Thumbnail picture of the Boeing F4B / P-12

Boeing F4B / P-12
The F4B / P-12 pursuit fighter line became an important product for both Boeing and the United States military.

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Thumbnail picture of the Boeing XF8B

Boeing XF8B
Boeing tried - unsuccessfully - to fit the long-range XF8B-1 prototype into long-term U.S. Navy plans.

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Thumbnail picture of the Brewster F2A (Buffalo)

Brewster F2A (Buffalo)
The F2A Buffalo fought valiantly in the first Battle of Midway, where losses were heavy.

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Thumbnail picture of the Brewster SB2A Buccaneer

Brewster SB2A Buccaneer
The Brewster SB2A Buccaneer scout bomber led a rather nondescript service life heading into World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Brewster XSBA-1 / SBN-1

Brewster XSBA-1 / SBN-1
A protracted development period left the Brewster SBN-1 an obsolete machine when America went to war in December of 1941.

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Thumbnail picture of the Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf

Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf
Despite a USN order for 1,100 aircraft, just 180 of the Consolidated Vultee TBY Sea Wolf aircraft were realized.

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Thumbnail picture of the Curtiss SB2C Helldiver

Curtiss SB2C Helldiver
Though initially not as well-liked by her crews as the Douglas Dauntless was, the Curtiss Helldiver went on to sink more ship tonnage than any other aircraft in World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Curtiss SBC Helldiver

Curtiss SBC Helldiver
The Curtiss SBC Helldiver became the last acquired biplane of the United States Navy service when it was introduced in 1938.

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Thumbnail picture of the Curtiss XF14C

Curtiss XF14C
The Curtiss XF14C carrier-based fighter existed in only one prototype form before seeing cancellation in 1945.

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Thumbnail picture of the Curtiss XF15C

Curtiss XF15C
The Curtiss XF15C was born during the fighting of World War 2 but suffered cancellation in the immediate post-war period.

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Thumbnail picture of the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito

de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito
The classic British de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito night fighter found few challengers during World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Douglas BTD Destroyer

Douglas BTD Destroyer
The end of World War 2 in 1945 signaled the end of Destroyer production, ending with 30 examples with none seeing combat service.

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Thumbnail picture of the Douglas SBD Dauntless

Douglas SBD Dauntless
The SBD Dauntless bomber was the principle Allied dive bomber in the Pacific Theater of Operations.

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Thumbnail picture of the Douglas TBD Devastator

Douglas TBD Devastator
Once on the cutting edge of naval aviation technology, the TBD Devastator was made obsolete by the time of Pearl Harbor.

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Thumbnail picture of the Douglas XTB2D Skypirate

Douglas XTB2D Skypirate
Only two of the proposed Douglas XTB2D Skypirate torpedo bombers were built before the project saw cancellation in 1947.

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Thumbnail picture of the Goodyear F2G Super Corsair

Goodyear F2G Super Corsair
Proposed as an improved low-altitude version of the classic Vought F4U Corsair navy fighter, the Goodyear F2G Corsair was doomed with the end of World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman F3F

Grumman F3F
Grumman continued its relationship as a USN fighter supplier delivering their useful F3F series in 1936 - the last biplane fighter to be adopted by the service.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman F4F Wildcat

Grumman F4F Wildcat
Originally conceived of as a biplane, the Grumman F4F Wildcat became a critical component to the early going of World War 2 for the Allies.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman F6F Hellcat

Grumman F6F Hellcat
The classic Grumman F6F Hellcat fighter was known to make an Ace out of the many pilots who flew it during World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman F8F Bearcat

Grumman F8F Bearcat
The Grumman F8F Bearcat was one of the fastest piston-engine aircraft of its time, its performance on par with early jet-powered fighters.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman TBF Avenger

Grumman TBF Avenger
The Grumman TBF Avenger torpedo bomber saw nearly 10,000 produced during World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Grumman XF5F Skyrocket

Grumman XF5F Skyrocket
The Grumman XF5F-1 Skyrocket was trialled by the USN as a possible carrier-based twin-engine fighter - it only saw one prototype completed before 1944.

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Thumbnail picture of the Lockheed Hudson

Lockheed Hudson
Nearly 3,000 Lockheed Hudson aircraft were built from the period spanning 1938 to 1943 - many seeing service during World War 2.

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Thumbnail picture of the Martin AM Mauler

Martin AM Mauler
An order for 783 Martin Maulers became just 149 production examples with the end of World War 2 in 1945.

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Thumbnail picture of the Mitsubishi G4M (Betty)

Mitsubishi G4M (Betty)
The Mitsubishi G4M Betty will forever be linked to the ill-fated flight which saw the death of Japanese Admiral Yamamoto at the hands of American Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighters over Bougainville in 1943.

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Thumbnail picture of the Vought F4U Corsair

Vought F4U Corsair
The fast and powerful Vought F4U Corsair fighter was the first Allied aircraft capable of going toe-to-toe with the fabled Japanese Zero - it fought into the Korean War years and beyond.

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Thumbnail picture of the Vought SB2U Vindicator

Vought SB2U Vindicator
The Vought SB2U Vindicator was obsolete by the time of America's involvement in World War 2 and relegated to training elements by 1943.

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Thumbnail picture of the Vultee XA-41

Vultee XA-41
Originating as a dive bomber, the Vultee XA-41 was evolved into an attack platform until passed on by the United States Army.