Airplanes came into widespread use as combat weapons during World War I and by World War II airplanes played a major role. It was during World War II that jet airplanes were developed and in the years following the war, a number of new jets were developed. Shown below are some of the jet airplanes of the 1940s.
Heinkel He 178 V1
This aircraft was on display in the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. This was the first jet aircraft. It was developed without official German Government knowledge and was flown for government officials in 1939.
Heinkel He-162-1a Volksjager (Salamander)
This aircraft was on display in the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. This interceptor fighter was manufactured in 1940 and had a maximum speed of 522 mph and a range of 410 miles. A total of 116 of these were built and more than 800 were in various stages of assembly when the underground production centers were overrun.
Messerschmitt Me 163B Komet
This aircraft was on display in the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino, California. Built in 1941, this jet interceptor had a top speed of 596 mph. It has a liquid rocket engine and can fly for 7 minutes and 30 seconds.
Messerschmit Me 262 Swallow
The Messerschmit Me 262 was the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. While design of this aircraft had started prior to World War II, it did not become operational until mid-1944. It has a cruising speed of 498 mph, a top speed of 559 mph, and a range of 652 miles.
This aircraft was on display in the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
Republic F-84E Thunderjet
This aircraft was on display in the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. This single-seat attack bomber was first produced by Republic in 1947. It has a top speed of 606 mph, a cruising speed of 483, and a range of 1,485 with tanks. According to the Museum display:
“The F-84 Thunderjet was the first jet fighter to fly across the Atlantic and the first jet fighter with air to air refueling. The F-84 was also the first USAF jet fighter to carry tactical nuclear weapons.”
CL-13B Sabre Mk. 6 (F-86E)
This aircraft was on display in the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. This jet fighter was first produced in 1948. It has a top speed of 710 mph, a cruising speed of 532 mph, and a range of 1,495 miles with tanks.
Grumman F11F-1 Tiger
This aircraft was on display in the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. The Tiger, first produced by Grumman in 1945, was the first supersonic operational Navy jet fighter and the Navy’s first carrier-borne jet fighter. Only 200 of these aircraft were built.
North American FJ-1 Fury
This aircraft was on display in the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California. This single seat carrier-based fighter was first produced in 1945 by North American Aircraft. It has a top speed of 547 mph, a cruising speed of 432 mph, and a range of 1,500 miles with tanks. A total of 30 were built.
Lockheed T-33A Shooting Star
This aircraft was on display in the Stonehenge Air Museum in Fortine, Montana.
This two-seat trainer was first flown in 1948 and remained in production until 1959. Almost 7,000 of these airplanes were built. Over 20 nations have used the T-33. This was the first jet trainer used by the Air Force and was the only jet trainer used for nearly a decade.
More airplane photo tours
Museums 201: The Curtiss Jenny Airplane (photo diary)
Museums 201: Piper Cubs (Photo Diary)
Museums 201: World War I Fokker Airplanes (photo diary)
Museums 201: World War I Sopwith Airplanes (photo diary)
Evergreen Aviation: Some Jet Fighters (photo diary)
Planes of Fame: Some Jet Fighters (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: Military Jets (Photo Diary)
Stonehenge Air Museum: Military Airplanes (Photo Diary)
