World War II - Modeler's Reference

During World War II aviation firmly established itself as a critical component of modern warfare, from the Battle of Britain in the early stages to the great aircraft carrier battles between American and Japanese Pacific fleets and the final delivery of nuclear weapons. The development of civil aviation stagnated until peace could be restored, and in the combatant countries, many existing civilian aircraft were pressed into military service. However military technologies developed during the war would revolutionize postwar aviation. In particular, the widespread construction of aerodromes with serviceable runways would provide the basis for a postwar move of long-range passenger flights from flying boats to land planes.

Grumman TBM-3 Avenger – U.S. Marines

The Grumman TBF/TBM Avenger (designated TBM for aircraft manufactured by General Motors) was a torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Navy and Marine Corps, and eventually used by several air and naval services around the world. This rugged torpedo bomber proved itself over and over again in WWII.

Grumman TBM-3 Avenger – U.S. Navy

Douglas JD-1 (US Navy A-26) – 8928

The Douglas A-26 Invader (designated B-26 between 1948 and 1965) is a United States twin-engined light bomber and attack aircraft that was built by Douglas Aircraft during World War II that also saw service during several of the Cold War’s major conflicts. A limited number of highly modified aircraft (designation A-26) served in combat until 1969.

Consolidated B-24J – 44175

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was an American heavy bomber, designed by Consolidated Aircraft of San Diego, California. The B-24 was used in World War II by several Allied air forces and navies, and by every branch of the American armed forces during the war, attaining a distinguished war record with its operations in the Western European, Pacific, Mediterranean, and China-Burma-India Theaters.

Douglas SBD-5 Dauntless – 39

The Douglas SBD Dauntless was a World War II American naval scout plane and dive bomber that was manufactured by Douglas Aircraft from 1940 through 1944. The SBD (“Scout Bomber Douglas”) was the U.S. Navy’s main carrier-borne scout plane and dive bomber from mid-1940 through mid-1944. The SBD was also flown by the U.S. Marine Corps, both from land air bases and aircraft carriers. The SBD is best remembered as the bomber that delivered the fatal blows to the Japanese carriers at the Battle of Midway in June 1942.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat – BuNo 66237

The Grumman F6F Hellcat was a carrier-based fighter aircraft conceived to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat in United States Navy (USN) service. Although the F6F resembled the Wildcat in some ways, it was a completely new design, powered by a 2,000 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800, the same power-plant used for both the Corsair and the United States Army Air Force’s (USAAF) Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. Some military observers tagged the Hellcat as the “Wildcat’s big brother”.

Grumman F6F-3 Hellcat – BuNo 41930

North American P-51D “Mustang” – N551D – British Markings

One of the most famous of all WWII aircraft, the North American P-51D Mustang was an American long-range, single-seat fighter and fighter-bomber used during World War II, the Korean War and other conflicts. This aircraft is s/n 44-14826a repainted in British markings.

Messerschmitt Bf 109-G10

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid-1930’s. It was one of the first truly modern fighters of the era, including such features as all-metal monocoque construction, a closed canopy, a retractable landing gear, and was powered by a liquid-cooled, inverted-V12 engine.