Top 8 WWII Fighters with Highest Kill-to-Loss Ratios

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During WWII, a number of fighter planes achieved remarkable kill-to-loss ratios, which highlights their effectiveness and impact on the battlefield.

ย 8. P-38 Lightning

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The P-38 is recognized for its distinctive twin-boomed engines as well as formidable nose-mounted armament. Operating in all major theaters of WWIII, it achieved 3,785 enemy aircraft kills. The collective kill ratio is an impressive 7:1.ย 

7. North American Aviation P-51 Mustang

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The Mustang is an American single-seat fighter and fighter bomber with extended range and was constantly used during WWII. Throughout the war, Mustang pilots asserted that theyโ€™d eliminated 5,599 enemy planes with an impressive kill ratio of 11:1.

This achievement established the Mustang as a top-scoring fighter in the European theater, and a significant contributor to the Allied victory over Germany.ย 

6. Vought F4U Corsair

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The Corsair is WWIIโ€™s most capable American carrier-based fighter bomber. By the warโ€™s end, F4U and FG pilots claimed 2,140 aerial victories with 189 losses to enemy aircraft, resulting in an impressive kill ratio of 11:1.ย 

5. Supermarine Spitfire

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The Spitfire is a British single fighter plane that served in the Royal Air Force. Throughout all WWII theaters, Spitfires achieved approximately 5,988 kills. It has an impressive combined kill ratio of 13:1.

4. Curtis P-40 Warhawk

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This American single-engine fighter saw action in various theaters of the war. The Warhawk operated in multiple theaters and maintained an impressive combined kill-to-loss ratio of 18:1.

3. Grumman F6F Hellcat

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This American carrier-based fighter plane is the most successful Allied naval aircraft with an impressive kill-to-loss ratio of 19 to 1.

2. Messerschmitt Bf-109

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This German fighter plane holds the most distinction of being credited with more aerial victories than any other aircraft in history. In total, the combined kill-to-loss ratio of the Bf-109 is 21 to 1.

1. Brewster F2A Buffaloย 

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This American fighter plane was used during the early stages of WWII. It has an astonishing air-to-kill ratio of 26 to 1. However, itโ€™s worth noting that this plane was quickly outmatched by the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.ย