During WWII, a number of fighter planes achieved remarkable kill-to-loss ratios, which highlights their effectiveness and impact on the battlefield.
8. P-38 Lightning
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.
7. North American Aviation P-51 Mustang
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 they’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.
6. Vought F4U Corsair
The Corsair is WWII’s most capable American carrier-based fighter bomber. By the war’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.
5. Supermarine Spitfire
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
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
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
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 Buffalo
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, it’s worth noting that this plane was quickly outmatched by the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero.