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World War II produced some of the most iconic and terrifying aircraft in history, many of which still command respect today. However, alongside the legendary fighters and bombers, there were aircraft that struck fear into both their enemies and their own pilots. These were the planes that, while perhaps innovative or ambitious, failed to live up to their potential or were simply dreaded for their dangerous designs and flawed performances. Here are 10 WWII aircraft that no one wanted to see, whether in the sky or on the drawing board.
1. Heinkel He 177 Greif
The Heinkel He 177 Greif was intended to be the Luftwaffe's heavy bomber, capable of carrying large bomb loads deep into enemy territory. But the aircraft was plagued by severe design flaws, the most infamous of which was its tendency to catch fire mid-flight. Its engines were prone to overheating, and the aircraft's complex configuration led to catastrophic engine fires. Pilots quickly learned that being assigned to the He 177 was a death sentence. The plane became one of the most feared and unwanted in the German air force, despite its impressive bomb load capacity.
2. Blohm & Voss BV 141
The BV 141 was a strange and somewhat unsettling aircraft. Designed as a reconnaissance plane, it had an asymmetrical layout, with the cockpit located on a single fuselage protruding to one side. This unconventional design made it highly unstable and difficult to fly. The odd shape and lack of visibility for the pilot caused a series of problems, and while it saw limited use, it was not particularly beloved by its crews. It wasn’t just awkward—it was downright dangerous in combat.
3. Northrop XP-56 Black Bullet
Often regarded as one of the most bizarre aircraft designs of the war, the XP-56 Black Bullet was a futuristic prototype designed by Northrop. The plane had a fuselage that looked like a bullet and was designed for high-speed performance. However, it had a series of fundamental flaws. The plane was unreliable, hard to handle, and suffered from severe stability issues. It was ultimately cancelled after only two prototypes were built, and most pilots dreaded the thought of flying it.
4. Fairchild Y1B-17 (The Predecessor to the B-17)
Before the Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress became one of the most iconic bombers of World War II, there was the Fairchild Y1B-17, which was a testbed for the design. The plane was a complete failure. It was slow, cumbersome, and lacked the range or firepower that would eventually define the B-17. Its lack of performance and poor handling made it a plane no one wanted to be in, and it was quickly outclassed by other bomber designs.
5. Mitsubishi Ki-83
The Ki-83 was an ambitious design by the Japanese military, intended to be a long-range, high-speed fighter. Despite impressive specs on paper, it was never fully realized and faced numerous production delays. Once operational, the aircraft was found to be difficult to fly, with handling problems and an overly complicated design. The Ki-83 had the potential to be an excellent aircraft, but its technical issues and lack of adequate development made it a plane no one in the Japanese air force wanted to see.
6. Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Sparviero
The SM.79 Sparviero, known as the "Sparrowhawk," was a tri-motor bomber that became infamous for its awkward design. While it was effective in its intended role as a torpedo bomber in the Mediterranean, it had a reputation for being hard to control and prone to accidents. The aircraft’s rear-mounted engines gave it poor stability and made it difficult to maneuver. Crews often found themselves fighting against the plane’s bad habits, making it a less-than-desirable aircraft to operate, despite its successes in combat.
7. Vought F4U Corsair (Inexperienced Pilots)
While the F4U Corsair is regarded as one of the finest American fighter aircraft of WWII, inexperienced pilots quickly realized that its dangerous landing gear made it a nightmare to land, especially for novices. The aircraft’s landing gear caused the nose to pitch up during landings, often resulting in crashes. The problem was so severe that pilots of the F4U had to undergo special training to safely land the aircraft. While the Corsair excelled in combat, it was far from an easy aircraft to fly.
8. Focke-Wulf Ta 152
The Ta 152 was a high-altitude interceptor designed to combat Allied bombers. While it was fast and heavily armed, it was plagued by several issues. The aircraft had poor low-speed handling, making it difficult to fly at low altitudes or during dogfights. Pilots quickly realized that the Ta 152 was hard to control, especially in close combat situations. Though it could outperform many Allied fighters in a straight line, it wasn't a favorite among Luftwaffe pilots, who found it cumbersome and difficult to master.
9. Curtiss XP-55 Ascender
The XP-55 Ascender was an experimental fighter that looked like something straight out of a science fiction novel, with a tailless design and a radical shape. While it had a unique concept, the plane was incredibly unstable and was found to be prone to violent spins and uncontrollable behavior. The tailless design was an innovative idea, but it proved disastrous in practice. The XP-55's reputation was so bad that it was quickly shelved, and no pilots were eager to be assigned to it.
10. Bristol Beaufighter (At First)
The Bristol Beaufighter, initially designed as a fighter, found its true purpose later in the war as a night fighter and torpedo bomber. However, when it was first introduced, the aircraft was extremely heavy and cumbersome for its intended role. Early models were slow, underpowered, and had handling issues that made them unwieldy in dogfights. It wasn't until modifications were made, such as the addition of a more powerful engine, that the Beaufighter became a respected combat aircraft. Early versions, however, were planes no one wanted to fly.
Conclusion
While these aircraft each had their own potential, they were far from perfect. Whether due to engineering flaws, design issues, or just being plain dangerous to operate, these planes earned reputations as ones that no pilot wanted to see in the sky. Even though some of them had their moments of glory or played important roles in certain aspects of the war, their overall design and performance made them far from ideal choices for their crews.