Strange and weird planes of World War II

During WWII there was a frantic race to produce better aircraft and sometimes this resulted in strange and weird designs.

I thought it would be fun to start a thread off where members can post their thoughts and pictures of their favourite strange or Weird Aircraft.

Here are two to start with.

When you first see this plane you just wonder how it flies, but by all accounts the pilots found that it handled particularly well.
The Blohm and Voff BV 141. Blohm & Voss BV 141 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The second is perhaps one of my favourite planes of WW2 due to its advanced technology.

Designed by the Horten Brothers (Both Luftwaffe Pilots). the Ho 229.

Jet propelled Flying Wing.
Horten Ho 229 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Perhaps the worlds first Stealth Fighter!
If anyone wishes to read a good book (Only available in German I think)
is Deutsche Nurflügel bis 1945.

Translated. German Flying wings to 1945.
A Dörfler published book. By Hans-Peter Dabrowski. ISBN 3-89555-308-5
Excellent reading and full of exceptional photographs.

Tom

 

North American P-82 Twin Mustang



<HR>
The P-82 came about as a result of a USAAF requirement for a very long range escort fighter for operations in the Pacific, especially to escort the B-29s all the way to Japan and back. The purpose of having two pilots was as a relief against fatigue on the long overwater missions. Only 20 of the 500 ordered had been built before the war's end brought a cancellation to the contracts, but 250 more were built in 1946. Part of this order was for a night fighter version (with a radar operator instead of a second pilot) which was made to replace the Northrop P-61 Black Widow. The P-82 was renamed the F-82 in 1948, and a U.S. F-82 shot down the first enemy aircraft of the Korean War.


Hope the pilots never argued.....

 

Vought V-173 / XF5U-1
"Flying Flapjack" or "Flying Pancake"

<HR><DD> </DD>
One of the most unusual aircraft ever designed for the U.S. Navy was the Chance Vought V-173, also known as the Zimmerman "Flying Pancake". It was a prototype "proof of concept" aircraft that lacked wings, instead relying on its flat circular body to provide the lifting surface. This multi-million dollar project nearly became the first V/STOL (vertical takeoff and landing) fighter. The V-173 blueprints were shown to the Navy in 1939, with wind tunnel tests on full scale models being done in 1940-41. In January 1942 BuAer requested the proposal for two prototype airplanes of an experimental version of the V-173, known as the VS-135. This version had more powerful engines and was given the military designation XF5U-1. Flight testing of the V-173 went on through 1942 and 1943, resulting in reports of "flying saucers" from surprised Connecticut locals. Mock-ups of the XF5U-1 were done in the summer of 1943, but due to Vought's preoccupation with the Corsair and Kingfisher, the program proceeded slowly during the war. The arrival of the jet age saw the cancellation of the XF5U-1 contract by the Navy in March 1947, despite the fact that the aircraft was due to take its first test flight later that year. The XF5U-1 prototype was scrapped, though the V-173 prototype was saved and was given to the Smithsonian. To this day the V-173 / XF5U-1 project remains one of the more interesting anecdotes in aviation history.


Ugly or what?

 

Gotha Go 229

 

http://www.luft46.com/db/3bdbj.gif it wasnt the one i was looking for but this really is daft!

 

http://www.luft46.com/mlart/mldbe-2.jpg
http://www.southernskymodels.com.au/Manufacturers/kits/images/ANI144001.jpg
this is the one i meant...its an aircraft carrier!!! wish it had been built really...very impressive idea

 

Drew,

The Horten 229 and the Gotha Go 229 are the same plane.

Gotha was awarded the contract to build and it was being produced at a factory by the Harz mountains in central Germany, but was over run by the Allies before several were completed, the Protoype 2 seater night fighter was completed and was also ready for production.
Only one plane survived and lies in hibernation at Silversprings, near Washington.
Latest I heard is that funds are going to be made available for restoration, but I think it is a while off yet.

Regards

Tom

 

I had a model kit of the Horten...very nice aeroplane, bit obscure admittedly but very nice. One problem though, the instructions told me to paint it pink... have i missed something about German WW2 camo? i thought that pink was kept for ground units!

 

Maybe it was a plane that only flew on the ground?

Donnie

 

low level attack wallah... i like it...

 

i like this one...not wierd (unless you count the fact that it kills the pilot) but cute. like an evil nazi geebee

 

Ferahgo,

Nice photo of the Me 163.

Does anyone know how the refurbishment of the Me 163 at Cosford is coming along.
On my last visit it was all in bits and pieces.

Regards

Tom

 

I had no idea that there was a refurbishment, this is just a replica. didn't know they actually captured one. The 163 was only painted red for a day or two during the war, the ace flying it had no wish to be a target like the Baron-it was bad enough that his own plane was trying to kill him.

 

Its weird seeing the post-war flag of the Federal Republic on the tail of a Third Reich era aircraft.

 

Get yourself off to the Luftwaffen Museum at Gatow, Berlin.
There is one on display, which was donated back by the RAF when they vacated the airfield. It was a war trophy, used as a gate guardian in the Uk and refurbished, before handing back to its original makers!

It looks very good close up.

Regards

Tom

 

lovely aeroplane. interestingly has the swastika on the tail...isn't that still banned in Germany?

 

Ferahgo,

As it is in a museum the Swastika can be displayed, as it is historically correct.

If you attend model exhibitions etc, all the Haken Kreuz's (Swastika) are covered over or else tape is placed on two edges to disrupt the shape.

When you buy models here in Germany the box comes without Swastika decals or with some newer models the swastika comes in two pieces so that it is not seen in public.
Any Swastikas shown on the box are blacked out.

Try flying any Nazi flag or displaying anything Nazi in public and it will result in you quick arrest and jail sentence.

Regards

Tom

 

I wouldn't do that though...i have a respect for them.

 

Hi there, Would a new one like me be welcome here?
Thanks so much in deed.
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Electric adjustable beds prices and reviews

 

Another German weird rocket plane - surface-to-air-missile project: Bachem Ba 349 "Natter"

Bachem Ba 349 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia