Summary Bristol Beaufighter was a versatile bomber & night fighter in WWII due to heavy armament. Messerschmitt Bf 110 excelled as a heavy fighter-bomber with strong armament. De Havilland Mosquito, the "Wooden Wonder," dominated WWII skies with its speed.
These are some of the most versatile aircraft of World War II. Their immense combat capabilities, speed, and range won them uncountable victories in all theaters during the war. This article explores the top twin-engine aircraft making their mark during the most critical combat situations.
5 Bristol Beaufighter Number of aircraft built: 5,928 Powerplant : 2 × Bristol Hercules XVII or Bristol Hercules XVIII 14-cylinder air-cooled sleeve-valve radial piston engines Power per engine : 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) Maximum speed : 320 mph (510 km/h, 280 kn) at 10,000 ft (3,000 m) Range : 1,750 mi (2,820 km, 1,520 NM) The Bristol Beaufighter (Type 156) is a British multi-role twin-engine aircraft designed and developed by Bristol Aeroplane Company in the late 1940s. Originally conceived as a heavy fighter, it became immediately successful as a night fighter. The aircraft performed its first flight in July 1939 and entered service with the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain.
The aircraft's large size allowed for heavy armament capability, providing it an edge over other smaller combat airplanes at the time. The Beaufighter was equipped with early aircraft interception radar, the world’s first operational air-to-air radar syste.