In large part, industry won World War II. As the United States converted to a total war economy, it banned the sale of new cars and switched its efforts to building the tools to win the war. Not only was the United States industry able to equip its massive armies, but it was also able to partially equip its allies like Great Britain and the USSR. The United States helped turn wartime Allied warplane production decisively against the Axis powers, and the US built and (lost) countless thousands of aircraft. Here are five of the top American aircraft manufacturers of WWII.
Boeing
Boeing built 12,692 B-17s and 3,898 B-29s
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Main products: |
B-17, B-29 |
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Production locations: |
Seattle & Renton, Washington; Wichita, Kansas |
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Fate: |
Absorbed other contractors |
While Boeing is ‘the’ civilian airline manufacturer of the United States today, it was one of many important aircraft manufacturers in WWII. Boeing has produced aircraft for civilian and commercial use since 1916, and it built its first military aircraft (a biplane called the PW-9) in 1924. As the world began to descend into war in the 1930s, Boeing received orders from the government to design and build bombers.
According to the US Air Force, during the war, Boeing built 12,692 B-17 Flying Fortress heavy bombers at Plant 2 in Seattle and almost 4,000 B-29 Superfortress strategic/heavy bombers at its plants in Renton, Washington, and Wichita, Kansas. The B-29 Superfortress was the most expensive project of the war, costing $3 billion – much more than the $1.9 billion Manhattan Project.
Consolidated-Vultee
Consolidated-Vultee built 18,190 B-24s, thousands of PBY Catalinas, and 11,500 BT-13s
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Main products: |
B-24s, PBY Catalinas, BT-13s |
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Production locations: |
San Diego, California; Fort Worth, Texas |
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Fate: |
Merged with Rockwell, now part of Boeing |
Consolidated’s most famous aircraft in World War II were the B-24 Liberator and the PBY Catalina patrol plane. However, Consolidated often lacked the capacity to fulfill its massive contracts and was forced to outsource some of its production of B-24s to other companies like Douglas and Ford.
Even so, with 18,190 B-24s produced (8,685 of which by Ford), it remains the most produced bomber, heavy bomber, multi-engined aircraft, and American military aircraft history. In 1943, Consolidated merged with Vultee to form Consolidated-Vultee at the height of the war. Vultee also produced 11,500 BT-13 Valiant trainers.
North American
North American built almost 10,000 B-25s and 15,000 P-51 Mustangs
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Main products: |
B-25, P-51, AT-6 Texan |
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Production locations: |
Dallas/Grand Prairie, Texas; Inglewood, California; Kansas City |
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Fate: |
Merged with Rockwell in 1967, now part of Boeing |
According to Warfare History Network, North American became the largest US aircraft manufacturer during the war. It built 9,816 B-25 Mitchell bombers, 14,686 P-51 Mustang fighters, 15,500 AT-6 Texan trainers, and more (it also had a plant for the B-24). After the war, it also produced the B-1 Lancer, the Apollo command and service module, and the Space Shuttle orbiter.
The B-25 Mitchell was the most-produced American medium bomber and the third-most-produced American bomber overall. The P-51 Mustang was one of the most famous American fighters of the war, having served extensively in the Pacific War. It was exported to many countries during and after the war, and the last was only retired by the Dominican Republic in 1984.
Douglas
Douglas built 10,368 C-47 and 1,162 C-54 transports
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Main products: |
SBD Dauntless, A-20 Havoc, A-26 Invader, C-47 Skytrain, C-54 |
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Production locations: |
Long Beach, California; Tulsa, Oklahoma; others |
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Fate: |
Purchased by Boeing in 1997 |
Douglas is famous for its early jetliners, but it produced a wide range of attack planes and transports in World War II. Douglas also helped build B-17 Fly Fortresses and B-24 Liberators. The US Navy entered the war with the famous SBD Dauntless dive bombers in service. These almost single-handled aircraft blunted the Japanese aircraft carrier fleet, sinking six carriers (including all four at the Battle of Midway).
Notable aircraft built by Douglas during the war include the SBD Dauntless, A-20 Havoc, A-26 Invader, C-47 Skytrain, and C-54. The C-47 was affectionately nicknamed the “Gooney Bird” and was adapted from the Douglas DC-3 commercial airliner. They were a critical part of America’s ability to wage war around the world.
How Douglas Developed The Military C-47 From The Civilian DC-3
During the Normandy invasion, C-47s dropped over 50,000 paratroopers in France.
Curtiss-Wright
Curtiss-Wright built 13,738 P-40s, 3,180 C-46s, and around 7,000 Helldivers
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Main products: |
P-40s, C-46s, Helldivers |
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Production locations: |
Buffalo, New York; Columbus, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky |
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Fate: |
independent aerospace contractor (mostly components) |
Curtiss-Wright contributed to the war effort with some 142,840 aircraft engines and almost 30,000 aircraft. It employed some 180,000 workers and was ranked second in terms of wartime production contracts (after General Motors). The most notable Curtiss-Wright aircraft were P-40 fighters (the same as the Flying Tigers), C-46 Commando transports, and SB2C Helldivers.
The C-46 performed a similar role to its Douglas transport counterparts. The P-40 fighter bomber, meanwhile, was the third most-produced American fighter after the P-51 and P-47. Today, Curtiss-Wright remains an independent defense contractor but does not produce aircraft (although it makes related components like aircraft controls, valves, and actuators).
