Worst Aircraft of World War II: Pt 2 Quiz

Answer: Four

The TBD had several innovative firsts for the USN. However, when World War II broke out, it was outclassed by the then current generation of Japanese aircraft. During the Battle of Midway, only four of the forty-one TBDs launched returned to their carriers.

After that, the USN withdrew the aircraft from service. The best thing the TBD did was provide a distraction that aided the late arriving SBD Dauntless force.

Answer: Bad engines

The Manchester used experimental "X" type engines. They had 24 cylinders, which in theory would provide double the thrust of a standard V engine. However, the engines proved to be highly unreliable and were prone to catch fire. The Manchester was withdrawn from service in 1942.

However, the Manchester airframe did provide the basis for the Lancaster heavy bomber, which proved to be one of the best RAF bombers of the war.

Answer: It had a gull design

The PZL P.11 was, for a short time, the world's most advanced aircraft. However, by the time World War II broke out, it was outdated. The aircraft were extremely slow and weak. Most Luftwaffe bombers where faster than the P.11. The Polish pilots still put up a spirited defense, downing some Luftwaffe aircraft, but the P.11 was the most numerous plane in the Polish Air Force.

When PZL tried to build a replacement for the P.11, it was downed by Polish flak, because they had never seen the aircraft before.

Answer: Its wooden construction

The C.714 was designed from a highly successful series of racing aircraft. It should have been a great interceptor, but the light wooden construction wouldn't allow a stronger engine to be fitted. The engine it was fitted with gave the C.714 dismal flying characteristics. A few were supplied to Finland. The Finns found the aircraft difficult to handle, especially on takeoff and landing.

Answer: 9

The Me-163 was way ahead of its time. The general idea was that a fast moving interceptor could tear through American bomber formations, destroying bombers while flying too fast for the gunners to get an accurate shot or for fighters to catch it. In reality the 623 mph speed of the Me-163 was too great for accurate firing and the two 60 round cannons did not allow the pilot a lot of flexibility in combat. Finally the rocket motor only allowed seven and a half minutes of flight. One pass, and that was all. On landing, the rocket fuel often caused an explosion that usually destroyed the aircraft.

The Me-163 killed more pilots than enemy bombers.

Answer: Cigarette Lighter of the Reich

The He-177s problems originated in a flawed requirement. The He-177 was to be a heavy bomber capable of dive bomb attacks. To reduce drag, the designers used coupled engines, with two engines in one nacelle. These engines proved more susceptible to catch fire than the X type engines of the Manchester. Unfortunately for the bomber crews of Germany, the type was pushed into production. in one early He-177 raid on London, 15 aircraft took off, three returned to base with mechanical problems, three caught fire in flight and had to ditch, and six were shot down. Three He-177s returned.

Answer: Act as a bombing decoy

The LWS-4 was a desperate attempt by the Polish Air Force to create an acceptable aircraft. The designer, L.W.S. decided to use Pegasus engines to power their aircraft. However, the bomber needed to be strengthened to allow the more powerful engines. This was accomplished by gluing plywood boards to the engine.

The aircraft disintegrated in mid flight during the first test run. Subsequent aircraft were found to be unsatisfactory and plagued with problems. The landing gear could not be raised because of the faulty French electric motors.

The aircraft were grounded and served as bombing decoys for the Luftwaffe.

Answer: Lack of self sealing fuel tanks

The P-43 was an enhancement on the P-35 design by Seversky. The P-43 was designed to keep the Republic lines open. By the time the aircraft was ready for service, it was completely obsolete. AVG ferry pilots liked the planes roll rate and high altitude performance, but it was extremely vulnerable due to the lack of self sealing fuel tanks.

Some P-43s were flown by China, but they were severely mauled by the Japanese Air Force. By 1944 they were relegated to secondary duties.

Answer: Catapult launched flying boat

The KOR-1 was a two seat recon flying boat that could be launched from a cruiser. The KOR-1 had a problem that was common in flying boats, namely seaworthiness. Usually the KOR-1 would sink in the water. When the Russian cruisers could not be fitted with the catapult gear, the project was doomed. Only 300 aircraft where produced.

The KOR-1 saw very limited service with many service restrictions applied.

Answer: Boulton Paul Defiant, Blackburn Roc

The turret fighter was envisioned when most fighters where armed with only two machine guns. The idea was that to destroy bombers the turret would attack from odd angles such as off to port and starboard. However, normal fighter technology increased faster than the turrets fighters.

By the time the Blackburn Roc and Boulton Paul Defiant entered service, they were completely outclassed and extremely vulnerable.