Which British Aircraft Shot Down The Most Aircraft In WW2? | Top 11 RAF Planes

[@sixdegrees6434]

This brings back all my airfix memories as a kid

[@larry4789]

Hahahaha me too.I had all of them bar the Fulmar.

[@Keryaken133]

Fun fact, Roald Dahl, writer of charlie and the chocolate factory, the BFG... was a gladiator pilot in Africa, he had 5 aerial victories, which qualified him as an ace.

[@mikehunt3436]

his ww2 memoir goin' solo is a good read too

[@torbk]

I think in "Going Solo" he says he had 3 confirmed, and 3 probable, that is if I remember correctly. So not 5 confirmed, and as such not an ace, according to Roald Dahl himself. On the other hand, possibly 6. Also, every single victory he had was scored in the Hawker Hurricane over Greece and later over Syria against the Vichy, before he had to stop due to worsening head injury he had suffered from his crash in Africa. He describes in vivid detail shooting down a Ju 88, tangling with Ju 87 bombing a transport and being part of the famous "Battle of Athens" dogfight where less than 10 Hawker Hurricanes engaged more than 100 German fighters, and he lived to tell the tale. That dogfight was so confusing and desperate he is uncertain whether or not he actually shot any enemy down, but he returned to the airfield out of ammo. He describes being drenched in sweat and shaking from adrenaline. Roald Dahl never shot anything down in a Gloster Gladiator as he crashed it on his very first sortie looking for an airfield to land and he ran out of fuel. There was a story printed in a newspaper that he had been shot down over Africa in combat, but Roald Dahl refuted this himself in "Goind Solo". He got blinding headaches that almost knocked him out if he pulled high G maneuvers. So he was sent home to Britain in 1942 or 43.

[@DH-wq6np]

And wrote a bond film

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

And was brought up in Cardiff from a long line of Norwegian seamen. Seamen I said...

[@dhss333]

No, Hurricane pilot: no victories.

[@Hilts931]

My great uncle managed to bring down 15 German aircraft during the Second World War. The Luftwaffe said he was the worst mechanic they’ve ever seen.

[@BobJacobson]

"Achtung!" Poetic justice. 😜

[@pabloricardodetarragon2649]

🤣🤣🤣🤣😂😂😂😂😁😁😁😁

[@kipp1231]

Oh yeah that ain't funny my grandfather died at Auschwitz... He fell off the watchtower.

[@gibson617ajg]

@@kipp1231 One of my distant relatives died at Waterloo. He fell off the platform and was squished by a train.

[@manin10]

@@kipp1231 careful or the anti-Semitic brigade will get you. 😀

[@markhindmarsh2811]

I called the top three in the right order . The Beaufighter was seriously under rated and almost forgotten. I didn't even think of the U.S aircraft , I was thinking British only . I knew the Lanc had to be there ......... The Defiant ! That was a big surprise . Love your work sir

[@CalibanRising]

Good job Mark

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Mark Remember the USA provided 38,000 aircraft of all types to the Brits in WWII !!! Did you think they never used them ????

[@markhindmarsh2811]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 Indeed lend lease was a valuable commodity to the war effort . I thought the list was for British aircraft not aircraft used by the British . Just a simple misunderstanding on my part

[@Devonshireoldfart]

@@markhindmarsh2811 the defiant was a very successful nightfighter believe it or not, the perception it was a terrible plane wasn't true. The squadron leader who led them was a gifted pilot and on trials against hurricanes or spits was a surprise.

[@HankD13]

Yeah - did get the Beaufighter - a favourite of mine (along with the Mosquito!). Pierre Clostermann's book was what brought the Tempest to my notice. Great stuff.

[@ianlowery6014]

The RAAF had 583 Beaufighters. With them the Australians wrecked havoc on the Japanese who came to fear the Beaufighter and called it the "Whispering Death". My father was a senior navigation instructor in the RAAF. He spoke very highly of the Beaufighter and spoke of the reports of many of the pilots.

[@catinthehat906]

The Beaufighter had a Hercules engine with sleeve valves that made them much quieter than other aircraft engines of the period. The reduced engine noise was a real advantage in a ground attack role.

[@DavidRLentz]

"Australians wreaked havoc".

[@ianlowery6014]

@@DavidRLentz Australians are good at tiepose :-)

[@DavidRLentz]

@@ianlowery6014 tiepose?

[@ianlowery6014]

@@DavidRLentz :-) I fink you no wot eye meen...

[@marktaylor6491]

25:13 - Never thought I'd hear anyone utter the words 'great cultural significance' and 'Grimsby' in the same breath.

[@CalibanRising]

lol. Of course Grimsby is really famous for......hold on..... let me get back to you on that one.

[@andidubya3840]

plus "the more you hear about these guys the less you like them"

[@catinthehat906]

@@andidubya3840 The Baedeker raids were revenge for the bombing of Lubeck, a town with little military significance but made mostly of wood so Harris knew it would burn.

[@scholagladiatoria]

A great video, thank you!

[@CalibanRising]

Glad you liked it!

[@spanishpeaches2930]

My uncle, who died in 79, was a Beaufighter pilot. He said it was a beast.

[@khaelamensha3624]

The Beau was a beast! Not known as the Typhie or the Spit or Mosquito but the Beau made a tremendous job during ww2! Regards from France!

[@michaelnaisbitt7926]

My grand uncle flew Beaufighers against the Japanese and although he rarely spoke of his actions when flying he did tell of the Beaufighers take off swing and the tremendous fire-power of the aircraft he regarded the Beaufighers as a safe aircraft that was still deadly even on one engine

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

They dont really seem to get mentioned really but interesting aircraft, similar to mosquitoes I suppose when used in the heavy/night fighter doctrine. Obviously not so maneuverable but with the firepower they could stick on them a single second burst on target could completely destroy most things in its path. They were ahead of their time in multi role capability.

[@nerdyali4154]

@@Ukraineaissance2014 I believe they were mostly used for anti-shipping operations, particularly in the Med where they did a lot of damage to Rommel's supply lines.

[@Ukraineaissance2014]

@@nerdyali4154 yes they were given to coastal defence in britain as well, I wouldnt want to be in a small boat against one of those with the firepower it had

[@MrArcheopteryx]

Beautiful job you did here. Very enjoyable presentation. You gain the No 1 position in kill-ranking historical record videos. Well done HushKit! Cheers!

[@SimonAmazingClarke]

Excellent video. When I was in the RAF I had the great pleasure of working in the Battle of Britain Memorial flight component repair bay at RAF St Athan. I got to repair fuel tanks and other items that were needed. I got a few trips to BBMF with the opportunity to wander around the hanger and climb into anything I wanted to.

[@1crazypj]

I remember reading 'Night Fighter' probably 45~50 years ago so expected Mosquito and Beaufighter on the list as night fighters and the Typhoon as 'tank buster' Bolton Paul Defiant was a surprise though. I remember building Airfix models of almost all of planes on list when I was a kid (along with a Short Sunderland, biggest model aircraft I ever had)

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

Wild! I too read Night Fighter, 50 years ago. I was 10 years old. Got it for a dime at a neighbors yard sale.

[@sclarke1721]

John Cunningham and Canadian Peter Rawnsley first teamed up on the AI equipped Beaufighter nightfighter then later moved on to the Mosquito carrying out some very successful nightfighter missions often flying in the RAF Bomber streams over Germany hunting the German nightfighters before they could attack the British bombers. Rawnsley wrote a very good book describing the work that he and his pilot John Cunningham (Later De-Havillands test pilot) carried out. A good read if you can find it.

[@mcmdrpiffle447]

@@sclarke1721 Fascinating ! I don't remember much of Night Fighter, and will make it a priority to re-read. Are you describing a different book? Sounds interesting.

[@williamkoppos7039]

The Hurri was not "relegated to less crucial theatres". It was the ONLY Brit fighter in those "less crucial" theatres like France, Norway, North Africa, Malta, Ceylon, Singapore, India the East Indies and Burma until the powers that be finally released the Spitfire for overseas service. The Hurri was holding the line and steadlily downing enemy aircraft as well as taking nasty losses the whole time.

[@g8ymw]

Don't forget Hurricanes (with RAF crew) were based in Russia for a while near Murmansk (Save polluting Russians with capitalist ideas?)

[@CalibanRising]

a fair point William

[@josepnebotrius872]

True the Hurricane was the backbone of the RAF in early WW2. It lacked the capacity to evolve as Spitfire. Also there was a shift in axis and allied pilot quality when Hurricane squadrons transitioned to more powerful aircraft. German and Japanese average pilots were better trained and used better dogfight tactics up to 1942. Allied novice pilots from 1943 1944 were better trained.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

@@touristguy87 I agree 100% !!!

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

@Aqua Fyre Absolutely !!! Brits had a problem of runnin their yellow crooked toothed mouths all the time about how good THEY were and how pi$$ poor everybody else was !!!

[@philrunciman7959]

My father's Mosquito is featured at one point. They are painting up his last bombing raid. The photographs taken at the time are the only set that enables restorers to know how they were painted! It was EG-W later re identified as EG-A . It probably completed a 100 sorties, but was shot down towards the end of the war. It was with the NZRAF 487 Squadron.

[@neddyseagoon9601]

Mosquito. My favourite ever aircraft. So glad your dad made it and I'd thank him very much if I could.

[@graemekelleher5013]

Dear Sir, when I watched your video you gained my full respect and gratitude! The world has conveniently forgotten /deleted Rhodesia's contrabution to WW2. For the small country, they definitely punched way above their weight!, from my grandfathers and fellow countrymen, my dad who fought in our bush war, and I for the South Africans, we as a lost/forgotten culture, form us to you THANK YOU for being amongst the few to remember us. I salute you, my admiration, respect and gratitude!

[@CalibanRising]

No Problem Graeme. My childhood sweetheart was from Zimbo, so I'm always glad to remember Rhodesia's place supporting the war effort in WW2.

[@wheelsofafrica]

Yeah, Thank you from another Rhodie. Remember our late Prime Minister, Ian Smith, also flew Spitfires.

[@mikedevere]

My father was in RAF 26 which was technically an RAF squadron but mostly piloted by South Africans and Rhodesians, for whom my father had the greatest respect and to whom he often stated that he owed his life. It surprises and disappoints me to see that the role of low level photo reconnaissance missions gets so little press. In short, teams of four fighter aircraft would fly together with one plane carrying the camera. This plane needed to fly in a straight line at a fixed low altitude, making himself an easy target. The other three planes would act as a distraction to draw enemy fire. Each pilot took it in turns within the team to be the one with the camera. My father very often stated that he owed his life to the courage with which his team mates quite literally took this flak. This must in fact be the origin of the expression. So, I salute your family's contribution and that of your countrymen.

[@andrewboyle5550]

Fantastic video. Always had a soft spot for the Beaufighter, which tends to get forgotten. Also extraordinary to see how well the Defiant did in spite of its poor reputation

[@thethirdman225]

The Defiant was the most successful British night fighter in the winter of 1940-41.

[@lance5041]

Ace in a day, baby!

[@davidclare4983]

Thanks!

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks David!

[@terminusest5902]

Often, flying the best aircraft meant that they were given the most dangerous missions. Mosquitos had huge success and due to its performance, they could easily take on many difficult missions.

[@stephenbesley3177]

My mother worked on beaufighters. It is my favourite plane of ww2 and it's such a shame we we don't have one in the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight

[@CalibanRising]

Isn't one being restored somewhere? That would be a nice addition.

[@Pte1643]

@@CalibanRisingyep, at Duxford.

[@Kurz_Weber]

The Beaufighter only had limited late service at the tail end of the BoB (it was introduced in the dying stages). It was more of a prominent force during the Blitz. That said though if a Lancaster is part of the BoB memorial flight then a BF should have a slot too.

[@Johnny-Thunder]

She worked on them - in a factory, or in the WAAF?

[@tobiasfreitag2182]

@@Pte1643 they already where working on one, i think a mk. xxi, when I was there the last time about 20 years ago.

[@daphnegraham8604]

Not forgetting the great pilot James 'Ginger' Lacey. Flying Hurricanes, had most kills during Battle of Britain. Then played huge role in the far east. But, Eric Brown was without doubt the greatest pilot this country ever produced!

[@rogerduncan2603]

I thought Josef frantisek from 303 squadron had highest BOB kills, he had 11 previously and 17 confirmed.

[@IrishCinnsealach]

@@rogerduncan2603 you're both wrong Eric Lock had the most kills in the battle of Britain with 21and 5 probable 2 Sqn Ldr Archie McKellar 19 3 Sgt James Lacey 18 4 Sgt Josef František 17

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

Read "Ginger Lacey Fighter Pilot", if you can find a copy.

[@adrianparsons1185]

Big difference between pilot and fighter pilot

[@aritaridrive6539]

From the book, and I apologise if the number is not exact. Ginger Lacy was questioned by his ground crew about a kill "are you sure you got that german sir?" Yes, why ask" "well you only used five canon shells" short pause "Really. That many?..."

[@carrickrichards2457]

My uncle was killed flying Typhoons (over Holland, attacking V1 ramps). The early version reliability was very poor. A common role was flak suppression, one of the most dangerous roles of all. In 1944 the Fighter Ground Attack (FGA) role was improved with integrated Forward Air Controllers (FAC) using senior RAF directors operating with frontline battalions: They called in Close Air Support (CAS) support from squadrons circling in reserve in the rear.

[@1crazypj]

My uncle was an armourer, radio operator, and bomb aimer on Lancs. He was 'filling in' for someone on a night mission and is also buried in Holland 😒

[@geoffhunter7704]

Very true the early tiffy's had engine and flight stability problems the latter being the most tricky to cure Sid Camm was literally tearing his hair out in frustation eventually adding a fillet to the base of the tailplane cured this.After this the Germans quickly learned to dread the Rocket firing Tiffy's especially Panzer Formations.

[@stephensmith3398]

@@geoffhunter7704 A Typhoon pilot told me the canopy on the early versions was also hard to open. Faced with reports that pilots were getting trapped, his CO had everyone try to open their canopies as an exercise and only one could without issue.

[@geoffhunter7704]

@@stephensmith3398 Yes Stephen that is very true Uncle John told me that the early Malcolm Hoods amongst other faults were prone to jamming as were the early Spitfires too.

[@nerdyali4154]

@@stephensmith3398 It is quite hard to open the canopy when the plane is lying upside down on the runway thanks to the huge shovel under the nose catching the dirt when crash landing.

[@loodwich]

I could never forget the Beaufighter, the photograph on the malta island that you uses in the video is one of the most vivid members as a child.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Yet he only shot down 2 German aircraft, while flying an American F4F Wildcat/marlet !!!!

[@johnnyblade4351]

I was really impressed .. about The BP. Defiants there was a Factory in Norwich... Upset At the P40 and the Original Must hang Sallys. but they improved. The Moquitos's had farther missions & Multi Roles was Sad about their Listing,, Lancanster from the Machester was a momumental right decision .....But No Mention of The Wellington ? Loved Your Top 11.. The beaufighter figures were astounding .. I liked the Animation .... Sink the Bismarck goes too the Swordfish.... How Cool is that ??? in a Bi -plane...

[@bauer9101]

I’m biased towards the Mosquito as my grandad worked on it at de Havilland in Hatfield. He only had the use of one leg due to childhood illness but by god he made sure he played his part in the war. Thanks grandad!

[@jeffo4817]

Lol got it your grandad flew a tiny insect

[@mwnciboo]

Best piston powered Aircraft ever made... You should be proud - also someone is rebuilding a Mosquito.

[@FlightSimHistorian]

Something about the lines of the Beaufighter..... I love it!

[@Tim67620]

The Spitfire and the Hurricane shot down more planes than all the others combined! That's an amazing stat.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Only IF you are counting the RAF Kills, No where near the USAAF totals !! !

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

Well spotted 😀

[@idiot-cd6pl]

A very interesting video that contained some expected answers but very many surprises especially the Lancaster and Beaufighter and Gladiator. and Fulmars, but I was very surprised at how far the Mustang was down the list.. Thanks a lot I've learnt something new today.

[@borderlands6606]

It's amazing to think the Spitfire took to the air 32 years after the first powered flight.

[@mikep4566]

And the AVRO Lancaster was replaced by the AVRO Vulcan. Eleven years between fist flights of each.

[@sr7129]

Humans went to the moon 66 years after they left the ground

[@mikew2468]

@@sr7129 ...in powered flight. Let's not forget the Montgolfiers

[@borderlands6606]

@@johnzenkin1344 Thanks for the irony, I stick with my original observation. Look at cars in 1991 and 2023, and show me development to compare with powered kites and monoplane fighter aircraft.

[@zachdebuhr6347]

@@mikep4566 avro Lincoln replaced Lancaster not the vulcan

[@michaelcoe9824]

P40s are very underrated. Frequently they are ignored for sexy spitfires and mustangs, but they were rugged airframes with a monstrous sting.

[@blueknight2004]

Also they were a lot cheaper to produce and easier to fly ..

[@michaelcoe9824]

@@blueknight2004 And, at the full scale outbreak, like the Hurricane, they performed valiantly. Here in Australia, where Churchill fu&ed us over with lies and deceit, the p40 served us well.

[@wilburfinnigan2142]

Absolutely !!! Third most produced fighter of the USAAF at 14,000 !!!

[@michaelcoe9824]

@@wilburfinnigan2142 Did a ton of work in New Guinea and the top end, they also were instrumental in Japans first major defeat at Milne Bay, (before Guadalcanal).

[@piotrweydmann3345]

Clive Caldwell and Colin Gray didn't mind flying them.

[@24934637]

So glad to see that the BP Defiant is on the list. Although it's not got a brilliant reputation, it's been one of my fave allied aircraft of the era for years. Real shame that there aren't any flying examples around. On the few occasions when I've seen a Defiant up close, it always surprises me how large it is, compared to Spitfires / Hurricanes!

[@hawnyfox3411]

' Did laugh at 29:37 (till) 29.46 Talk about James Nicholson, whilst clearly showing Percy Burton - (same Sqdn, 249, but, different pilot !) North Weald men mis-identified aside, absolutely LOVED your brilliant video !!!!! Didn't have the faintest idea that both the Mosquito & Beaufighter would/did occupy 4th & 3rd place ; Amazing Very impressed w/your video (1st of yours I've seen), so I'll look forward to seeing many more Keep up the good work & Happy New Year, too

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for the correction. I included that picture because it was in colour, but did hesitate while comparing it with the more famous portrait. I have to admit that after living in Asia for 5 years, all white people now look the same to me, lol. Thanks for watching.

[@jcorbett9620]

I recently read an autobiography written by a German Nightfighter (Bf 110) pilot, in which he said that to ensure the destruction of the target plane, it was common for the nightfighter to close in to between 100 - 150 metres. If the nightfighter was seen by the bombers gunners (which happened surprisingly often - even before they were fitted with radar detection devices), the limited range of the 0.303 machineguns was not a handicap, as the nightfighter was well within their deadly range. He, himself, was shot down at least twice by return fire from his target, the first time by a Short Stirling.

[@randallreed9048]

Guessed the top three. Bristol Beaufighter was always my favorite Brit fighter ever since I read a story written by a reporter who flew a "ride-along" sortie and described ultra-low level flying in the desert. He was also impressed with its tremendous firepower. Seven decades later, that story has stuck with me. Low-level combat and the desert seems to have been a perfect combination for that warbird.

[@stephenwilkinson1254]

well said! Loved reading about that aircraft and her exploits in any theater!

[@JohnnyRocker2162]

Suggest Warby's War, the story of Adrian Warburton , photographic recon pilot based in Malta. The observer's recollection of a Beaufighter mission is impressive.

[@kitbag9033]

Many accounts of the Beaufighter II suggest it was particularly vicious on take off and landing; see Graham White's entertaining chapters of life at Slaughter Hall, learning to fly Beau II in 'Night Fighter Over Germany'. They were truly a different breed back then.

[@pushbikeman]

Thank you for this highly entertaining and informative video with good animations and excellent narration, I got the Gladiator right but not so much else, good involving fun!

[@Ghatbkk]

Just a note - the Luftwaffe was part of the Wehrmacht - Wehrmacht is the total military of the Third Reich - it includes the Heer (Army), Kriegsmarine (Navy) and Luftwaffe (Air Force).

[@alfredroyal3473]

Correct

[@csoanes01]

The Beaufighter’s nickname was “Whispering Death” due to the (relative) quietness of the sleeve-valved radials. ‘Whistling Death” was the Corsair, because of the noise the supercharger made.

[@CalibanRising]

Yeah, I misspoke at the end. Anyway the point was that Whispering death is supposed to be an Allied fabrication.

[@kymvalleygardensdesign5350]

All Bristol aero engines have a reputation for being quiet, listen to a Lysander or a Gladiator at Old Warden.

[@captjinxmarine9832]

The Beaufighter was a flying tank. The Mossy is my favorite, buy to fly the Tippy took a pair of brass ones. Those pilots should have been awarded the Victoria Cross

[@MervynPartin]

This video did surprise me several times. I honestly did not know just how successful was the Gladiator- My respect for that aircraft has increased tremendously. Of all the aircraft that you covered, I thought that the best looking were the Mosquito, Hurricane and Beaufighter in that order, not that looks have much relevance to effectiveness.

[@georgesheffield1580]

A few of them defended Malta very well for a while untill hurricanes and spits arrived

[@sbg911]

I will always believe Joe Smith never got the Spit kudos he deserved. Its Mitchell's initial design sure (although Joe was on the prototype team), but look how Joe evolved it into the amazing fighting machine it became... he really is a forgotten hero of WWII.

[@CalibanRising]

I think this is a good point. Ultimately it was the team rather than a single man behind the A/C.

[@bobsakamanos4469]

@@CalibanRising correct, it's about the quality of the team and the project manager (RJ Mitchell), which is why Hawker was second class. Camm was not a good team leader before / during WWII.

[@MDzmitry]

The Supermarine team in general deserves more recognition, but Mitchell's story is just poetic enough to make him so recognisable (almost making him "a martyr who died pursuing the creation of the future shield and sword of Britain") But once again, the elliptical wing was brought by Beverley Shenstone, and future development was primarily organised by Joe Smith

[@TJ3]

Nice video!

[@CalibanRising]

Cheers TJ!

[@russellkid117]

Awesome video, please do follow ups for each of the other major powers! The contrast between the number of successful designs for each of them seems really interesting, and especially trying the guess the between Soviet yak variants sounds like a fun crapshoot.

[@CalibanRising]

Great suggestion!

[@MorganMadej]

Excellent Presentation 👏 👌 Thanks a lot! For reminding me of the RAF aircraft types

[@luislealsantos]

Captain Eric wrinkle Brown . Outstanding pilot.

[@wbertie2604]

And oddly encouraged to become a pilot by Udet.

[@CalibanRising]

Yes, that was an interesting connection.

[@michaeltelson9798]

The first pilot to become an ace in a Gloster Gladiator was one in Chinese colors, John “Buffalo “ Wong. An American born Chinese from Los Angeles who volunteered for service with the Nationalist Chinese Air Force several years prior to the creation of the AVG - Flying Tigers. He and several other pilots were sent to Germany for advanced fighter training before the Germans and Japanese became Allie’s.

[@ilikelampshades6]

Best thing about the Hurricane was how it was produced. Production was distributed all over the country so if 4 factories were bombed and destroyed, it wouldn't stop production

[@denisripley8699]

More than 2,000 Spitfires (10% of total production) were built in requisitioned garages and sheds in Salisbury after Southampton's Spitfire production facilities were bombed.

[@mike.47]

This has to be one of the most interesting and informative videos around regarding fighter aircraft of WWII.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Mike!

[@IntrospectorGeneral]

The Defiant gunners' short legged overall-type parasuits were nicknamed Rhino Suits. In theory the suits had fewer snag hazards than a standard parachute but reportedly many gunners wouldn't wear them because of the difficulty of quickly exiting the turret after a belly landing.

[@settratheimperishable4093]

Both the Beaufighter and the Mosquito are very aesthetically pleasing to me. Something about their particular way of being 2 engined heavy fighters speaks to me, their shape is fairly different from many aircraft of the same role. I enjoy the He-110 as well.

[@paladin56]

In addition to Nick Cooke, 264 squadron also fielded Flt Sgt Ted Thorn who, together with his gunner Sgt Fred Baker, became the most successful Defiant crew with 12.5 victories. This also made Baker the most successful air gunner of the RAF in WW2.

[@larry4789]

First aces in a day too went to these Defiant crews. Flight Lieutenant Cooke and his gunner Corporal Albert Lippett Highly impressive 👍

[@lauriewise6271]

YOU DO THIS WELL AND MAKE IT SO ENJOYABLE

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Laurie

[@theother1281]

My initial thoughts didn't separate RAF and FAA, so I was surprised by the Defiant making the list. Got the Tempest position right, but was surprised in beat the Mustang. I had the Typhoon and Mustang positions reversed. Got the Lancaster. Surprised the Gladiator was at six, I had it at eleven. The Fulmar was a big shock. Was expecting either Wildcat or Corsair. Ashamed to say I forgot about the Tomahawk/Warhawk, doh! I had the Beaufighter and Mosquito positions the wrong way round. I had overestimated FAA kills and had included Wildcat and Corsair in my initial eleven, at the expense of Tomahawk and Defiant. Thought the Blenheim might have made it from it's NF career.

[@R04drunner1]

Excellent list. I think the F4U Corsair came too late to the war to get enough kills to make it onto the top 11 count - at least, for the British and the Commonwealth. I did peg the Beaufighter in advance, and correctly identified the Spitfire and Hurricane in #1 and #2 slots. I also had identified the Fairey Fulmar as the number one Fleet Air Arm. The rest I did not predict, but was not surprised by them when listed - apart from the Defiant: that was a surprise. I thought of the Gloster Meteor too, but evidently the V1 "doodlebugs" did not count as air to air victories, so the Meteor did not make the list. The Lancaster was a surprise at number 7 but makes sense. It didn't matter that the Browning .303 had a shorter range than the Luftwaffe 20 mm cannon: the Lancaster rear gunner was shooting backwards into a fighter flying towards his guns, whereas the fighter would have been firing forwards against higher air resistance (higher speed) and towards a bomber flying away from him.

[@theother1281]

@@R04drunner1 And at night visual range is also probably under firing range. I don't think the radar was accurate enough to blind fire without visual confirmation.

[@landsea7332]

Great Contest . I thought the Mosquito was going to be No . 3 with the outside chance of the Tempest or Mustang . Biggest surprise - I thought Thunderbolts would make the list . .

[@jonosmith4919]

This list is my Airfix childhood in the early 70's

[@russhillis]

The last Victoria Cross of WW2 was awarded to a Canadian flying a Corsair with the Fleet Air Arm in the Pacific theatre.

[@xsveron1287]

thank you for keeping the memory of these brave men alive

[@fredjones554]

Excellent work, sir. This is what I love. You give content that is unique and no nonsense.

[@michaelcampin1464]

The Mustang only became effective when it was fitted with the Merlin engine

[@CalibanRising]

Perhaps in the long range escort role, but I still would argue the Allison powered model was a good medium to low altitude aircraft in many other roles.

[@ratdad48]

Incredibly done! Banger!

[@Technoid_Mutant]

Many of these twin-fighters had counter-rotating propellers. This was a significant performance improvement and widely adopted. It should be mentioned in this excellent video, as the graphics have co-rotating engines and propellers.

[@thomasallan8113]

My favorite war bird is the Mosquito Wood structure extremely fast great firepower probably the flexible war bird of the war.

[@piotrweydmann3345]

Amen

[@q.e.d.9112]

Abso-lucking-futely!!

[@Chris.M]

Absolutely!

[@dhss333]

400 lost in action.

[@normkeller2405]

I've always been interested in the comparison of the Mossie to the Beaufighter. Similar armament, similar load in fighter-bomber role. Rawnsley flew Beau, then transferred to Mossie I'm night fighters and seemed to prefer Mossie because of the speed. Other than the damage tolerance of the radials and given how much slower was the Beau, what factors brought it into balance with the Mossie in various common roles. The two types made anti shipping attacks across the Channel and into Scandinavia.

[@KevTheImpaler]

Good old Beaufighters. They did great work in so many areas.

[@CalibanRising]

Right on

[@mabbrey]

well done Cali great channel gonna take off big time

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks Martin, it's been a lot of fun so far!

[@andyc3088]

The shark mouth design appeared in World War One on the British Sopwith Dolphins and the German Roland CII. Interesting fact about the Spitfire, the first aircraft it shot down was a RAF Hurricane the last aircraft shot down was a Spitfire

[@djdaz72]

Great video lot of very interesting information there

[@ian_987]

Pleased to see I got the top 3 correct and in the correct order. The Beaufighter is often treated as 'forgotten' but not by me, because Biggles flew one in the novel "Biggles in Borneo" and as a young boy this left a lasting impression before I'd ever even seen one.

[@alessandromazzini7026]

As per aerial victory, Is correct, but Is widely known that the single best British Plane of the war was the mosquito... The spitfire also, wasn't the Plane that saved britain in the Battle of britain,the Hurricane was

[@Luddite1]

The mosquito and hurricane have always been my favourites but I do like the gladiator, it’s just a nice lookin plane and one that was in a theatre it wasn’t designed to perform in

[@kryts27]

I really like the "mozzie", but my no. 1 like in this video is the Bristol Beaufighter. I'm not sure it was called "whispering death" by Japanese on the ground it was targeting, but it was a deadly aircraft to small ships as well as planes. An excellent gun platform, the Beaufighter was used to strafe Japanese surface transports in the Battle of the Bismarck Sea by 22 squadron RAAF, to devastating effect.

[@adrianparsons1185]

Yes, I thought the whispering death was the P-38

[@peterbrazier7107]

Putting the Mossie on the list, Porn should not be allowed on You Tube. 🤣🤣🤣

[@R04drunner1]

Great video, thoroughly enjoyed. Thank you!

[@CalibanRising]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@jcwoodman5285]

Wow the P40 scored more victories than the Typhoon, Tempest & P51 COMBINED!🤗

[@SoloRenegade]

because it's a better airplane than given credit for, below 15K ft.

[@daniellastuart3145]

@@SoloRenegade and also add a longer service as it in use for 1940 , P51 1941 Typhoon, Tempest by 1943

[@TallDude73]

If you put enough aircraft out there long enough, they'll add up the wins.

[@abigailcollins8443]

Ok but they counting USAF kills with the P-51 or just RAF ones? This is a list of british ones so kinda curious.

[@RemusKingOfRome]

It's far better to have an average aircraft available in numbers at the beginning of the war, than to have a superior aircraft available at the end .

[@stevenclarke5606]

Very Brave Young Men. Thank you

[@anthonywilson4873]

Just read a book “The Day of the Typhoon” what a tough heavily armed fast fighter bomber. The engine once sorted in production and liner material was a groundbreaking design. Two crankshaft 24 cylinder H shaped block. The tail had to be strengthened and the the Pilots wore their oxygen masks all the time due to exhaust gases getting into the cockpit causing carbon monoxide poisoning. Four 20 mm cannons 2 x 1000 Ib bombs or Eight underwing rockets 60Lbs each. Cruiser broadside. Due to ground attack role many pilots and planes where lost. The damage they did was tremendous. On their own they destroyed a huge German armoured column just to about to attack US forces breaking out into France. Read the book written by a Pilot who flew D day to entry into Germany. Interesting story of him and the Typhoon in battle straight from the pilot as opposed to armchair revisionists armed with smoke and mirrors pushing their own Imagining.

[@THE-BUNKEN-DRUM]

Nice 1 mate. Now that's homework, I don't mind doing. 👍😉

[@robertpullen3726]

The typhoon and the p47 destroyed lots of german vehicles but less than six percent of all tanks destroyed were by ground attack aircraft. otto carius said in his book tigers in the mud the safest place when attacked by planes with rockets and such was to climb into the tank..

[@khaelamensha3624]

A Belgian Typhie pilot Demoulin wrote a book too, very interesting

[@ianjapp9805]

apparently the massive tailplane was an easy target for Anti-Aircraft fire - specifically 20mm and 30mm ..

[@jonhunter8737]

Any aircraft that required starting with a shot gun shell has my respect!!! Admittedly, it did try to set fire to itself quite regularly!!!

[@JohnnoDordrecht]

Very good video , thanks a lot ! Keep on going mate

[@CalibanRising]

Cheers mate, thanks for watching!

[@shaukahodan2373]

included Wildcat and Corsair in my initial eleven, at the expense of Tomahawk and Defiant. Thought the Blenheim might have made it from it's NF career.

[@dunbar9finger]

The problem with those is just that this list makes no consideration for how late in the war the type entered service. Older types get a boost in numbers for having been used longer so they had more stories, rather than for their quality. The hellcat and Corsair were indeed better than many of those on this list, but they were only in service for the last two years of the war when the Japanese were already screwed and couldn't field as many aircraft to *be* shot down.

[@markg7476]

Excellent video informative and well researched

[@CalibanRising]

Glad you liked it!

[@PK-mw7et]

James Nicolson, (the only pilot in fighter command to receive the VC in WW2) died on May 2, 1945, when the B24 in which he was an observer ditched in the Bay of Bengal. If you’re interested in the details, there is a KZbin video titled “Eric Kightley, James Nicolson VC, ditching of Liberator KH210, Salbani” which is a tribute to him and the crew, most of whom also perished. The details of his final action are at about 23-24 minutes.

[@sclarke1721]

My understanding is that the B24 Liberators ditching record was 22 seconds before sinking (That is the longest time before sinking!!!) when you consider how important the type was to Coastal Command It does make you wonder why such an obviously porous airframe was placed on such duties.

[@PK-mw7et]

The B24 effectively has two bomb bays, each one able to carry a bomb load equivalent to the B17 it was to replace. The forward bomb bay could be fitted with an auxiliary fuel tank, which resulted in the ability for 16 hour flights. The other bay could carry depth charges. At the time, U Boats were a major threat, and the Liberator extended the area which could be patrolled. In addition, the early variants of the B24 did not have self sealing fuel tanks, so were considered unsuitable for combat missions where they might face fighter opposition or flak. So, given the capability and availability, coastal command got them. And, I imagine, just hoped that they wouldn’t be forced to ditch, because the deep, flimsy fuselage would collapse on impact and immediately fill with water.

[@stefanforslund7124]

You are the kind of guy, I would love to spend my sparetime with! I'm like a spunge for aviation history!

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks. This channel is basically a 'one-sided' conversation I wish I could have with mates down the pub. No one else I know loves history like I do.

[@Sacto1654]

The Hurricane was also more stable gun platform than the Spitfire in 1940. As such, they were primarily tasked during the Battle of Britain with shooting down bombers, and ran up an impressive score.

[@thethirdman225]

The battle plan usually goes out the window as soon as the interception happens. While that was the (unofficial) policy of the RAF, things didn't often work out that way and quite a few Messerschmitt pilots came to grief at the hands of a determinedly-flown Hurricane.

[@himoffthequakeroatbox4320]

This is a myth. An Me109 pilot is hardly going to leave a Hurricane alone because it's going after the bombers and piss around until some Spitfires turn up.

[@thethirdman225]

@@himoffthequakeroatbox4320 Exactly.

[@572Btriode]

@@himoffthequakeroatbox4320 It was written "primarily tasked with" . . . . . . . . . .

[@Coltnz1]

There were far more Hurricanes than Spitfires in the B.O.B.

[@badllama8090]

I'm glad someone has got the correct facts about the Battle of Britain, massive oversight to think it was the Spit that did it all. well done. 👍👍

[@lafeelabriel]

Small historical note: the lone Icelandic fighter ace Þorsteinn E "Tony" Jónnson flew the Hurricane (which he loathed), the Spitfire (loved), and ended the war flying the Mustang. Sure with only five confirmed kills he's not the highest scoring ace ever, but it's still not a bad performance by a native of a nation that wasn't a active participant in the war.

[@jugbywellington1134]

He sounds interesting. He must have been a character.

[@lafeelabriel]

@@jugbywellington1134 Had quite the carreer post war too as a civilian pilot. Have both his autobiagraphies in my personal collection, one about his wartime service, and the other about his quite extensive career as a civilian pilot. Sadly I never got the chance to meet him despite being old enough to have been alive when he still was alive himself.

[@jugbywellington1134]

@@lafeelabriel Thank you for your reply. Even with "only" five victories, he was a hero. Gordon Olive, who wrote "Spitfire Ace", wasn't interested in keeping tallies. He was an Australian in the Battle of Britain and also a remarkable man and an excellent airman. So many exceptional people back then (on both sides). I have the good fortune to know a man who flew in mosquitoes, but he is reluctant to talk about it. "I only did one tour," he told me. It's not always possible to get other than a few modest asides from such people. alas. Also, some of the things they had to do are not things they want to talk about, I suppose. He's old now too.

[@anselmdanker9519]

Thank you for this interesting presentation. Compliments of the season and happy new year.

[@CalibanRising]

Happy new year!

[@christianhorner001]

The Aussie Beaufighter was a brilliant multirole aircraft. Those Aussies have had some amazing variations of British, French and US aircraft. Some of those are public knowledge, some of them aren't 😉

[@brianv1988]

What game is that in your video to show what the planes look like looks pretty fun

[@1339LARS]

Apparently, this was the same with a B17 rear gunners. One story is that the rear gunner of a B17 who could´nt have his parachute on in the turret, the aircraft was hit the crew jumped, and he was left behind, he thought that better to die hitting the ground, than follow the aircraft in the crash, so he jumped from 8000 meters, and incredibly survived!!!!! //Lars

[@markushuber214]

why didnt he put his parachut on?

[@terencejay8845]

I remember a song we used to sing as kids in the late 50s, early 60s; ' He jumped from 40,000 feet without a parachute..' I used to read the 'Commando' comic book and his story was in one edition.

[@1339LARS]

@@markushuber214 Because it was kept in the aircraft it self!!!!! //Lars

[@PhilMasters]

That sounds like Alan Magee, who survived because he went through the glass roof of a railway station, which slowed his fall. There was also Nicholas Alkemade, a Lancaster gunner who got off even lighter because a fir tree and a snowdrift cushioned his fall. Both have Wikipedia pages with all the details.

[@terencejay8845]

@@PhilMasters The one we sang about must have been Alkemade, because his fall was broken by the trees and deep snow.

[@thethirdman225]

32:30 The Merlin-powered Beaufighters were not very popular, apparently.

[@jameswebb4593]

An USAAF Fighter Group flying Spitfire Mk VIII's in Italy shot down 135 Germans before reluctantly exchanging their Spits for Mustangs . In 1943 the Spitfire Mk XII only 100 built and equipped just two squadrons were more then a match for low flying FW 190's and Bf 109 F & G's . Faster then the Typhoon at low altitude .but performance falling above 18,000 .

[@jonathonjubb6626]

Brilliant summary, I learned a lot...

[@Tomkinsbc]

As for the British Bombers, many Halifax crews thought theirs's was the safest of all the Bombers. This is a well documented expression made be the people that flew them.

[@wbertie2604]

If hit, an average of 1.5 crewmembers made it out of a Lancaster, 2.5 from a Halifax, but Halifaxes were a bit more likely to be shot down. I don't know if, combining those two factors, if you were better off in a Halifax.

[@Tomkinsbc]

@@wbertie2604 I may have heard what you did, and the crew member of the Halifax still thought they had better chances of surviving a crash, due to the construction technic used.

[@6h471]

The Halifax also made up 40% of the RAF's heavies. A thoroughly underatted airplane.

[@wbertie2604]

@@Tomkinsbc the Halifax had bigger hatches, and I think also better placed ones for getting out in a crash relative to crew positions. USAAF flak jackets were originally RAF, based on saving weight by armouring crew not aircraft, but rejected by the RAF as you had to remove it to egress from the plage due to especially the Lancaster hatch size.

[@wbertie2604]

@@Tomkinsbc IIRC those figures I gave are repeated in Max Hastings book on Bomber Command and Leo McInstry's on the Lancaster. I'm sadly lacking any books on the Halifax.

[@mickthurston9883]

Fantastic, superbly documented episode. My favourite ww2 fighter was number 3

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Mick

[@kevin-parratt-artist]

Don't forget Australia, although Churchill did. In total, 5,584 Beaufighters were built between 1939 and 1946, including 365 built by the Department of Aircraft Production in Australia; 581 served with RAAF squadrons in Australia and the South-West Pacific. The last Australian Beaufighter was retired from service in 1957.

[@CalibanRising]

You're right! Can't forget the Aussies. Even my brother has technically become one!

[@davidtaylor351]

And New Zealand. The Chief of The fighter group that bore most of the fighting in the Battle of Britain. No 11 Fighter Group, based in the south east of the UK, was Keith Park, a New Zealander. He worked directly with the Chief of Fighter Command, Hugh Dowding, on the strategies and tactics of the Battle. In terms of national contingents in the Battle of Britain. Naturally, the majority of pilots were UK. Polish were 2nd and NZrs 3rd. NZ pilots and aircrew fought in the UK, Europe, North Africa, Asia, and the South West Pacific. Where the RNZAF made good use of the P40. Along with other types, such as the Brewster Buffalo, Avengers, Corsairs, Dauntless dive bombers, Hudsons, Venturas, Catalinas Dakotas etc. Accounting for many Japanese Aircraft. Anyway, if the Australians are often unrecognised. The New Zealanders are vitually non existent. Such is life.

[@piotrweydmann3345]

@David Taylor My generation will always remember such characters as Clive Caldwell,Colin Gray or John A.Kent. Greetings from Poland😁

[@davidtaylor351]

@@piotrweydmann3345 And all the very best to you Sir. Cheers.

[@vincentlefebvre9255]

@@piotrweydmann3345 An Australian ,a New Zelander and a Canadian.

[@4u2cJoeD]

Very nice collogue of victory's and statistics, none bias.

[@nimrod2525]

The best of them all being the most versatile must be the Mosquito.

[@CalibanRising]

Yes, a very good aircraft indeed.

[@antonialeitz9179]

New subscriber, great, interesting vid. Thank you.

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks for watching Antonia!

[@axelviarhilmarsson6317]

Interesting - but would it not be informative to know how many aircrafts were made of each type? And also how long time they were operating? This would most likely give us a totally different picture (ranking).

[@renzar5016]

Great content, I'm excited to see what is to come!

[@CalibanRising]

Thanks mate!

[@KokkiePiet]

My Grandad killed 56 luftwaffe pilots. He was a terrible engineer

[@nigelhill8811]

Now that's really funny. Sad but hilarious, who's side was he on?😅

[@clarencehopkins7832]

Excellent stuff bro

[@CalibanRising]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@Krzyszczynski]

The Beaufighter was the first type I learned about outside of the "big three" (Spitfire, Lancaster, Hurricane), and that was because it often featured in the Paddy Payne strip in the Lion comic. Guy Gibson flew them for a while on night-fighting patrols with 29 Squadron, based at West Malling (but didn't find the job much to his taste). He told an amusing story about the Beau's early days, when several pilots apparently complained about hard it was to fly. Then one day a Beau touched down somewhere in a perfect three-point landing. The pilot got out and a cascade of blonde hair streamed out as her helmet came off .... Not so many complaints after that!! (The RAF regularly used female pilots to deliver aircraft, relieving male ones of such routine chores.)

[@stukevideo]

Good job! Whose sim did you use to make those videos? Microsofts?

[@blank557]

The Spitfire was the symbol of the Battle of Britain, and it was a magnificent and beautiful plane suited to become an icon, but it was the Hurricanes that outnumbered it two to one, and shot down more planes. The Defiant would have made an awesome ground attack aircraft, if they fitted it with forward firing guns or cannon. Much better than the Fairy battle, a flying deathtrap akin to the ill-fated Be2's of WWI