List of World War II military aircraft of Germany

This list covers aircraft of the German Luftwaffe during the Second World War from 1939 to 1945. Numerical designations are largely within the RLM designation system.

The Luftwaffe officially existed from 1933–1945 but training had started in the 1920s, before the Nazi seizure of power, and many aircraft made in the inter-war years were used during World War II. The most significant aircraft that participated in World War II are highlighted in blue. Pre-war aircraft not used after 1938 are excluded, as are projects and aircraft that did not fly. The listed roles are the primary roles of the aircraft during World War II – many obsolete pre-war combat aircraft remained in use as trainers rather than in their original more familiar roles. Captured or acquired aircraft are listed separately as many were used only for evaluation while those available in large enough numbers were commonly used as trainers, while a small number were usen the Reich Aviation Ministry's list of aircraft at list of RLM aircraft designations and a full explanation is at RLM aircraft designation system. A small number of surviving pre-1933 aircraft were overlooked by the RLM system and just used the company names or designations.

Luftwaffe aircraft

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The primary types operated by the Luftwaffe are shown highlighted, with the most numerous in bold.

RLM # Aircraft Role Production
Status		 # built/used 1st Flight Notes
192 AGO Ao 192 Kurier transport production 6 1935 used by senior officials
66 Arado Ar 66 trainer production 1456 1932 biplane
68 Arado Ar 68 trainer/night-fighter production 511 1934 biplane, obsolete by 1939
76 Arado Ar 76 trainer production 189 1934 biplane
80 Arado Ar 80 experimental prototype 3 1935 used to test Fowler flaps
95 Arado Ar 95 training production 27 1936 seaplane, built for export
96 Arado Ar 96 trainer production 2891 1938
196 Arado Ar 196 reconnaissance production 541 1937 ship-borne seaplane
197 Arado Ar 197 fighter prototype 3 1937 carrier aircraft derived from Ar 68
198 Arado Ar 198 reconnaissance prototype 1 1938
199 Arado Ar 199 trainer prototype 2 1939 seaplane
213 Arado Ar 231 reconnaissance prototype 6 1940 folds to fit on U-boat
232 Arado Ar 232 Tausendfüßler transport production 20 1941
234 Arado Ar 234 Blitz reconnaissance/bomber production 210 1943 Bomber Jet
240 Arado Ar 240 fighter prototype 14 1940
440 Arado Ar 440 fighter prototype 4 1942 1 converted from Ar 240
349 Bachem Ba 349 Natter interceptor production 36 1945 rocket, only 1 manned flight attempted
40 Blohm & Voss BV 40 Ersatzjäger interceptor prototype 7 1944 glider
138 Blohm & Voss BV 138 Seedrache maritime patrol production 297 1937 diesel trimotor flying-boat
139 Blohm & Voss Ha 139 transport prototype 3 1936 long-range seaplane
140 Blohm & Voss Ha 140 maritime patrol prototype 3 1937 flying-boat
141 Blohm & Voss BV 141 reconnaissance prototype 28 1938 asymmetrical
142 Blohm & Voss BV 142 maritime patrol/transport prototype 4 1938
144 Blohm & Voss BV 144 transport prototype 2 1944
155 Blohm & Voss BV 155 interceptor prototype 3 1944 built to counter B-29
222 Blohm & Voss BV 222 Wiking transport production 13 1940 six-engined flying-boat
238 Blohm & Voss BV 238 maritime patrol prototype 1 1944 six-engined flying-boat,
largest Axis aircraft flown
131 Bücker Bü 131 Jungmann trainer production 5000 ca. 1934 biplane, also used for night harassment
133 Bücker Bü 133 Jungmeister trainer production 250 ca. 1935 aerobatic biplane
180 Bücker Bü 180 Student trainer production 50 1937
181 Bücker Bü 181 Bestmann trainer production 3400 1939
182 Bücker Bü 182 Kornett trainer prototype 4 1938
313 Caproni Ca.313G trainer production 164 1939 purchased from Italy.
38 DFS SG 38 Schulgleiter trainer production 10000 ca. 1938 glider, widely copied
228 DFS 228 reconnaissance prototype 2 1944 rocket-powered, unpowered flights only
230 DFS 230 transport production 1600 ca. 1937 glider
331 DFS 331 transport prototype 1 1942 glider
11 Dornier Do 11 bomber production 372 1932
12 Dornier Do 12 Libelle trainer prototype 1 1932 impressed seaplane
16 Dornier Do 16 Wal training production 46 1922 flying-boat, most retired by 1939
17 Dornier Do 17 Fliegender Bleistift bomber/night-fighter production 2139 1934
18 Dornier Do 18 maritime patrol production 170 1935 flying-boat
19 Dornier Do 19 transport prototype 3 1936 only 1 flown, built as heavy bomber
22 Dornier Do 22 maritime patrol production 30 ca. 1938 built for export
23 Dornier Do 23 bomber production 282 1934 withdrawn after invasion of Poland
24 Dornier Do 24 maritime patrol production 218 1937 flying boat, was for export
26 Dornier Do 26 reconnaissance production 6 1938 long-range seaplane
215 Dornier Do 215 Fliegender Bleistift bomber/night-fighter production 105 1938
217 Dornier Do 217 Fliegender Bleistift bomber/night-fighter production 1925 1938
317 Dornier Do 317 bomber prototype 6 1943 Bomber B
335 Dornier Do 335 Pfeil fighter/bomber production 37 1943 push-pull engines
5 Fieseler Fi 5 trainer production 29 ca. 1933 acrobatic sportsplane
103 Fieseler Fi 103R Reichenberg manned bomb production 175 1944 manned variant of V-1 missile
156 Fieseler Fi 156 Storch reconnaissance production 2867 1936
167 Fieseler Fi 167 bomber production 14 1938 ship-borne biplane
256 Fieseler Fi 256 transport prototype 6–9 1941
184 Flettner Fl 184 reconnaissance prototype 1 1936 helicopter
282 Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri reconnaissance production 24 1941 Synchropter helicopter
223 Focke-Achgelis Fa 223 Drache transport production 20 1940 helicopter
330 Focke-Achgelis Fa 330 reconnaissance production 200 1942 autogyro kite, rarely used
152 Focke-Wulf Ta 152 fighter production 49 1944 improved Fw 190, production curtailed
154 Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Moskito night-fighter production 30 ca. 1943 development curtailed
44 Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz trainer production 1700 ca. 1932 biplane, widely exported
56 Focke-Wulf Fw 56 Stösser trainer production 1000 ca. 1933 parasol monoplane
58 Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe trainer production 1350 1935
61 Focke-Wulf Fw 61 experimental prototype 2 1936 twin rotor helicopter
62 Focke-Wulf Fw 62 reconnaissance prototype 4 1937 ship-borne biplane seaplane
186 Focke-Wulf Fw 186 reconnaissance prototype 1 1937 autogyro
187 Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke fighter prototype 9 1937
189 Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu reconnaissance production 864 1938
190 Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger fighter production 20000 ca. 1939 many exported to client states
191 Focke-Wulf Fw 191 bomber prototype 3 1942 Bomber B
200 Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor maritime patrol/transport production 276 1937 originally airliner, some exported
145 Gotha Go 145 trainer production 1182 1934
146 Gotha Go 146 transport prototype 4 1936
147 Gotha Go 147 experimental prototype 1 1936 tailless
242 Gotha Go 242 transport production 1528 1941 glider
244 Gotha Go 244 transport production 176 1941 powered Go 242, 133 converted
345 Gotha Go 345 transport prototype 1 1944 glider
430 Gotha Ka 430 transport prototype 12 1943 glider
46 Heinkel He 46 trainer production 512 1931 parasol recon. Used for night harassment raids.
50 Heinkel He 50 reconnaissance/bomber production 78 1931 biplane
51 Heinkel He 51 trainer production 700 1933 obsolete fighter, few remained by 1939
59 Heinkel He 59 reconnaissance production 144 1931 biplane seaplane
60 Heinkel He 60 reconnaissance production 205 1933 ship-borne biplane seaplane
70 Heinkel He 70 Blitz transport production 15 1932
72 Heinkel He 72 Kadett trainer production 2000 ca. 1933
100 Heinkel He 100 fighter production 25 1938 also used He 113 designation
111 Heinkel He 111 bomber/transport production 5656 1935 many exported
112 Heinkel He 112 fighter production 104 1935
114 Heinkel He 114 reconnaissance production 29 ca. 1936 seaplane
115 Heinkel He 115 bomber production 138 1937 seaplane, some exported.
116 Heinkel He 116 reconnaissance prototype 14 1937
119 Heinkel He 119 high-speed reconnaissance prototype 8 1937
162 Heinkel He 162 Spatz light jet fighter production 320 1944 jet, Volksjäger winner
172 Heinkel He 172 trainer prototype 1 1934 He 72 with NACA cowling
177 Heinkel He 177 Greif heavy/strategic bomber production 1169 1939 engine problems until major redesign
219 Heinkel He 219 Uhu night-fighter production 300 ca. 1942
280 Heinkel He 280 fighter prototype 9 1940 jet
123 Henschel Hs 123 ground attack production 250 1935
125 Henschel Hs 125 trainer prototype 2 1934
126 Henschel Hs 126 reconnaissance production 600 ca. 1936
127 Henschel Hs 127 bomber prototype 2 1937
128 Henschel Hs 128 experimental prototype 2 1939 high-altitude test aircraft
129 Henschel Hs 129 ground attack production 865 1939
130 Henschel Hs 130 bomber prototype 13 1939 high-altitude
229 Horten Ho 229 fighter prototype 3 1944 jet flying wing, only one flown under power
n/a Junkers W34 trainer production 2024 1926 1920s transport.
52 Junkers Ju 52 Tante Ju transport production 4845 1931 Spanish Civil War bomber, widely exported
86 Junkers Ju 86 bomber/reconnaissance production 632 1934
87 Junkers Ju 87 Stuka bomber production 6500 1935 many exported to client states
88 Junkers Ju 88 bomber/night-fighter production 15183 1936 variants filled numerous roles
89 Junkers Ju 89 bomber prototype 2 1937 originally Ural bomber
90 Junkers Ju 90 transport production 18 1937
188 Junkers Ju 188 Rächer bomber production 1234 1940
252 Junkers Ju 252 transport production 15 1942
287 Junkers Ju 287 bomber prototype 2 1944 jet
288 Junkers Ju 288 bomber prototype 22 1940 Bomber B design winner
290 Junkers Ju 290 maritime patrol/transport production 65 1942
322 Junkers Ju 322 Mammut transport prototype 2 1941 glider
352 Junkers Ju 352 Herkules transport production 50 1943
388 Junkers Ju 388 reconnaissance/bomber production 101 ca. 1943 fighter variants also planned
390 Junkers Ju 390 bomber prototype 2 1943 Amerika Bomber
31 Klemm Kl 31 trainer production 30 1931
35 Klemm Kl 35 trainer production 2000 ca. 1935 sportplane, many exported
36 Klemm Kl 36 transport production 12 ca. 1934
108 Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun trainer production 885 1934 many exported
109 Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter production 33984 1935 many exported to client states
110 Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer fighter production 6170 1936
162 Messerschmitt Bf 162 Jaguar bomber prototype 3 1937
163 Messerschmitt Bf 163 reconnaissance prototype 1 1938 designation reused for interceptor
163 Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet interceptor production 370 1944 rocket
209 Messerschmitt Me 209 racer prototype 4 1938
209 Messerschmitt Me 209-II fighter prototype 4 1943 unrelated to previous Me 209
210 Messerschmitt Me 210 fighter production 108 1939
261 Messerschmitt Me 261 Adolfine reconnaissance prototype 3 1940
262 Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe fighter production 1400 ca. 1941 jet
263 Messerschmitt Me 263 interceptor prototype 1 1944 rocket, did not fly under power
264 Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika bomber prototype 3 1942
309 Messerschmitt Me 309 fighter prototype 4 1942
321 Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant transport production 200 1941 glider
323 Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant transport production 198 1942 powered variant of Me 321
328 Messerschmitt Me 328 fighter prototype 9 1944 pulse jet
410 Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse fighter/reconnaissance production 1189 1942 improved Me 210
104 Siebel Fh 104 Hallore transport production 46 1937
201 Siebel Si 201 reconnaissance prototype 2 1938
202 Siebel Si 202 Hummel trainer production 66 1938 sportplane
204 Siebel Si 204 trainer production 1216 1940 also used as transport

Captured or acquired aircraft

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Name Source Luftwaffe Role # (if known) Notes
Avia B-534 Czechoslovakia trainer Three modified for carrier trials. Some sold.
Avia B-71 Czechoslovakia bomber 61 SB-2 + 111 B.71 Later ones manufactured as target tugs, some sold to Bulgaria
AVIA FL.3 Italy trainer 145 Sent to flying schools in Austria.
Bloch M.B.175 France bomber
Bloch M.B.151 France fighter/trainer Vichy MB.152 also transferred to Luftwaffe In 1942.
Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress US special operations Used by special units such as KG 200.
Cant Z.506 Italy search & rescue used from 1943 with mixed Italian/German crews.
Cant Z.1007 Italy transport used from 1943
Caudron C.445 Goéland France transport
Curtiss H-75 Hawk France & Norway fighter Used pending delivery of Bf 109's. Some sold to Finland.
Dewoitine D.520 France trainer 182 Some sold.
Douglas 8A-3N Netherlands trainer 3 ca.
Douglas DC-2 Netherlands transport 3 ex-KLM aircraft
Fiat CR.42 Falco Italy ground attack
/night fighter		 112+ from 1943, flown by NSGr.9[1] and JG.107
Fiat G.50/B Italy trainer
 unk. from 1943, flown by 7th Nacht Schlacht Gruppe based in Croatia[2]
Fokker C.V Various trainer unk.
Fokker C.X Netherlands trainer unk.
Fokker D.XXI Netherlands fighter
Fokker T.VIII Netherlands maritime patrol floatplane
Fokker G.I Netherlands trainer some used in 1941 for Bf 110 crews.
Gloster Gladiator Latvia via USSR trainer 1 captured from Soviets, glider/target tug.
Hawker Hurricane France, Jugoslavia & N. Africa familiarization Not used for combat.
Ilyushin Il-2 USSR n/a never used
Lioré et Olivier LeO 451 France transport 39+ from May 1943, flown by IV./TG4.[3]
Lockheed P-38 Lightning USA fighter 1 provided by defector.
Macchi MC.202 Italy trainer 47 used from 1943. Some transferred to Croatia.
Macchi MC.205 Italy fighter 25 used from 1944. II/JG 77
Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 USSR n/a Tried to sell 22 to Finland
Morane-Saulnier M.S.230 France trainer
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 France trainer 46+ 25 sold to Finland in 1941
Nakajima E8N Japan reconnaissance seaplane 1 employed on the German auxiliary cruiser Orion
North American NAA 57 France trainer
North American NAA 64 France trainer Most received in crates
PZL.37 Łoś Poland n/a tested but not used
Rogožarski IK-3 Yugoslavia fighter
Reggiane Re.2002 Italy fighter 25 from 1943, Reggiane ordered to build more
Savoia-Marchetti SM.79 Italy transport used from 1943.
Savoia-Marchetti SM.82 Italy transport 430 used 1942–1945.[4]
Supermarine Spitfire United Kingdom fighter
Zlín Z-XII & 212 Czechoslovakia trainer

See also

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References

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Notes
  1. ^ Skulski 2007, p. 79
  2. ^ Arena 1979, p. 519
  3. ^ "Flugzeugbestand und Bewegungsmeldungen, IV./TG4".
  4. ^ Pini 1994, p.1.
Bibliography
  • Arena, Nino. Macchi 205 "Veltro" (in Italian). Modena: Mucchi Editore, 1994. No ISBN.
  • Arena, Nino. I caccia a motore radiale FIAT G.5O (in Italian). Modena: Mucchi Editore, 1979. No ISBN.
  • D'Amico, Ferdinando. "I Veltro Dell'Asso di Cuori. (in Italian)" JP-4 Aviation Magazine, N.5, 1991. No ISBN.
  • Dimensione Cielo – Aerei italiani nella 2° guerra mondiale – CACCIA ASSALTO 3 (in Italian). Roma, Edizioni Bizzarri, 1972. No ISBN.
  • Di Terlizzi, Maurizio. Macchi MC 205 "Veltro" (Aviolibri 1) (bilingual Italian/English). Roma, Italia: IBN Editore, 1997. ISBN 88-86815-55-7.
  • Glancey, Jonathan Spitfire: The Illustrated Biography. London: Atlantic Books, 2006. ISBN 978-1-84354-528-6.
  • Green, William. "The Macchi-Castoldi Series." Famous Fighters of the Second World War-2. London, Macdonald, 1962. No ISBN.
  • Malizia, Nicola. Aermacchi Bagliori di guerra (in Italian). Rome: IBN, 2006. ISBN 88-7565-030-6.
  • Mondey, David. The Hamlyn Concise Guide to Axis Aircraft of World War II. London: Bounty Books, 2006. ISBN 0-7537-1460-4.
  • Neulen, Hans Werner. In the Skies of Europe. Ramsbury, Marlborough, UK: The Crowood Press, 2000. ISBN 1-86126-799-1.
  • Pini, Giorgio and Setti, Fulvio. Savoia Marchetti SM 82 marsupiale (Le Macchine e la Storia – Profili 5)(in Italian). Modena, Italy: STEM-Mucchi spa., 1994. No ISBN.
  • Savic, Dragon and Boris Ciglic. Croatian Aces of World War II (Osprey Aircraft of the Aces-49). London: Oxford, 2002. ISBN 1-84176-435-3.
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