# What WWII fighter did I see? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200 "2021-03-18T20:29:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/1 "2021-03-18T20:29:17Z")
A few months ago I was in my backyard patting a friendly kitten when a World War Two era fighter (or Similar) flew directly over me. I was unable to see many details, but I noticed it had squared off wingtips, a blunt nose with a pronounced cowling around the engine, and white army stars painted on the underside of each wing. Any idea what it was? ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/2 "2021-03-18T20:33:26Z")
P47 > **[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-47_Thunderbolt)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Republic P-47 Thunderbolt is a World War II-era fighter aircraft produced by the American company Republic Aviation from 1941 through 1945. It was a successful high-altitude fighter and it also served as the foremost American fighter-bomber in the ground-attack role. Its primary armament was eight .50-caliber machine guns, and it could carry 5-inch rockets or a bomb load of 2,500 lb (1,100 kg). When fully loaded, the P-47 weighed up to 8 ton... There were also quite a few trainers and the Navy had several ones like that. But the _cowling_, which I assume means a radial engine , and _Army_, and _Fighter_ =P47 ---
**Author:** ![JohnnyEcks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnnyecks/32/18197_2.png) [@JohnnyEcks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnnyEcks)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/3 "2021-03-18T20:39:31Z")
That was fast, thanks. Can’t say for certain, but it looks very similar. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/4 "2021-03-18T20:39:37Z")
Thunderbolt seems likely. ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/5 "2021-03-18T20:40:41Z")
Unless… [A Navy Avenger?](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_TBF_Avenger) ---
**Author:** ![Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bosda_di_chi_of_tricor/32/16845_2.png) [@Bosda\_Di\_Chi\_of\_Tricor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosda_Di_Chi_of_Tricor)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/6 "2021-03-18T20:44:20Z")
[![](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_TBF_Avenger#/media/File:Grumman_TBF-1_Avengers_in_flight,_circa_in_1942.jpg) ](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_TBF_Avenger#/media/File:Grumman_TBF-1_Avengers_in_flight,_circa_in_1942.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/7 "2021-03-18T20:44:25Z")
Very few P-47’s had clipped wings, and from a distance, they wouldn’t look very squared off. Maybe an F6f Hellcat, or F8f Bearcat. Avenger is a good guess, too. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/8 "2021-03-18T20:47:16Z")
T-6 Texan also fits the profile of radial engine, though its wingtips aren’t super square. It’s really, really common at airshows. > **[North American T-6 Texan](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_T-6_Texan)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The North American Aviation T-6 Texan is an American single-engined advanced trainer aircraft used to train pilots of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), United States Navy, Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and other air forces of the British Commonwealth during World War II and into the 1970s. Designed by North American Aviation, the T-6 is known by a variety of designations depending on the model and operating air force. The Un... Other common WWII radial engine fighters are mostly navy, but Navy livery does include prominent stars. F6F Hellcat and F8F Bearcat would be the most common in this category. The F4F Wildcat is less common, and the F4U Corsair has pretty round wingtips. > **[Grumman F6F Hellcat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F6F_Hellcat)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > > The Grumman F6F Hellcat is an American carrier-based fighter aircraft of World War II. Designed to replace the earlier F4F Wildcat and to counter the Japanese Mitsubishi A6M Zero, it was the United States Navy's dominant fighter in the second half of the Pacific War. In gaining that role, it prevailed over its faster competitor, the Vought F4U Corsair, which initially had problems with visibility and carrier landings. > Powered by a 2,000 hp (1,5... > **[Grumman F8F Bearcat](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grumman_F8F_Bearcat)** > > Pages for logged out editors learn more > > The Grumman F8F Bearcat is an American single-engine carrier-based fighter aircraft introduced in late World War II. It served during the mid-20th century in the United States Navy, the United States Marine Corps, and the air forces of other nations. It was Grumman Aircraft's last piston engined fighter aircraft. > Modified versions of the Bearcat have broken speed records for piston-engined aircraft. Today, the Bearcat is popular among warbird own... ---
**Author:** ![RickJay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/bb73d2/32.png) [@RickJay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RickJay)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/9 "2021-03-18T20:54:07Z")
I came in to note the Wildcat, Hellcat, and Bearcat. Not sure how many flyable models exist. ---
**Author:** ![Capn\_Carl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/838e76/32.png) [@Capn\_Carl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Capn_Carl)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/10 "2021-03-18T20:54:26Z")
I hadn’t thought of the Texan. Lots more of those still flying than any of the fighters we’ve mentioned. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/11 "2021-03-18T20:55:12Z")
> [@Gorsnak](#): > > T-6 Texan also fits the profile of radial engine, though its wingtips aren’t super square. It’s really, really common at airshows. Yes, but he said Army and fighter. But as i said trainers are very common, and the T-6 has been used in films to pretend as a fighter. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/12 "2021-03-18T20:56:05Z")
> [@Capn\_Carl](#): > > Avenger is a good guess, too. That doesnt look much like a fighter. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/13 "2021-03-18T21:04:24Z")
The OP’s description pretty much just limits us to a single-engine monoplane with a radial and squarish wingtips, I think. Anyone who could distinguish between fighters and trainers at a glance wouldn’t be here asking what model of aircraft they saw, at least with regards to the T-6. I’ll grant we can rule out the Stearman Model 75. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/14 "2021-03-18T21:08:24Z")
Yes, which is why I mentioned them as possible candidates. The Mustang is out, IMHO. But the radial engine loses a lot of American WW2 planes. The Op did reply - > [@JohnnyEcks](#): > > Can’t say for certain, but it looks very similar. But there are a LOT of T6’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/15 "2021-03-18T21:14:12Z")
> [@DrDeth](#): > > The Op did reply - > > > [@JohnnyEcks](#): > > > > Can’t say for certain, but it looks very similar. To WWII aircraft aficionados the F4F and F6F look very similar. To non-aficionados, the Spitfire and SBD look very similar. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/16 "2021-03-18T21:15:21Z")
Don’t mind me, just bringing this thread to the attention of [some resident aviation experts](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-great-ongoing-general-aviation-thread/600499/). What say you, @Asimovian? @Johnny_L.A? ---
**Author:** ![Gorsnak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gorsnak/32/7587_2.png) [@Gorsnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gorsnak)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/17 "2021-03-18T21:20:26Z")
To the OP, do you recall what colour it was? Would you have been able to tell if the upper fuselage was painted blue? Most USAAF fighters were bare aluminum, while most USN fighters were painted deep blue on top and grey on the bottom. Also, [here is the webpage for the Commemorative Air Force with photos of a large number of still-flying WWII aircraft that may assist in identifying what you saw.](https://commemorativeairforce.org/aircraft) ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/18 "2021-03-18T21:34:13Z")
My friend, given no picture and a not bad at all but imprecise description, you could bring in the ghosts of a thousand WW2 aircraft spotters, manufacturer and pilots, and they couldnt do any better. If it is Army, it is P47 or T6. If it is a fighter, it is a P47. There are a few Navy possibilities but the coloring is different, usually. Based upon the horse vs zebra, the T6 is the most likely, but the only Army radial fighter still flying is the P47. The others were built in such small numbers or destroyed I would be surprised if any are still flying. Brewsters? P36? Nope. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/19 "2021-03-18T21:36:46Z")
Says the Doper who insisted that a ocelot is a savannah cat. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2021, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200/20 "2021-03-18T21:40:13Z")
I said nothing of the sort. I said that _if_ it was a domestic cat, it _wasnt_ a ocicat, that a savannah cat was much more likely. There are all sorts of hybrid domestic cats that look quite a bit different. In fact i said the likelihood is “ocelot, fake or savannah cat in that order.” And that cat has still not been IDed. Actually, I think the picture is faked as coming from that locality, that it is a real ocelot from the ocelots normal range. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-wwii-fighter-did-i-see/938200.md?page=2)