# WWII planes that have no surviving examples **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 3, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737 "2013-04-03T15:46:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/1 "2013-04-03T15:46:43Z")
I am referring specifically to planes that saw combat in WWII, but none exist anymore, not even non-flying examples in a museum. One is the [Douglas Devastator](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Devastator) torpedo bomber. After more than half of all of those in existence were shot down at Midway, they were taken out of combat and the rest were scrapped in 1944. Wiki notes 4 “[survivors](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Devastator#Survivors)”, all of these are underwater after ditching – AFAIK none have been recovered for restoration. In my mind they don’t count, nor would wreckage out in a jungle somewhere. I’m sure there are plenty of others but I don’t know which they are. Wiki also says there is one Fairey Barracuda (another torpedo bomber) currently being rebuilt out of two wrecks, so if that’s correct it’s another example that will soon be rectified. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/2 "2013-04-03T15:54:58Z")
I think all of the B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning) were either destroyed in the Operation Chastise, or refitted to different configurations. Don’t know if you’d count something like that. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/3 "2013-04-03T16:04:29Z")
Most Messerschmitt 323’s (the giant transport with the clamshell nose) were shot down over the Mediterranean, and none survive, except that a wreck of one was recently found off Sardinia. The Blohm und Voss BV222 \*Wiking \*seaplane is also extinct, again with the wreckage of one known to exist on the sea bottom. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/4 "2013-04-03T16:09:07Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > I think all of the B Mark III Special (Type 464 Provisioning) were either destroyed in the Operation Chastise, or refitted to different configurations. Don’t know if you’d count something like that. But those were modified Lancasters which were later reconverted to their original purpose, right? IMO those wouldn’t count. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 4:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/5 "2013-04-03T16:12:36Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > But those were modified Lancasters which were later reconverted to their original purpose, right? IMO those wouldn’t count. I think that’s correct. Even if one was built specifically for that purpose it wasn’t an enormous change. ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 7:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/6 "2013-04-03T19:26:51Z")
There are no surviving [Westland Whirlwinds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Whirlwind_(fighter)), more’s the pity. ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/7 "2013-04-03T20:00:00Z")
No [B-32 Dominators](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-32_Dominator#Surviving_airframes) anymore. Not that there were ever many. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/8 "2013-04-03T20:12:24Z")
A handful of DC-2’s got drafted into the US military, but none are left, of any pedigree. The sole DC-1 didn’t last even that long. Same for the Martin M-130 flying boats, including the famous _China Clipper_. The three that were still flying at the start of the war, after the disappearance of _Hawaii Clipper_, all crashed and were scrapped while in USN service. A few Boeing 314’s survived the war, but not long after. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/9 "2013-04-03T20:31:28Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > There are no surviving [Westland Whirlwinds](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Westland_Whirlwind_(fighter)), more’s the pity. That’s too bad. I never heard of it, but it’s a cool looking plane. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/10 "2013-04-03T20:42:00Z")
> [@bup](#): > > No [B-32 Dominators](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Consolidated_B-32_Dominator#Surviving_airframes) anymore. Not that there were ever many. I’ve heard of these (kind of a Super Liberator) but I never knew they made it into combat. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/11 "2013-04-03T21:01:28Z")
No Fokker G6 left-only 63 made, all destroyed. They looked a bit like the Lockheed P-51 Lightning. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/12 "2013-04-03T21:20:00Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No Fokker G6 left-only 63 made, all destroyed. > They looked a bit like the Lockheed P-51 Lightning. [Is this what you mean – the Fokker G 1?](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fokker_G.I) ---
**Author:** ![Battle\_Pope](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/4bbf92/32.png) [@Battle\_Pope](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Battle_Pope)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/13 "2013-04-03T21:37:49Z")
I can’t find any reference to [P-43 Lancer](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Republic_P-43_Lancer) surviors. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Si\_Amigo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/si_amigo/32/2877_2.png) [@Si\_Amigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Si_Amigo)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/14 "2013-04-03T21:40:31Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > No Fokker G6 left-only 63 made, all destroyed. > They looked a bit like the Lockheed P-51 Lightning. I think you mean P38 Lightning, the P51 was the Mustang. ---
**Author:** ![FuzzyOgre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a587f6/32.png) [@FuzzyOgre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FuzzyOgre)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/15 "2013-04-03T21:45:42Z")
> [@ElvisL1ves](#): > > A handful of DC-2’s got drafted into the US military, but none are left, of any pedigree. The sole DC-1 didn’t last even that long. > > Same for the Martin M-130 flying boats, including the famous _China Clipper_. The three that were still flying at the start of the war, after the disappearance of _Hawaii Clipper_, all crashed and were scrapped while in USN service. A few Boeing 314’s survived the war, but not long after. You might enjoy this story. [CNAC's Famous DC-2 1/2](http://www.cnac.org/aircraft02.htm) ---
**Author:** ![Pushkin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ee59a6/32.png) [@Pushkin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pushkin)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 9:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/16 "2013-04-03T21:57:02Z")
> [@Boyo\_Jim](#): > > That’s too bad. I never heard of it, but it’s a cool looking plane. I thought of it too for that reason, not really like much else the RAF flew at the time. Surprising to see what did survive the war, like the [ME Komet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_163), which I thought was surely flammable and unflyable enough to exist only in photos. ---
**Author:** ![Blakeyrat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blakeyrat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blakeyrat)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/17 "2013-04-03T23:25:44Z")
> [@Pushkin](#): > > Surprising to see what did survive the war, like the [ME Komet](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Messerschmitt_Me_163), which I thought was surely flammable and unflyable enough to exist only in photos. Pilots were too scared to take them up! ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/18 "2013-04-03T23:44:38Z")
Re: The Komet: the fuels were so dangerous that they fuel and oxidizer came in separate trucks, that never were together during fueling. A fair number did explode upon landing. ---
**Author:** ![Mk\_VII](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Mk\_VII](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mk_VII)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2013, 11:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/19 "2013-04-03T23:45:10Z")
Things which were novel attracted the attention of Allied scientists and ensured that (mostly) the type was passed to the Smithsonian (or someone) once its value was exhausted. Types which had been made earlier in the war, of which a great deal was already known, were of less interest. Dornier 17/217s, Hampdens or Whitleys, Fairey Battles, Blenheims (though some have been reconstructed out of Canadian Bolingbrokes in recent years) the list is endless. As late as 1949 a number of unique types were scrapped for want of storage space when the Air Historical Branch was instructed to severely prune its holdings for financial reasons. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2013, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737/20 "2013-04-04T00:28:51Z")
> [@ralph124c](#): > > Re: The Komet: the fuels were so dangerous that they fuel and oxidizer came in separate trucks, that never were together during fueling. A fair number did explode upon landing. How successful was the komet as an interceptor? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/wwii-planes-that-have-no-surviving-examples/654737.md?page=2)