WW2 Aircraft

WW2 Luftwaffe Planes - List of Aircraft

List of aircraft of the WW2 Luftwaffe

Aircraft of the German Luftwaffe, 1935-1945. The Luftwaffe was officially announced 1 March 1935, although training and development had been proceeding in secret since 1925. List in numerical order of designations assigned by Reichsluftfahrtministerium (abbreviated RLM):

  • Dornier Do 15 Wal (Whale), reconnaissance flying-boat
  • Dornier Do 17 Flying Pencil, mail-plane + bomber + reconnaissance + night-fighter
  • Dornier Do 18, bomber + reconnaissance flying-boat
  • Dornier Do 22, torpedo bomber + reconnaissance flying-boat
  • Dornier Do 24, transport + reconnaissance flying-boat
  • Dornier Do 26, transport + reconnaissance flying-boat
  • Junkers Ju W34, transport
  • Heinkel He 37, fighter (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 38, fighter (biplane)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 40, glider interceptor
  • Heinkel He 43, fighter (biplane)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz (Goldfinch), trainer (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 45, bomber + trainer
  • Heinkel He 46, reconnaissance
  • Heinkel He 49, fighter (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 50, reconnaissance + dive bomber (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 51, fighter + close-support (biplane)
  • Junkers Ju 52 Tante Ju (Auntie Ju), transport + bomber
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 56 St?sser (Falcon Hawk), trainer (parasol monoplane)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 57, heavy fighter + bomber (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe (Kite), transport + trainer
  • Heinkel He 59, reconnaissance (biplane seaplane)
  • Heinkel He 60, ship-borne reconnaissance (biplane seaplane)
  • Junkers Ef 61, high-altitude fighter + reconnaissance (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 61, helicopter (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 62, ship-borne reconnaissance (biplane seaplane)
  • Arado Ar 64, fighter (biplane)
  • Arado Ar 65, fighter/trainer (biplane - re-engined Ar 64)
  • Arado Ar 66, trainer + night fighter
  • Arado Ar 67, fighter (biplane) (prototype)
  • Arado Ar 68, fighter (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 72 Kadett (Cadet), trainer
  • Heinkel He 74, fighter + advanced trainer (prototype)
  • Arado Ar 76, fighter (biplane) + trainer
  • Arado Ar 80, fighter (prototype)
  • Junkers Ju 86, bomber + reconnaissance
  • Junkers Ju 87 Stuka, dive-bomber
  • Junkers Ju 88, bomber + reconnaissance + night-fighter
  • Junkers Ju 89, heavy bomber (prototype)
  • Junkers Ju 90, bomber (prototype)
  • Arado Ar 95, coastal patrol + attack (biplane seaplane)
  • Arado Ar 96, trainer
  • Heinkel He 100, fighter
  • Fieseler Fi 103 (V-1), pilotless bomber or flying bomb
  • Siebel Fh 104 Hallore, medium transport
  • Messerschmitt Bf 108 Taifun (Typhoon), trainer + transport
  • Messerschmitt Bf 109, fighter (later versions designated as Me 109)
  • Messerschmitt Bf 110, heavy fighter + night-fighter
  • Heinkel He 111, bomber
  • Heinkel He 111Z, glider-tug (2 ? He 111)
  • Heinkel He 112, fighter
  • Heinkel He 113, (alternative designation for He 100)
  • Heinkel He 114, reconnaissance seaplane
  • Heinkel He 115, general-purpose seaplane
  • Heinkel He 116, transport + reconnaissance
  • Henschel Hs 117 Schmetterling (Butterfly), surface-to-air missile (rocket-engined)
  • Henschel Hs 121, fighter + trainer (prototype)
  • Henschel Hs 123, ground-attack (biplane)
  • Henschel Hs 124, heavy fighter + bomber (prototype)
  • Henschel Hs 125, fighter + trainer (prototype)
  • Henschel Hs 126, reconnaissance
  • Henschel Hs 127, jet-engined bomber (prototype)
  • Henschel Hs 129, ground-attack
  • Henschel Hs 130, high altitude reconnaissance + bomber (jet engined) (prototype)
  • B?cker B? 131 Jungmann (Young Man), trainer (biplane)
  • Henschel Hs 132, dive bomber (jet-engined) (prototype)
  • B?cker B? 133 Jungmeister (Young Champion), trainer + aerobatics (biplane)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 138, flying-boat (early versions designated as Ha 138)
  • Blohm und Voss Ha 139, long-range seaplane
  • Blohm und Voss Ha 140, torpedo bomber flying-boat (prototype)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 141, reconnaissance (asymmetric)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 142, reconnaissance + transport
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 143, glide bomb (prototype)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 144, transport
  • Gotha Go 145, trainer
  • Gotha Go 147, STOL reconnaissance (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Ta 152, fighter (derived from Fw 190)
  • Focke-Wulf Ta 154 Moskito (Mosquito), night-fighter
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 155, high-altitude interceptor (formerly Me 155)
  • Fiesler Fi 156 Storch (Stork), STOL reconnaissance aircraft
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 159, fighter (prototype only)
  • Messerschmitt Bf 162, bomber (prototype)
  • Heinkel He 162 Volksj?ger (People's Fighter), fighter (jet-engined)
  • Messerschmitt Bf 163 STOL reconnaisance aircraft (prototypes only)
  • Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet (Comet), interceptor (rocket-engined)
  • Fiesler Fi 167, ship-borne torpedo bomber + reconnaissance (biplane)
  • Heinkel He 172, trainer (prototype)
  • Heinkel He 176, rocket-engined experimental aircraft (prototype)
  • Heinkel He 177 Greife (Griffon), long-range bomber
  • Heinkel He 178, jet-engined experimental aircraft
  • B?cker Bu 181 Bestmann (Bestman), trainer + transport
  • Focke-Wulf Ta 183, jet-engined fighter (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 186, autogiro reconnaissance aircraft (prototype)
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 187 Falke (Falcon), heavy fighter
  • Junkers Ju 188, bomber
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 189 Uhu (Owl), ground-attack
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Wurger (butcher-bird), fighter
  • Arado Ar 196, ship-borne reconnaissance + coastal patrol (seaplane)
  • Arado Ar 197, naval fighter (biplane - derived from Ar 68)
  • Arado Ar 198, reconnaissance
  • Arado Ar 199, seaplane trainer
  • Focke-Wulf Fw 200 Condor, transport + maritime patrol-bomber
  • Siebel Si 201, STOL reconnaissance aircraft (prototype)
  • Siebel Si 204, transport + aircrew trainer
  • Messerschmitt Me 209, fighter + speed-record aircraft (prototype)
  • Messerschmitt Me 209-II, fighter (prototype - completely different to Me 209)
  • Messerschmitt Me 210, heavy fighter + reconnaissance
  • Dornier Do 214, transport flying-boat (prototype)
  • Dornier Do 215, bomber + night-fighter
  • Dornier Do 217, bomber + night-fighter
  • Heinkel He 219 Uhu (Owl), night-fighter
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 222 Wiking (Viking), transport flying-boat
  • Focke Achgelis Fa 233 Drache (Kite), transport helicopter (prototype)
  • DFS 228, rocket-powered reconnaisance aircraft (prototype only)
  • Gotha Go 229, fighter (flying-wing)
  • DFS 230, transport glider
  • Arado Ar 231, fold-wing U-boat reconnaissance aircraft (prototype)
  • Arado Ar 232, transport
  • Arado Ar 234 Blitz (Lightning), bomber (jet-engined)
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 238, flying-boat (prototype)
  • Arado Ar 240, heavy fighter + attack
  • Gotha Go 242, transport glider
  • Gotha Go 244, transport
  • Blohm und Voss Bv 246 Hagelkorn (Hailstone), long-range radar-homing glide bomb
  • Junkers Ju 248, re-designation of Me 263
  • Junkers Ju 252, transport
  • Messerschmitt Me 261, long-range reconnaissance
  • Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (Swallow), fighter + attack (jet-engined)
  • Messerschmitt Me 263, interceptor (rocket-engined)
  • Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika (America), long-range bomber (prototype)
  • Focke Achgelis Fa 266 Hornisse (Hornet), helicopter (prototype)
  • Heinkel He 274, high-altitude bomber
  • Heinkel He 280, fighter (jet-engined)
  • Flettner Fl 282 Kolibri (Hummingbird), reconnaissance helicopter
  • Junkers Ju 287, heavy bomber (jet-engined) (prototype)
  • Junkers Ju 288, bomber (prototype)
  • Junkers Ju 290, long-range bomber (prototype)
  • Messerschmitt Me 290, maritime patrol + bomber + reconnaissance
  • Henschel Hs 293, glide bomb (rocket-powered)
  • Henschel Hs 294, anti-shipping glide bomb (rocket-powered)
  • Henschel Hs 298, air-to-air missile (rocket-powered)
  • Messerschmitt Me 309, fighter (prototype)
  • Messerschmitt Me 321 Gigant (Giant), transport glider
  • Junker Ju 322 Mammut (Mammoth), transport glider (prototype)
  • Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant (Giant), transport (powered Me 321)
  • Messerschmitt Me 328, bomber launched fighter (prototype)
  • Focke Achgelis Fa 330, helicopter (prototype)
  • DFS 331, transport glider (prototype)
  • Dornier Do 335 Pfeil (Arrow), fighter-bomber (push-pull engine configuration)
  • Kramer Rk 344, air-to-air missile (rocket-powered)
  • Gotha Go 345, assault glider
  • DFS 346, supersonic research aircraft (incomplete prototype only)
  • Bachem Ba 349 Natter (Adder or Viper), interceptor (rocket-engine)
  • Junkers Ju 352 Herkules (Hercules), transport
  • Junkers Ju 388 St?rtebeker, reconnaissance + night-fighter
  • Junkers Ju 390, long-range bomber
  • Arado Ar 396, trainer
  • Messerschmitt Me 410 Hornisse (Hornet), heavy fighter + reconnaissance
  • Gotha Ka 430, transport glider
  • Arado Ar 440, heavy fighter + attack
  • Junkers Ju 488, heavy bomber

Glossary Of German Terms
WW2 Luftwaffe Planes - List of Aircraft

Abschuss "Shootdown"--an air victory.
Alarmstart Scramble.
Ami slang for American.
Blitzkrieg "lightning war"-
dicke Autos "fat cars"--enemy heavy bombers.
Einsatzfruede love of combat.
Einsatzstaffel operational Staffel (of a training unit.).
Endausbildungstaffel operational training squadron.
Endgueltige Vernichtung final destruction of an already-culled aircraft.
Ergaenzungsgruppe (ErgGr) advanced training group.
Ergaenzungsstaffel (ErgSt) advanced training squadron.
Erprobungsgruppe (EprGr) operational test group.
Erprobungsstaffel (EprSt) operational test squadron.
Experte a fighter pilot proficient in aerial combat; the Allied Ace.
Fliegerdivision (FD) air division--a higher command containing several types of flying units.
Fliegerfuehrer (Flifue) aircraft command/control unit or it's commander. In the case of isolated theatres, the theatre air commander..
Fliegerkorps (FG) air corps--a higher command containing several Fliegerdivisonen.
Flugzeugfuehrer pilot.
Freie Jagd "free hunt"--a fighter sweep without ground control.
Fuehrer leader.
Fuehrungsstaffel leader's squadron.
Fuehrungsverband lead formation.
General der Jagdflieger (GdJ) General of the Fighter Arms; a staff position in the RLM. Werner Moelders and Adolf Galland were the most prominent holders of this position.
Geschwader wing (pl. Geschwader)--the largest mobile, homogeneous Luftwaffe flying unit.
Geschwaderkommodore wing commodore--usually a Major, Oberstleutenant, or Oberst in rank.
Gruppe (Gr) group (pl. Gruppen)--basic Luftwaffe combat and administrative unit.
Gruppenkommandeur group commander--usually a Haptmann, Major, or Oberstleutnant in rank.
Herausschuss "shhot out" (cull)--to damage a bomber sufficiently to seperate it from it's formation.
Himmelfahrtskommando "mission to heaven"--suicide mission.
Holzauge "wooden eye"--the last airplane in a formation.
Horrido hunters' or pilots' cry of victory. St. Horridus was the patron saint of hunters and fighter pilots.
Indianer "Indians"--enemy fighters.
Jabostaffel fighter-bomber squadron.
Jaeger originally hunter, now fighter pilot.
Jaegerschreck :fear of fighter"--a derogatory term coined in Goering's headquarters.
Jagdbomber (Jabo) fighter-bomber.
Jagddivision (JD) fighter division; could command one or more Jafue or Jagdgeschwader.
Jagdflieger fighter pilots.
Jagdfliegerfuehrer (Jafue) fighter command/control unit or it's commander. Tha Jafue originated as administrative units but evolved into operational control units during the war.
Jagdgeschwader (JG) fighter wing, commanding three or four Gruppen.
Jagdgruppe (JGr) fighter group, containing three or four Staffeln.
Jagdkorps fighter corps; commanded one or more Jagddivisionen.
Jagdschutz "fighter protection"--generally, apatrol of a section of front, rather than an escort mission.
Jagdstaffel fighter squadron, originally containg twelve aircraft (three Schwaerme). It's authorized strength was increased to sixteen in 1943.
Jagdverband (JV) fighter unit. The term was only used for JV 44, the Gruppe of jet fighters commanded by General Adolf Galland in 1945.
Jagdwaffe fighter arm or fighter force.
Kampfgeschwader (KG) bomber wing.
Kanalfront the (English) channel front.
Kanalgeschwader the geschwader serving on the English Channel (JG 2 and JG 26).
Kanaljaeger fighter pilot(s) based near the channel.
Kapitaen "captain"--a Staffel command position rather than a rank.
Katschmarek a sland term for a wingman--originally a derogatory term for a dim-witted infantry recruit.
Kette flight of three aircraft.
Kommandeur "commander"--a Gruppe command position rather than a rank.
Kommodore "commodore"--A Geschwader command position rather than a rank.
Luftflotte (LF) "air fleet"--corresponded to a numbered American Air Force.
Luftwaffe "air force"--refers to German Air Force.
Luftwaffenkommando (Lkdo) air command-a small or down-graded Luftflotte.
Nachtjagdkommando night fighting detatchment.
Nachwuchs "new growth"--a late-war replacement pilot.
Oberwerkmeister line chief.
Pulk combat box-an American heavy bomber formation.
Reich "empire"--Hitler's Germany was the Third Reich.
Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) German Air Minitry; Goering's headquarters, it controlled all aspects of German aviation.
Reichsverteidigung (RVT) organization responsible for the air defence of Germany.
Rotte tactical element of two aircraft.
Rottenflieger wingman, the second man in a Rotte.
Rottenfuehrer leader of an element of two aircraft.
Schnellkampfgeschwader (SKG) fast bomber wing.
Schwarm flight of four aircraft (pl Schwaerme); all German fighter formations were made up of units of Schwaerme.
Schwarmfuehrer flight leader.
Sitzkrieg "sitting war"--the "phony war" in western Europe between September 1939 and April 1940.
Stab staff.
Stabsschwarm staff flight.
Staffel (St) squadron (pl. Staffeln).
Staffelfuehrer squadron leader (temporary or probationary).
Staffelkapitaen squadron leader--usually a Leutnant, OberLeutnant or Hauptmann.
Stukageschwader (Stg) dive-bomber wing.
Tommy German slang for Englishman.
Valhalla a large formation of aircraft.
Zerstoerer "destroyer" (heavy fighter)--Bf 110 or Me 410 twin-engined fighter.
Zerstoerergeschwader (ZG) heavy fighter wing.
Zerstoerergruppe (ZGr) heavy fighter group.