A PBY Catalina of the 5th Emergency Rescue Squadron. IWM (FRE 7485)
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STORY

PBY Catalina: endlessly versatile

The PBY Catalina was arguably the most versatile aircraft of the Second World War.

The Catalina was involved from start to finish, in every theatre, in a variety of roles. It was a Catalina that spotted the Bismarck, the Japanese fleet sailing towards Ceylon and the Japanese carrier fleet at Midway. They ranged far and wide out into the Atlantic and north towards the Arctic Circle.

Join Jeff Boyling, a part owner and pilot of Catalina G-PBYA, to explore the design, operational history and his own experience with the Catalina. 

P-47 Thunderbolt suspended in the American Air Museum ©IWM
STORY

The P-47 Thunderbolt, durable and deadly

The P-47 Thunderbolt was one of the leading American fighter aircraft of the Second World War. It saw widespread use in the European Theatre as an escort and ground attack aircraft.   

A P-51 Mustang (PI-W, serial number 44-15056) nicknamed "Jackie" of the 356th Fighter Group in flight, flown by Captain Jack W "Wild Bill" Crump. IWM (FRE 6075)
STORY

What made the P-51 Mustang special?

The P-51 Mustang could fly and fight with British and American bombers all the way to Berlin and back again. By 1944, the aircraft helped the Allies gain aerial superiority over Western Europe.
Cockpit photo of IWM's B-17 Flying Fortress ©IWM
STORY

Flying the B-17 Flying Fortress

The Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress dropped more bombs than any other US aircraft in the Second World War. A lot of these aircraft flew out of bases in England, but what was it like to fly?
McDonnel Douglas Phantom FGR.2, XV499, of No. 41 Squadron based at Coningsby, in flight and displaying a weapons load of cluster bombs, Sparrow and Sidewinder AAMs. © IWM (CT 75)
STORY

The F-4 Phantom II: America's most prolific jet fighter

In 1958, McDonnell Aircraft Corporation delivered a prototype, twin-engine, supersonic, all-weather, long-range fighter -  a design the US Navy could not ignore: the F-4 Phantom II. It would go on to become the most-produced American supersonic jet fighter in history and an icon of the Cold War. 
B-24 Liberators, including (serial number 41-24226 ) nicknamed "Joisey Bounce" of the 93rd Bomb Group fly in formation during a mission. IWM (FRE 11426)
STORY

The B-24 Liberator: A symbol of US industrial might

The Consolidated B-24 Liberator was vital to the US's strategic bombing campaign during the Second World War. During the conflict, B-24s served with every branch of the American armed forces and in every theatre of the war. Built in larger numbers than any other US aircraft, the B-24 would become a symbol of the industrial might of the American war machine.

Story written by IWM staff and copyright of Imperial War Museums (© IWM). The copyright in the images belongs to IWM as well as other third parties. Neither the stories nor the images contained may be reproduced or licenced without IWM’s permission. 

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