WWII's Largest Military Aircraft Compared
A comparison of five of the largest military aircraft produced during the Second World War, detailing their specifications and operational histories.
The Second World War drove the development of enormous military aircraft as nations sought strategic advantage. A report from Simple Flying examines five of the largest such aircraft from that era, comparing their immense scales and varied fates.
Transport and Bomber Giants
The conflict saw both the Allies and Axis powers push the boundaries of aircraft size. The need to deliver overwhelming force or sustain distant campaigns resulted in engineering marvels. Some entered mass production and saw combat, while others remained singular prototypes.
Comparative Specifications
The source provides key figures for these colossal aircraft, allowing for a direct comparison of their physical scale.
| Aircraft | Wingspan (feet) | Max Take-Off Weight (lbs) |
|---|---|---|
| Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant | 181 | 94,799 |
| Boeing B-29 Superfortress | 141 | 133,500 |
| Douglas XB-19 | 212 | 162,000 |
| Hughes H 4 Hercules 'Spruce Goose' | 319 | N/A (Empty: 250,000 lbs) |
| Blohm & Voss BV 238 | 197 | 220,462 |
Operational Histories
The German Messerschmitt Me 323 Gigant is regarded as the largest land-based transport aircraft flown during the war. It was a powered development of a military glider designed for a planned invasion of Great Britain. According to the source, 213 were built. They were used in campaigns including Crete, the Soviet Union, and North Africa, capable of carrying around 100 fully-equipped troops or vehicles.
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is cited as the most successful of these large aircraft. It arrived late in the war and was used primarily against Japan. The source states it was responsible for much of the fire-bombing and for dropping the two nuclear bombs. It was the most expensive military project of the war, costing three billion dollars. The aircraft featured pressurized cabins and computer-controlled fire systems. Two B-29s are reported to still be flying today.
The Douglas XB-19 was a strategic bomber slightly larger than the B-29. It was the largest bomber built for the US Army Air Force until the Convair B-36. The source notes it was obsolete before completion. Plans to convert it to a cargo aircraft were never finished. It flew for the last time on August 17, 1946, and was scrapped in 1949.
The Hughes H-4 Hercules, nicknamed the Spruce Goose, was a flying boat prototype made largely of birch due to wartime aluminum restrictions. It remains one of the largest aircraft ever flown. The source reports it flew only once, on November 2, 1947, in a very brief flight. The initial contract was commissioned by the United States Department of War in 1942 to bypass German U-boats, a problem that had subsided by the time the aircraft was developed. It is now on display at the Evergreen Museum.
The Blohm & Voss BV 238 was the largest aircraft produced by the Axis powers. The source states it was the heaviest aircraft ever built when it first flew in 1944. It was a flying boat intended as a slow, heavily armored bomber with a range of over 6,000 miles. Only one prototype was completed. It was destroyed by Allied strafing near Lübeck.
