[caption id="attachment_4105" align="alignleft" width="400"] Artist's Impression of the Stubo I [Heinz Rodes][/caption]During the years leading up to the Second World War, Nazi Germany found itself needing a competent air force to rival those it would soon face. Restrictions set by the Treaty of Versailles severely hindered the German military both in size and equipment in…

[caption id="attachment_4059" align="alignleft" width="400"] Drawing of the Martin-Baker Tankbuster [British Secret Projects][/caption]In early 1942, the Royal Air Force began seeking a new ground-attack aircraft that would replace the 40mm-armed Hawker Hurricane Mk.IID. An order was officially placed on March 7th for a specialized ground attacker that would be used against a multitude of targets including…

[caption id="attachment_3151" align="alignleft" width="400"] The first Fw 187 V1 shortly after being completed.[/caption] The twin-engined fighter was a concept few countries pursued in the early days of flight. The type only started serious development in the years directly preceding the outbreak of the Second World War, with planes such as the American Lockheed P-38 Lightning…

[caption id="attachment_3017" align="alignleft" width="400"] Cutaway Concept for the XA-41[/caption] The XA-41 began as part of a United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) requirement in October 1941 for a new single-seat attack aircraft. The Douglas A-20 Havoc (and soon to be produced North American A-36 Apache) was performing well at the time, but the USAAC wanted…

With engagements such as the Battle of the Coral Sea and the hunt for the Bismarck, the effectiveness of torpedo bombers, such as the TBF/TBM Avenger and Fairey Swordfish, was clear. With the announcement of the large Midway-class carriers, the possibility of a new torpedo-bomber/scout bomber came about. In February 1942, a competition was put…