Although the Allies were composed of many more countries’ militaries, the United States and United Kingdom provided the majority of the air power for the Allied forces. The United States Army Air Force, which had the largest and most diverse arsenal of fighters, was a key Allied asset (Taylor and Guilmartin). Early in the war, the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) was equipped primarily with the Bell P-39 Airacobra and the Curtiss P-40 Warhawk (later versions were referred to as the Tomahawk); both aircraft were cheap and easy to produce and maintain, but that was just about the extent of their benefits. The Airacobra had a low top speed, horrible climb and dive rates, and a low service ceiling (maximum altitude it can reach) due to its one stage supercharger (Hickman “World War II:
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Although the Warhawk/Tomahawk had a higher service ceiling, it performed poorly at high altitude. The later models of the Tomahawk had a quite effective performance at low altitude (Guttman). Eventually, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt started becoming increasingly common. The P-38 was an expensive and large fighter, with an unconventional twin boom design (each boom carried one engine, and the cockpit was suspended in a pod between the booms) that was hard to manufacture, especially considering it was heavily armored. Despite all this, its two turbo-supercharged engines compensated for its weight, producing a top speed of 414 miles per hour and making it a good high altitude fighter; however, the Lightning’s maneuverability suffered from its size and all of the equipment it needed to carry (Guilmartin “P-38”). The Thunderbolt, despite being smaller with one turbo-supercharged engine, was as unmaneuverable as the Lightning and also quite
Although the Warhawk/Tomahawk had a higher service ceiling, it performed poorly at high altitude. The later models of the Tomahawk had a quite effective performance at low altitude (Guttman). Eventually, the Lockheed P-38 Lightning and the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt started becoming increasingly common. The P-38 was an expensive and large fighter, with an unconventional twin boom design (each boom carried one engine, and the cockpit was suspended in a pod between the booms) that was hard to manufacture, especially considering it was heavily armored. Despite all this, its two turbo-supercharged engines compensated for its weight, producing a top speed of 414 miles per hour and making it a good high altitude fighter; however, the Lightning’s maneuverability suffered from its size and all of the equipment it needed to carry (Guilmartin “P-38”). The Thunderbolt, despite being smaller with one turbo-supercharged engine, was as unmaneuverable as the Lightning and also quite