Figure 1.--

Hitler liked to surround himself with yes men like Keitel. But even competent commanders had no real idea what war with America was going to mean. In World War I, it was American infantry that had made the difference. The Fermans asked for an armitace before American indutry had come into play. After Pearl Harbor, Hitler and many German Generrals convinced themselves that it would be years before the United States could convert its unfustry for war prpducion. Prerhaps Hitler's most competent staff officer reading reports of American losses, told his staff and probanly Hitler as well, "The Americans will now need every plane they can build just to defend their own territiory. The idea of them supplyinhg aircraft to Britain and Russia while fighting Japan is fantasy. He estimated that America might manageto to produce 15,000 aircraft in 1942, if they made it their absolute priority, but this would come at the cost of all other military production."

-- Gen Alfred Jodl, OKW Chief of Operations, December 1941

We do not yet have data on 1939 production. America expansed aircraft production to 23,000 planes in 1940 both to equip its own military and to assist Britain and France. Great priority was given to aircraft production even before the War. President Roosevelt gave a priority to aircraft even when Congressional military budgets were very limited. The famed B-17 Flying Fortress was developed very early (1935) and entered into service (1938) just as Hitler was using the Luftwaffe to force the Allies to back down and the Czechs to accede to his demands. Actual American production was, however, very limited until the War. We do not yet have overall American 1939 aircraft production data, but American plants were producing aircraft for the Allies as well as the U.S. military. This was complicated for several months after the outbreak of the War because of the Neutrality Acts. Production in 1940 (July-August) totaled 3,600 aircraft, about half of which was trainers. This reflected the need to train large numbers of pilots at the beginning of the War. Most were still were Americans, but included some Allied pilots, especially British. While the numbers seem small compared to what was to come, they were still substantial at the time. The British fought off the German Luftwaffe (July-September 1940). This would be the only successful Allied campaign of the War in which American aircraft did not play a successful role. American aircraft production increased sharply in 1941, but we are not sure just how much as we do not yet have full 1940 data, but we suspect that it was about three times. Production reached 18,500 in 1941. Less than half were combat aircraft, again primarily because of trainer production. At the end of the year of course, America was thrust into the War because of the Japanese carrier attack on Pearl Harbor (December 1941). This removed all Congressional budget constraints on production. Production more than doubled in 1942 to nearly 47,000 aircraft. More than half were now combat aircraft, although trainer production was still sizable. The United States once actual combat commenced was shocked to learn that its fighters in particular (both the Army P-40 and the Navy F5F Wildcat) were inferior to Axis fighters. American fliers had to develop tactics to reduce that advantage until American aircraft plants could develop and produce more advanced types. Combat results in the Pacific were especially shocking because American planners had so underestimated the Japanese. Aircraft production was so sizable in 1942 that 1943 production did not double, but it nearly did. Production reached 84,900 aircraft, substantially more than the entire Axis. Over 60 percent were combat aircraft. The production of trainers peaked at 21,000 planes in 1943. The aircraft loses at Pearl Harbor which were at the time were substantial were a mere 2-days output of American aircraft plants. And the quality of aircraft was improving. The Grumman F6F Hellcat which became the primary U.S. carrier fighter reached the fleet and transformed the Pacific War. By 1944 America built 96,300 planes, more planes than were possessed by the Axis combined and this does not include British and Soviet production. The Germans built 40,000 war planes in 1944, but the arrival of P51 Mustangs in the skies over Germany resulted in the destruction of the Luftwaffe. And American production was75 percent combat aircraft. Trainer production declined to 8,000 and was exceeded by transport aircraft, primarily the C-47. This was the peak of production, an incredible 11 planes an hour were rolling out of American aircraft plants. And the quality of the planes produced was now preeminent. Except for the German Messerschmidt Me-262 Schwalbe (Swallow), the American planes were by 1944 the best planes flown by superbly trained pilots, many now with extensive combat experience. Production included both the P-51 Mustang that could accompany the Allied bombers in strikes over Germany and the B-29s that could reach the Japanese Home Islands from the newly won bases in the Marianas. Aircraft production was dialed dialed back in 1945 as Germany surrendered (May 1945) and Japan (August 1945). Production totaled 45,900 aircraft (through August 1945). That included more than 80 percent combat types. Total American aircraft production (July 1940-August 1945) totaled 296,000 aircraft. 【U.S. Army Air Forces】

Sources

Military History of the 20th Century website

U.S. Army Air Forces. Army Air Forces Statistical Digest, World War II. Table 79.

Created: 6:39 AM 10/7/2025
Last updated: 6:39 AM 10/7/2025