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The Dornier Do 335 “Pfeil”, or “Arrow,” was one of the most unusual and advanced piston-engine fighters of World War II. Instead of mounting both engines on the wings, Dornier placed one Daimler-Benz DB 603 engine in the nose pulling the aircraft forward, and another behind the cockpit driving a rear propeller that pushed it from the back. This “push-pull” layout gave the Do 335 the power of a twin-engine fighter without the drag and handling problems of two large engine nacelles. The result was brutally fast: it could reach around 730 km/h / 450 mph, making it one of the fastest piston-engine aircraft ever flown during the war. It was intended as a heavy fighter, interceptor, reconnaissance aircraft, and fighter-bomber, with powerful cannon armament and excellent straight-line performance.
But like many late-war German wonder weapons, it arrived too late. Production was delayed by Allied bombing, engine shortages, and Germany’s collapsing industry. Only a small number were completed before the war ended, and the Pfeil never had a real chance to prove itself in combat. Still, it remains one of the most striking examples of how far piston-engine fighter design had advanced just before the jet age took over.
The Macchi M.C.202 Folgore “Thunderbolt” was one of Italy’s best fighters of World War II and a major leap forward from the older, underpowered Italian designs of the early war. Built by Macchi and powered by a license-built German Daimler-Benz DB 601 engine, it gave Italian pilots the speed, climb, and handling they had badly needed. The Folgore was sleek, fast, and highly maneuverable, with excellent high-speed control and a strong reputation among pilots, especially in North Africa and over the Mediterranean.
Its main weakness was armament: usually just two 12.7 mm Breda-SAFAT MG's, later supplemented by smaller wing guns, which made it less destructive than Spitfires, Hurricanes, or Bf 109s carrying cannon. Even so, in the hands of skilled pilots, the M.C.202 was a dangerous opponent, arguably the first Italian fighter of the war that could truly compete with the best Allied aircraft on roughly equal terms.
Lieut Cdr R H H L Oliphant, RN (Commander Flying) (extreme left) talking to the four pilots. Left to right: Lieut H P Wilson, RCNVR, aged 27, of Orillia, Canada; Lieut Cdr D R B Cosh, RCNVR, aged 25, of Ottawa, leader of the Wildcats; Sub Lieut (A) N K M Turner, RNVR, aged 22, from Long Beach, California, who brought down the Focke Wulf 200; and Sub Lieut (A) T L M Brander, RNVR, aged 21, of Lossiemouth, who destroyed the Heinkel 177.
The Heinkel He 219 “Uhu” was one of Germany’s most advanced night fighters of World War II — fast, heavily armed, and designed specifically to hunt RAF bombers in the dark.
Unlike many German night fighters, which were adapted from existing bombers or heavy fighters, the He 219 was purpose-built. It had a sleek twin-engine layout, a tricycle landing gear, a pressurized cockpit in some versions, and excellent visibility for its two-man crew. Most importantly, it carried onboard radar, allowing it to intercept Allied bombers at night without relying entirely on ground control.
The aircraft was powered by two Daimler-Benz DB 603 engines, giving it strong performance for a heavy night fighter. It could carry a fearsome mix of cannon, usually including 20 mm MG 151s and/or 30 mm MK 108s. Some versions also used Schräge Musik, upward-firing cannon mounted at an angle behind the cockpit. This allowed the He 219 to slip underneath a British bomber and fire into its vulnerable belly from below.
The Curtiss XF15C-1 was a 1940s prototype fighter built around an unusual mixed-power arrangement, combining a conventional piston engine with a turbojet. Only three prototypes were completed.
The aircraft was powered by a 2,100 hp Pratt & Whitney R-2800 Double Wasp radial engine, supported by an Allis-Chalmers J36 turbojet. Its first flight took place on February 27, 1945, but at that stage the jet engine had not yet been installed. Once the turbojet was fitted in April, the XF15C-1 began a series of mixed-power test flights.
The program suffered a major setback on May 8, 1945, when the first prototype crashed during a landing approach. A second prototype flew on July 9, followed later by a third. Both showed promise, but by late 1946 the U.S. Navy had lost interest in the mixed-power fighter concept. With pure jet aircraft rapidly advancing, development of the XF15C-1 was cancelled.
Of the three aircraft built, the first was lost in testing, the second was eventually scrapped, and the surviving third prototype is now displayed at the Aviation Museum of Hickory in Hickory, North Carolina.
Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States, had a notable military career before entering politics. He attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating in 1946 with a degree in science. Carter served in the Navy as a submariner, initially on conventional submarines and later working on the development of nuclear-powered submarines under the leadership of Admiral Hyman Rickover. He was deeply involved in the pioneering stages of nuclear propulsion, a role that shaped his disciplined work ethic and problem-solving abilities.
Carter's military career ended in 1953 when he returned to Plains, Georgia, to manage his family's peanut business after his father's death. His service left a lasting impression, and he credited his naval experience with influencing his leadership style and commitment to public service.