 Editor in Chief Bill   | 09 May 2023 4:29 p.m. PST |
Slow but rugged, the SBD Dauntless dive bomber ravaged the Imperial Japanese Navy during the monumental first year of the Pacific contest, in the process earning a place in the hearts of its pilots. USNI: link |
| BillyNM | 10 May 2023 1:58 a.m. PST |
…won the war? Surely not. A stellar performance indeed but dependent on the contribution of all the other component parts. |
| JimDuncanUK | 10 May 2023 3:41 a.m. PST |
Thought that was the Spitfire, no the Lancaster, no the Mustang, no the Mosquito. |
Fitzovich  | 10 May 2023 5:04 a.m. PST |
I'm sure that there will be many disagreements on this topic. I don't think any individual design "won" the war but worked in concert with others to do so depending upon the mission requirements. If any aircraft would qualify as a war winner I would go with the C-47. Might consider this a topic of a poll however as that might be fun. |
| troopwo | 10 May 2023 6:18 a.m. PST |
I have a soft spot for the Fairey Swordfish. |
 miniMo | 10 May 2023 6:27 a.m. PST |
The article does specify "War in the Pacific'.
The Japanese carrier fleet would agree if anyone wants to go deep sea diving and ask them. |
| troopwo | 10 May 2023 8:06 a.m. PST |
The Val achieved more and wide ranging results in far less time of what, six months? The SBD achieved quite a lot too, but no way near with the speed of the IJN takeover from Dec '41 to May of '42. |
| Royston Papworth | 10 May 2023 11:13 a.m. PST |
My vote is for the Spitfire. Although troopwo does have a point… 😁 |
| Augustus | 10 May 2023 1:38 p.m. PST |
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| JMcCarroll | 10 May 2023 3:28 p.m. PST |
A B-29 ended the war. Does that count? |
| Inch High Guy | 10 May 2023 3:29 p.m. PST |
Easy question, B-29. I love the Dauntless and have several other favorites, but two B-29 missions of only three aircraft each led directly to the Japanese decision to surrender. |
 Mister Tibbles | 10 May 2023 3:46 p.m. PST |
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| 21eRegt | 10 May 2023 7:56 p.m. PST |
B-25? The Tokyo Raid pushed the Japanese into their great defeat at Midway. |
| advocate | 10 May 2023 11:23 p.m. PST |
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| advocate | 10 May 2023 11:25 p.m. PST |
Troop two, the Val is excluded from the title 'The plane that won the war' for technical reasons… |
 20thmaine | 11 May 2023 5:58 a.m. PST |
I'd have gone with the Dakota. All the fighters and bombers did their bit, some admirably, some astonishingly (yes Fairey Swordfish I am looking at you) but not one of them did everything. |
| advocate | 11 May 2023 6:48 a.m. PST |
To be fair, no single aircraft 'won the war'. Overall it was about production, and using equipment in combination. Yes, there were individual high achievers, but they wouldn't have won on their own. |
| troopwo | 11 May 2023 10:29 a.m. PST |
For a multiplicity of roles maybe even the B24. Bombing, mining, pathfinding, electronic, coastal command, ferry command, basic transport and CBI transport. |
