List of aircraft of Turkey during World War II explained
List of aircraft in use by Turkey during World War II. This shows how the Turkish Air Force would have been equipped throughout World War II as it was caught between the warring factions.
Fighters
- PZL P.24: The Turkish Air Force ordered 14 P.24A and 26 P.24C, delivered by 1937. Another 20 P.24A/Cs were built under license in 1939 in Turkey at Kayseri Aircraft Factory (Turkish: Kayseri Tâyyare Fabrikası), followed by an additional 30 P.24G aircraft.
- Hawker Hurricane: 164 Hurricanes of different models (Mk. Is, Mk. IICs, Mk. IIBs and 44 Mk. IIC/R). Both before and during the war.
- Morane-Saulnier M.S.406: Turkish Air Force received 45 Moranes. At least 30 of them were originally intended for shipment to Poland and had Polish stencilling.
- Supermarine Spitfire: (Mk. Is, Mk. Vbs, Mk.Vcs and Mk. V/Rs) - Some in service in WWII. Mainly used Post-War.
- Curtiss P-40 Warhawk: Provided in 1943 in exchange for chromium and iron. Turkey, like other neutral countries such as Spain and Sweden provided Germany with materials during World War II. Mainly chromium.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 190: Turkish Air Force – Beginning in mid-1942, received 72 examples of the Fw 190 A-3a (export model of A-3, a stood for ausländisch – foreign) from Germany to modernize their air force. These aircraft were basically Fw 190 A-3s, with BMW 801 D-2 engines and FuG VIIa radios and an armament fit of four MG 17s, with the option of installing two MG-FF/M cannon in the outer wing positions. The export order was completed between October 1942 and March 1943. The Fw 190 remained in Turkish service until late 1947 when they were retired due to a lack of spare parts.
Bombers
- Vultee V-11: 2nd Regiment – Vultee V-11GB (41 delivered)
- Martin B-10: Received 20 Model 139W aircraft in September 1937.
- Heinkel He 111: Operated 24 He 111F-1s, with first deliveries in 1937, and remaining in use until 1944.
- Fairey Battle: Received 30 aircraft, including 1 Target tug.
- Bristol Blenheim: (Mk. Is, Mk. IVs and Mk. Vs)
- Consolidated B-24 Liberator: Eleven B-24s made an emergency landing in Turkey coming from bombing of Ploesti within Operation Tidal Wave. All of them were interned by Turkey and five of these B-24s were repaired and served in the Turkish Air Force.
- Bristol Beaufort: At least eleven, but more likely twelve Beaufort IAs were delivered to Turkey in 1944 and another twelve were delivered in 1945.[2] All twenty-four were assigned to 105 TRG TAF and were operated until 1950. 105th Torpedo and Reconnaissance Group TAF operated Beauforts between February 1944 and 1950.
- Martin Baltimore: Acquired near end of WWII.
Flying boats
Army cooperation and liaison
Utility
Transport aircraft
Trainers
- de Havilland DH.84 Dragon: 4 were purchased in 1934, later used as transport planes to be utilized as flying schools.
- Gotha Go 145: First three samples were brought over from Germany, and then 43 of them were produced under license at KTF between 1936 and 1939. They had replaced Caudron C.59s. They were in service until 1947. Turkish models were armed with two 7.92mm MGs. Starting in 1943 they were all replaced by Miles Magisters.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe: At least 6, received 1937.
- Focke-Wulf Fw 44 Stieglitz: Used in service during 1937 to 1962.
- Curtiss-Wright CW-22: 50 CW-22R and later in 1940, 50 CW-22B.
- Miles Magister: 76 (out of 100) sent in 1941, 6 lost enroute. 26 were produced under license by KTF (5 in 1941 and 21 in 1942) and 20 more by THK. In service until 1963.
- Miles Master: 8 Mk. II arrived in July 1943 and 12 more in 1945.
- Miles Martinet: 7 in March 1945.
- Avro Anson: Its main role in RAF service was a trainer for bombers. Turkey most likely would have used it for this role. It could also use bombs so it could have been a bomber in Turkish service although far more likely, a trainer considering they already had a lot of better bombers as seen here.
See also
Links