Jenny was the brainchild of American engineer, Glenn Curtis in 1917. The plane wasn’t anything special in terms of features, but it was lost cost to produce. Many U.S. and Canadian fighters were trained to pilot the Jennys, but never made it into combat. The planes were then used to entertain people at flight shows after the war. The daredevil pilots would even go so far as to take audience members along for the ride. The Jenny seen here was made in 1918, and remains one of very few in existence today.
18) The Nakajima “Oscar” Plane
The Kamikaze pilots of Japan had favored the lightweight fighter plane for their ease of maneuverability. Although the Oscar planes were easy to navigate, they didn’t serve much use due to its slow speed, and limited firepower. The Oscars brought down many American fighter planes during World War II. The model seen here was found in Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. Ironically enough, the plane was repaired by former Japanese soldiers, from parts of salvageable Oscars.
19) The North American B-25J Mitchell
The B-25 gained fame when it became the first American aircraft to bomb the Japanese mainland. The B-25 was assigned to Lt. Col. Jimmy Doolittle, who took off from the Hornet air carrier in 1942, en route to Japan. The bombers made their way all across the Pacific, armed with enough firepower to sink a small sea vessel. The U.S. Army kept the vast majority of the B-25’s, and used them as transports and trainers. The model here was built in 1944, and served the Royal Canadian Air Force for a decade until it was sold in 1961.
20) The P-47D Thunderbolt
One look at this gigantic, seemingly indestructible aluminum frame and you can tell why many U.S. fighter pilots flew it. The Thunderbolt engine was considered “unbreakable”, and the plane even consisted of .50-caliber machine guns and heavy armor. The U.S. Army Air Corps manufactured the Thunderbolt in 1940 for the upcoming European war. The model seen here was constructed by the Republic Aviation in Evansville, Indiana. It had remained in storage until 1948. The Thunderbolt features the trademark “Tallahassee Lassie” logo, and was piloted by Col. Ralph C. Jenkins.
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