Which significant WWII combat aircraft where designed after the war started?

[Karnak]

The war didn't start for Japan in 1941, unless you're not counting their invasion and occupation of China prior to war with the US.


ack-ack

Correct, just like I am not counting Germany's actions prior to their invasion of Poland.  Basically just looking at the major participants involvement with each other.  I guess I could have counted Japan vs Russia, but I never got the impression that either side learned much from that.

[Anaxogoras]

No.  I'd count from Sept., '39 for Britain and Germany, June, '41 for the USSR and Dec., 1941 for the US and Japan.

I was asking because it would seem that the Spanish civil war influenced both the axis and the Soviets.

[MiloMorai]

Beat me to it. 

 Believe it or not, the same can be said for the F6F. Was on the boards prior to Pearl Harbor, although I'm sure the captured Zero prompted some needed design changes.

The first Cyclone-equipped prototype (02981) flew on 26 June 1942 while the first Double Wasp-equipped aircraft, the XF6F-3 (02982) had its first flight on 30 July 1942.

The A6M Zero fighter 'Akutan Zero' wasn't loaded onto a ship bound for the continental United States, until Jul 1942.

[MiloMorai]

In October 1938, the Ministry rejected the deHavilland proposal for a twin engined unarmed bomber.

[MachFly]

In April of 1940 British purchasing commission contracted North American to create an advanced fighter to supplant the spitfire. Prototype pf P-51 the NA-73X flown on October 26th of that year.

[bozon]

How many, and which, significant WWII combat aircraft began their design process after the war started and were designed based on combat experience?  Not upgrades of older airframes, but entirely new designs.
...
Mosquito?

It was a pretty picture on a drawing board before the war.  The design was finished and a prototype was built after the war started.

[MachFly]

How about the La-7?

[Old Sport]

The first British jet powered aircraft, the single-engined Gloster E28/39 prototype, had its maiden flight on 15 May 1941. The Air Ministry subsequently contracted for the development of a twin-engined jet fighter under Specification F9/40. The aircraft was to have been named Thunderbolt, but to avoid confusion with the USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt the name was changed to Meteor.

A significant plane I'd say, even if it's direct affect on the war was minimal.

[chris3]

moin

these FW projeckt. called flitzer.

was the vampire after the war...

cu chris3

[Chalenge]

No.  I'd count from Sept., '39 for Britain and Germany, June, '41 for the USSR and Dec., 1941 for the US and Japan.

You can do that but really WWII started at the signing of the Versailles Treaty.

[frank3]

Perhaps the Lancaster? First test-flight at January 9, 1941. Not sure when it was put on the drawing table though.

[Lusche]

moin

these FW projeckt. called flitzer.
(Image removed from quote.)
was the vampire after the war...

cu chris3

Ahh, those beloved LW myths

The first "Flitzer" studies started in 43/44

The Vampire had it's maiden flight in September 43...

[Lusche]

Perhaps the Lancaster? First test-flight at January 9, 1941. Not sure when it was put on the drawing table though.

I wouldn't count that, as the Lancaster was the four engined version of the Manchester, which did fly in July 39.

[frank3]

I wouldn't count that, as the Lancaster was the four engined version of the Manchester, which did fly in July 39.

Dang I lose!

I would've nominated the P-38, but amazingly its specifications were already stated in 1937!

[Karnak]

Perhaps the Lancaster? First test-flight at January 9, 1941. Not sure when it was put on the drawing table though.

Lancaster and Halifax both stem from a procurment request in 1936.