World War II was neither fought, nor won, entirely by aircraft. But the introduction of advanced aerial technology that began in the late 1930s came of age during the landmark conflict, transforming the landscape of war forever. By the end of WWII, the United States alone had amassed a fleet of 300,000 planes—from fighters to scouts to bombers—spread across the Air Force, Navy, and Marines. This book includes 30 historic examples. Understanding the stories behind each of these planes is to appreciate how history’s most examined war was won.