The Rarest WWII Planes You've Never Heard Of

Luke Tomes and Louee Dessent head to the Battle of Britain Airshow at Imperial War Museums Duxford to hunt down some of the rarest, most unusual, and unique aircraft that saw active service during the Second World War.

Their journey begins at the Aircraft Restoration Company hangar, where director and pilot John Romain MBE introduces them to two incredibly rare British WWII aircraft. Luke explores a fully restored Bristol Blenheim fighter-bomber—used in the early war years and during the Battle of Britain—which is the only airworthy example of its kind in the world. John then shows Louee a Westland Lysander, famously used for spy drops and pilot rescues in occupied Europe. Only three airworthy examples of this aircraft remain worldwide.

Louee then visits the Fighter Collection hangar, home to dozens of aircraft under restoration from both world wars. There, he discovers a half-built Fiat CR.42 Falco, an Italian biplane fighter that saw service on several fronts during WWII, though with limited effectiveness.

Meanwhile, Luke heads into the AirSpace Museum, where he finds a De Havilland Mosquito bomber suspended from the ceiling. Built almost entirely from wood, the Mosquito was once rejected by the British government—only to become vital to the RAF for its incredible speed and agility. Nearby, Louee spots a Fairey Swordfish biplane. Despite its outdated look, the Swordfish played a major role as a torpedo bomber, helping to sink much of the Italian fleet at Taranto and the German battleship Bismarck.

For his final find, Luke visits the Battle of Britain hangar and comes across the strange and fascinating Cierva C30A Autogyro. Designed to fly at very low speeds, this rare aircraft was used to calibrate radar systems and played a critical role in Britain’s coastal defense. Fewer than 200 were ever made.

Finally, Louee steps inside the American Air Museum and is awestruck by the massive B-29 Superfortress. This iconic bomber, responsible for ending the war with the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, also boasts an unusual legacy—the design of its nose inspired the Millennium Falcon in Star Wars.