OT: Obvious question

[adarbrauner]

A site,
encountered while doing some internet research, is asking, as confirmation of you being a human rather than a computer, "what aircraft type is largely known as the most famous in world war II ";

now, what would you say?

[USSAmerica]

To non-WWII buffs, I'd say the general public has probably heard of the Spitfire more than any other WWII aircraft.

[Anachro]

As a kid, I didn't know anything about the Spitfire and I doubt much of the uninformed public in the USA knows about it either, but I did know of something called the Flying Fortress. I think the popular knowledge on WW2 aircraft depends on the country. I've no doubt in the UK the spitfire is very popularly known. So the question is what does the query mean by "most famous."

EDIT

Actually, in the USA I'd argue the Zero is probably more well-known than the spitfire by far, maybe even more well-known than any American aircraft. Everyone knows Pearl Harbor and a decent amount know of the Zero's role in the war.

[Korvar]

There's a joke about a porn site in there somewhere, but I'll refrain.

Are there any clues as to the nationality(ies) of the site creators? That might offer a clue as to what to guess. Otherwise just start guessing the most popular aircraft from each nation. It would be hilarious if the answer was super-specific, like 'Spitfire Mk.IX Trop'. [:D]

[DanSez]

I would guess P-51 Mustang. Fighter pilots get all the great press.

[MakeeLearn]

STUKA!

[BBfanboy]

Someone on continental Europe could legitimately say the ME-109 was most famous. It was the most plentiful and long-serviced fighter of the war.

[Lecivius]

I thought this was an Obvious Question [:D] Six different aircraft in as many replies [8D]

[Yaab]

Ilyushin Il-2, obviously.

[adarbrauner]

And Spitfire is not the right one, "you've failed in proving yourself a human" or something to that effect;

[BillBrown]

Enola Gay?

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: USSAmerica

To non-WWII buffs, I'd say the general public has probably heard of the Spitfire more than any other WWII aircraft.

Mustang!

[Canoerebel]

I'm pretty sure if you began listing aircraft by name to Americans, the one that would get the biggest "hit" (lights on in the eyes of those questioned) would be "Flying Fortress" with honorable mentions to "Mustang" with "Corsair" a distant third. In the European Union, I think "Spitfire," "Messerschmidt," "Hurricane," "Stuka" and "Mosquito" might register most commonly.

In a worldwide contest it would probably come down to "Flying Fortress" and "Zero."

[m10bob]

I seriously question the intelligence of anyone claiming only "one" aircraft as "the most famous" of that war.

Sounds like something a ten year old might ask after running the aisles of a hobby shop for the first time?

[MakeeLearn]

Is the contest still open?

[Yaab]

- What happened? You look Ill-2 me.
- They took away my rear gunner. Now I feel like a Zero.

[Fishbed]

ORIGINAL: BBfanboy

Someone on continental Europe could legitimately say the ME-109 was most famous. It was the most plentiful and long-serviced fighter of the war.

Legitimately yes, but I doubt any average person in France or elsewhere in Europe (apart maybe from Spain?) would think of the 109 as the most obvious candidate, even though you're right about that.
In France, I'd venture saying that it would be the Stuka or the Spitfire. Both are probably the most prominent planes in existence in our pop culture and our history books in class (alas because of the usual exaggerations - the first one being presented as the embodiment of Blitzkrieg, and the second one as the one and true savior during BoB and, hence, WW2).

If I had to stick to books I was asked to read and stuff I watched on TV, I think I would have never seen a 109 flying elsewhere than in the original BoB movie...

[Chickenboy]

Those of you with spouses that are apathetic to your wargaming pastimes will appreciate this response from my wife:

Me: What was the most famous plane of the Second World War?

Her: The B-52? [:D]

I was torn between explaining just how very wrong that choice was-at the molecular level-versus being a good husband, nodding and saying 'thank you'. I made the wrong choice. I picked the former. [:-][;)]

[Chickenboy]

Hey, that's an idea. Let's have everyone here ask their spouses or significant others and report back here. I could use a good laugh. [:D]

[Chickenboy]

ORIGINAL: Yaab

- What happened? You look Ill-2 me.
- They took away my rear gunner. Now I feel like a Zero.

[:D]

Reminds me of the grumble of SWPAC pilots about the P-400. "It's a P-40 with a Zero on its tail."