The fighter aircraft was never more important than it was during the universal calamity that began in 1939.

However, at this time of need, the fighter types available were pretty limited to say the least. If you were an air force leader choosing a fighter to defend your nation, your choice (if you were lucky and appropriately aligned politically) would be from this pack of misfits and immature thoroughbreds. Here are the ten best fighters operational at start of the biggest war in history.

10: Mitsubishi A5M ‘Claude’

There may have been a few better land-based fighters in 1939 but if you wanted a carrier fighter then this is it. None of the classics had entered service yet, so no Grumman F4F Wildcat, no Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” – even the Brewster Buffalo didn’t appear till December. If yo

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