Did All Planes in WWII Have Fuel Tanks Under Their Wings?
No, not all planes in World War II had fuel tanks under their wings. While many aircraft, especially bombers and some fighters, did have wing-mounted fuel tanks for extended range, there were various designs and configurations based on the specific needs of each aircraft.
Bombers and Transport Planes
Typically, bombers and cargo planes had sufficient internal fuel tanks to cover the projected missions. In cases where more fuel was required, these aircraft often had the ability to mount additional tanks internally. These can be seen in the Consolidated B-24 that my father-in-law flew. He mentioned that it could load one into the bomb bay, massively extending the range for missions such as flying from the base in Cerignola, Italy, to Brazil several times.
Fighters and Drop Tanks
Fighters on the other hand had no choice but to mount drop tanks for added range. Given the space available for the desired capacity, mounting such tanks under the wings made sense. Both the Supermarine Spitfire and the North American P-51 Mustang utilized this configuration.
Balance Issues and Fuel Management
One of the issues with mounting a pair of tanks under the wings is balance. Proper fuel flow management was crucial to ensure that the fuel drained in such a way that the plane did not have a mostly full tank under one wing and a mostly empty under the other. This could be mitigated by having only one tank mounted under the belly on the centerline, as seen in the Messerschmitt Bf 109 and Mitsubishi A6M Zero. I have read but cannot confirm that the Zero was the first fighter to have drop tank capability designed in from the very beginning, as it was a Navy design intended for long-distance operations over the open ocean.
Other Aircraft Configurations
For some aircraft types, it was decided to lean heavily into the idea of drop tanks, mounting them under both wings and the centerline. This approach was seen in the Republic P-47 Thunderbolt, which utilized this configuration for enhanced range.
German Messerschmitt Bf 109
The German Messerschmitt Bf 109 primarily stored fuel in fuselage tanks. This design choice was efficient and made sense for the type of missions it was intended for. The Bf 109 was known for its agility and speed, making it a formidable fighter in various theaters of the war.
Mitsubishi A6M Zero
The Mitsubishi A6M Zero is another example of a plane that utilized drop tanks for enhanced range but for specific missions. As a Navy design, the Zero was optimized for long-distance operations over the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Its unique design and capabilities made it a significant threat to Allied forces throughout the war.
Conclusion
The diversity of aircraft types during World War II led to a wide range of fuel storage solutions based on design function and operational requirements. While wing-mounted fuel tanks and drop tanks were common, many aircraft relied on internal fuselage tanks or a combination of these methods to meet their specific mission needs.