What was the first American fighter plane?

The United States has had many great fighter planes including the F-22, F-15, F-14, F-4, P-51, P-47. But did you know that its first three fighter planes were all French? Yes, America's first fighter planes were the Spad VII, Nieuport 28 and Spad XIII. All were used in World War I. But that's not all. American fighter pilots also flew British Sopwith Camels. One thing American pilots did not fly was American-made fighter planes, at least not in combat. That said, the United States had several interesting planes in development or even limited production before the end of World War I, but none saw combat.


Nieuport 28




Georges Guynemer's "Vieux Charles" Spad VII (Le Bourget Air Museum)



Related Links: Nieuport 17 | Nieuport 28 | Spad VII | Spad XIII | Spad XVI | Fokker D.VII and other German aircraft | Halberstadt CL.IV | Fokker Dr.1 | Albatros D.Va | Caudron G4 trainer | USN Curtiss N-9H trainer | USN Thomas Morse SC-4 | USN Hanriot HD-1 | USN Sopwith Camel | What was the first American fighter plane?