Which Fighter Covered Most Theatres?

[Jim Oxley]

WWII covered an enormous number of countries and theatres, and both Allied and Axis fighters had to fight in a huge and varied arena. Britain, Norway, France, Germany, Eastern Europe, Russia, Western Desert, Malta, Balkans, Italy, Greece, Iraq, Malaya, Burma, Aleutians, New Guinea, East Indies, Solomons, China, Pacific Ocean, Philippines; the list is almost endless.

So which fighter would have fought over most of the area's in the conflict?

Both the Me 109 and the A6M Zero certainly covered, comprehensively, their own respective theatres. But didn't cross over into each others areas.

Which leaves Allied fighters. And there are several contenders. The P-39 and P-40 both saw widespread service, but missed out over Britain and Europe. P-51 is a strong contender, but also missed out over Britain, and the Western Desert and didn't appear in the Pacific until 1945. The Hurricane did just about everything - Britain, Europe, Norway, Western Desert, Russia, Greece and the Balkans, the Med and Malta, carrier service, Malaya, Burma, East Indies.

There are, to my mind, three contenders. The Spitfire (and I'm including it's clone the Seafire); the P-47 Thunderbolt and the P-38 Lightning.

The P-38 covered the Aleutians, Solomons, New Guinea, Philippines, Tunisia, Italy and Europe.
The P-47 fought over Europe, Tunisia, Italy, Russia, New Guinea, Philippines and Japan.
The Spitfire started it all over France, Britain, Norway (Seafire), Western Desert, Malta, Tunisia, Italy, Europe, Russia, Australia, Burma, and with the British pacific Fleet as the Seafire throughout.

I'd have to go with the Spitfire/Seafire.

Anyone think differently?