Most successful fighter in WWII

[Stryder50]

The dot like the star on the US birds. The Dot was a zero so that was what it was nicknamed early on.

And it wasn't the only capable fighter. The Kate KI-27 was just as good. The Zero A6M was Navy while the Kate was Army. Both were construct very similar.

N1K2-J First introduce late 1942. Had this been introduced earlier, the Carrier Wars would have been a disaster for the US. This thing smoked both the F6F and the F4U and even would fight the P-51 toe to toe and win in an attrition fight. It got the bullet proofed glass, armor around the pilot, self sealing tanks and more. And a top speed of over 400 mph. Had they been introduced just months before.........

KI-27 was known by Allied code name "Nate". A nimble fighter, but short ranged and with fixed landing gear had other limitations. It was the first fighter that the AVG/Flying Tigers encountered in the early months of their operation.

Nakajima Ki-27 - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

The "Kate" was the Japanese Naval, carrier based torpedo bomber they started the war with.

Nakajima B5N - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

FYI, in World War Two, Pacific Theater (PTO) the Allies applied male(boy) names to Japanese fighters and female(girl) names to Japanese bombers and transports, etc.

Also, FWIW, the AVG/Flying Tigers used "zero" as a generic for all Japanese fighters they encountered. Of course when later debriefed after the mission they tried to be more specific on type(s) encountered.

 

[Stryder50]

Those planes listed are without a doubt some of the best. But there's also this:

View attachment 761902

BINGO!

While "most successful" entails a number of characterisitcs; such as speed, range, firepower, maneuverability, toughness, ease to fly, low maintenance, cost to build, duration of service/use, etc. One final box to check would be capable of operating from an aircraft carrier deck.
That is where the Vought F4U Corsair is hands down the most successful fighter of World War Two.

It was developed at the start of the war, saw USN/USMC service into the 1950s, and service in other nation's air forces into the 1960-70s.

Vought F4U Corsair - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org