Do propeller planes give contrails like jets do? Last weekend, while watching the second world war film "Fury" with a friend, there was a scene near the end with a large set of bombers flying overhead, leaving large contrails. That seemed wrong to me, as I'd thought that contrails were a jet thing, but the friend I was watching it with thought it was right. (Was a lovely shot though, accurate or not!)

That has me wondering - do propeller planes generate contrails like jets do? And if so, is it only turborops that would, or is it something all propeller planes can create?
Yes they can. That image from wikipedia showing B-17s is more descriptive



Contrails originate from condensation of vapor coming from internal combustion engines, regardless of being turboprop, turbojet/turbofan or cylinder engine. Vapor is a byproduct of the hydrocarbon (fuel) being combusted with the atmospheric oxygen.