Messerschmitt Me 262

The Me 262 was designed in the early 1940s as a fast interceptor by one of Germany's most successful aircraft manufacturers, powered by a Junkers Jumo gas turbine (jet) engine giving the type unprecedented speed. In theory it had a degree of invulnerability brought about by its high performance but in practice it had failings induced by the fickle nature of its engine - slow to provide acceleration at low speed and requiring new and innovative handling practices by its pilots. Nevertheless, it was the world's first operational jet combat aircraft and despite being difficult to handle it produced several aces among the pilots that flew it. As such it is an iconic symbol of aeronautical progress standing at the dawn of modern air warfare.

Coming at a time in the war when Germany was being pressed on all fronts, it appeared in service during 1944, late and under pressure from factions intent on adopting it both as a fighter and as a bomber. Some of this was due to Willy Messerschmitt's insistence that it be produced as a multi-role aircraft. The Me 262 achieved modest success as a night fighter and was to have been developed into a more capable and efficient aircraft using more reliable engines had the war lasted longer.

Although more than 1,400 Me 262s were built almost half were destroyed in allied air attacks the type was designed to prevent. Those that entered operational service flew a fast and furious assault against US bombers attacking Germany and some of the most dramatic and exciting encounters between two aircraft in war were fought by Me 262s and US fighters giving the type an enduring and memorable chapter in the annals of military aviation.