Messerschmitt Me 262

Even when the war had just begun and Germany stood virtually unopposed , the German high command was well aware of their oppositions vast industrial and economical potentials. One of their main strategy for overcomming this obstacle was to stay one step ahead of their enemies by developing technologically superior weapons. Whit this strategy in mind Germany was the first country in the world to devote serious effort to the creation of a Jetaircraft for military use.  there were many experimental designs but ultimately the Me262, another brainchild of Willie Messerschmitt was chosen for mass productionas early as 1942. the first prototype of the plane was finished before its engine , because BMW had problem with this novel of propulsion. because of delay in the delivery of the engine, the prototype flew on 18th april 1942 with junkers Jumo210G piston engine mounted on the nose. When the BMW's Jet engines were prepared , the Me262 prototype took off under the power of a Jumo 210piston engine and 2 Jet engines on March 25th, 1942. The idea of not removing the old piston engine was a good one, because both jet engines failed one after another just after take off and the pilot managed to save the planeby using the old piston engine. After the BMW engines proved to be unreliable the Germans decided to use new Junkers Jumo004 Turbo Jet Engine which proved to be more reliable.The plane finaly made its first take off by jet engine on July 18th 1942.

The plane was armed with four, 30mmMK108 in the nose plus two machine guns in the back. The plane also could carry two 250kg bombs on the wings. It could reach the maximum speed of 890km/h. the Me262 was so far ahead of any fighter at that the opposition flew that few victories were recorded over it and most of them were based on lucky hits.

The allied strategic bombers making mass raid over German cities , as well as thier escorts were no match for this fast and maneuverable German Plane. Only lack of production capacity, serious feul shortages and trained pilots prevented the Me262 from achieving truly impressive results in the war .More than 1400 units were manufactured until 1945, but only 300 of them saw combat and many of them were destroyed by allied bombings on the ground because they had no feul to take off.