- quality wooden model WWI and WWII airplanes -
- quality wooden model WWI and WWII airplanes -
Messerschmitt Me-262A Schwalbe, Luftwaffe
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Scale 1:30 Length 14" Wingspan 16"
Photography by Action Asia Photo |
Developed from a 1938 design by the Messerschmitt company, the Me 262 Schwalbe or "Swallow" was the world's first operational turbojet aircraft. First flown as a pure jet on July 18, 1942 it proved much faster than conventional airplanes. Development problems, Allied bombings and cautious Luftwaffe leadership contributed to delays in quantity production. In late 1943 Adolf Hitler agreed to mass production but insisted the aircraft be used primarily as a fighter-bomber. On July 25, 1944 an Me-262 became the first jet airplane used in combat when it attacked a British photo reconnaissance Mosquito flying over Munich. As a fighter the German jet scored heavily against allied bomber formations. The bombers, however, destroyed hundreds of Me-262s on the ground. More than 1,400 Me-262s were produced, but fewer than 300 saw combat. Most remained on the ground awaiting conversion to bombers or were unable to fly because of lack of fuel, spare parts or trained pilots. Crew:
Pilot only
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