In 1936, German physicist and engineer Hans von Ohain (1911-1998) designed the first turbojet engine which could power an aircraft. Seeing the potential of the turbojet in military aircraft, the German Ministry of Aviation requested a jet aircraft capable of a speed of 530 mph and an endurance of one hour. The Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum in Everett, Washington has three of these aircraft.
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a/US Schwalbe (“Swallow”)
The Me 262 was the world’s first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. The design of what would become the Me 262 began in 1939. It first flew in 1942 and became operational in mid-1944. It was faster and better armed than any Allied aircraft. In 1944, an Me 262 shot down a British Mosquito flying over Munich, making it the first jet airplane to be used in combat. According to the Museum:
“Most Me 262s were fighters and they shot down more than 500 aircraft. Others were fighter bombers or reconnaissance variants.”
The Me 262 has a top speed of 560 mph, a range of 650 miles, and a ceiling of 37,570 feet. While more than 1,400 Me 262s were produced, few than 300 actually saw combat. Hundreds were destroyed on the ground by U.S. Army Air Force bombers and many did not fly because of lack of fuel and of trained pilots.
This aircraft has a maximum speed of 540 mph, a cruising speed of 460 mph, a range of 650 miles, and a ceiling of 38,000 feet.
The Me 262 on display in the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum was built as a reconnaissance aircraft and had two large cameras in its nose.
Messerschmitt Me 163 B Komet
In addition to turbojet aircraft, the Germans also experimented with rocket-powered aircraft. The Messerschmitt Me 163 B Komet was one of the most unusual aircrafts of World War II.
The design for the Me 163 was done by German aeronautical engineer Dr. Alexander Lippisch (1894-1976) who was a pioneer in designing tailless aircraft and delta wing aircraft.
In 1941, the prototype of the Me 163 set a new air speed record of 624 mph. Production of Me 163 Bs was delayed until July 1944. The plane could fly circles around any other fighter plane at this time. According to the Museum:
“The Komet could zoom through a formation of high-flying bombers, firing its heavy cannons at each pass. Unfortunately, the Me 163 was as dangerous to its own pilot as it was to Allied bomber formations.”
The Komet was perilous to fly: it’s rocket engine had a burn time of only eight minutes, after which the pilot would have to glide the aircraft back to a landing field. This aircraft has a maximum speed of 596 mph, a combat range of about 50 miles, and a ceiling of 39,500 feet.
Only a small number were produced which minimized their impact. In combat, the Komet scored 9 kills while losing 14 of their own aircraft.
The Me 163 B on display in the Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum first flew in late 1944 and was captured by the British a few months later. It is unknown whether it ever flew in combat.
Fieseler F1 103R Reichenberg
The V-1 was the first guided missile used in World War II. The missiles were launched from catapult ramps or dropped from airplanes. While about 35,000 V-1s were built, only about 10,000 were launched at England, and, of these, 2,419 hit London. Late in the war, several piloted V-1s were built (Fieseler F1 103R Reichenberg). According to the Museum:
“The plan was that a pilot would guide the missile into position close to its target and bail out at the last moment.”
The piloted V-1 was initially tested several times and every time the pilot was killed on landing. A female test pilot, Hanna Reitsch, discovered a way to land the plane, reducing pilot fatalities. The Reichenbergs were launched from planes. The war ended before the Reichenbergs were actually used.
Note: These photos were taken on July 11, 2024.
More airplanes
Evergreen Aviation: World War II fighters (photo diary)
Flying Heritage and Combat Armor Museum: An iconic British Spitfire (photo diary)
Air Force Museum: World War II German Planes (photo diary)
Museum of Flight: Some World War II fighters (photo diary)
Erickson Aircraft: Curtiss P-40E Kittyhawk (photo diary)
Planes of Fame: German Aircraft (Photo Diary)
Yanks Air Museum: World War II Fighters (Photo Diary)
Erickson Aircraft: Republic P-47D Thunderbolt (photo diary)