Main Menu
Germany's Messerschmitt Me 262 Fighter "Schwalbe" (Swallow)1,3
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter: |
Design
In 1938 design work first began and the first tail wheeled prototype flew on April 4, 19411 / April 18, 19413.1,3 It had a nose mounted Junkers Jumo 210 piston engine.1
On November 25, 1941, the first jet aircraft with BMW 003 turbojets that produced 1,000 lbs of thrust.1 The piston engine was still installed and was needed on the 1st flight as the jets failed just before liftoff.1
In addition to Hitler's insistence on making the Me 262 into a fighter-bomber there were problems with the engines.1
Canopy
The canopy of the Messerschmitt Me 262 was well received as it allowed for excellent visibilty.2
Engines
Every 10 hours the turbojets needed extensive maintenance and were worn out by 25 hours of flight time.2
Fuselage
The Messerschmitt Me 262's fuselage was an all metal monocoque construction.2
Wings
The wings were all metal construction and had a slight sweep back on the leading edge.2
Tail
The Me 262's tail was all metal construction.2
Bomber
The bomber models had a glazed nose in which a bomb aimer laid down in.2
Prototype
After the 3rd prototype the BMW engines were replaced by a Junkers Jumo 004 (1,850 lbs of thrust) and resulted in the M3 262's all jet powered flight on July 18, 1942.1,2
Production
There were 13 preproduction Me 262A-0s constructed by October 1943.1
The first Me 262A-1a, production model, entered service in June 1944.1
There were 1,433 of all models produced.1,2 These delivered from March 1944 to April 1945.2 Of these about 500 were lost to bombing.1 Out of the rest there were about 200 that became operational.1
Variants
- Me 262V3: First all jet prototype.3 Had Junkers 109-004A-0 turbojets (1,852 lb thrust).3
- Me 262A: first production version.1
- Me 262A-1: Had four 30 mm guns in nose.3
- Me 262A-1a/U1: Night fighter.1 Added two 20 mm guns.3
- Me 262A-1a/U2: Reconnaissance version.1 All weather fighter.3
- Me 262A-1a/U3: Unarmed reconnaissance.3
- Me 262A-1a/U4: Had Mauser 50 mm MK 214 cannon mounted but was never used in combat.2 Only two aircraft had it fitted.2
- Me 262A-1b: 24 air to air rockets under the wings.1
- Me 262A-2a: "Sturmvogel" (Stormbird) was a fighter bomber.1 Could carry up to 2,205 lb / 1,000 kg.3 Had four additional 30 mm guns.3
- Me 262A-2a/U1: Dive bomber.1
- Me 262A-2a/U2: Bomber with added bombardier that was put in a prone position.3
- Me 262B: 2 seats for training.1
- Me 262B-1a: Night fighter.1 First flew in April 1944.1 Fewer than a dozen were constructed.2
- Me 262B-1a/U1: Trainers converted into night fighters with radar.1,2 Had air to air rockets.3
- Me 262B-2a: Night fighter with radar and increased fuel.1
- Me 262C: Experimental with a bi-fuel BMW 718 rocket motor in the tail.1
Usage
Used by Germany.1
The Me 262s were responsible for about the destruction of 100 allied aircraft.1
Pilots enjoyed its high speed, but at low speeds it was awkward to fly.2
Kommando Nowotny
Major Walter Nowotny formed the Kommando Nowotny in October 1944 with Me 262s.2,3
| Me 262A1 | Me 262A-11 | Me 262A-1a3 | Me 262A-21 | Me 262B2 | Me 262C1 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Fighter-bomber1 | Fighter3 | Fighter2 | Trainer and Night Fighter1 | ||
| Crew | 11 | 13 | 12 | 21 | ||
| Engine (Type) | 2: Junkers Jumo 004B-1 OR -2 OR -31 | 2: Junkers Jumo 109-004B-4 turbojets3 | 2: Junkers Jumo 004B-1, -2, or -3 axial flow2 | |||
| Cooling | ||||||
| Thrust | 1,980 lb each1 | 1,984 lb each3 | 1,980 lb each2 | |||
| Dimensions | ||||||
| Span | 40' 11.5"1 12.48 m1 |
41' 1/8"3 12.5 m3 |
40' 11"2 12.5 m2 |
40' 11.5"1 12.48 m1 |
||
| Length | 34' 9.5"1 10.6 m1 |
34' 9.5"3 10.61 m3 |
34' 9"2 10.58 m2 |
38' 7"1 | 34' 9.5"1 10.6 m1 |
|
| Height | 12' 7"1 3.83 m1 |
12' 6.75"3 3.83 m3 |
12' 7"2 3.83 m2 |
12' 7" 3.83 m1 |
||
| Wing area | 233.3 ft2 3 21.68 m2 3 |
234 ft2 2 21.73 m2 2 |
||||
| Weight | ||||||
| Empty | 9,742 lb1 4,419 kg1 |
8,818 lb3 4,000 kg3 |
8,738 lb2 3,800 kg2 |
|||
| Loaded | 14,101 lb1 6,396 kg1 |
14,936 lb3 6,775 kg3 |
14,110 lb2 6,400 kg2 |
|||
| Performance | ||||||
| Speed | 540 mph2 870 kph2 |
|||||
| Speed @ sea level | 500 mph1 805 kph1 |
|||||
| Speed @ 19,685' / 6,000 m | 540 mph1 869 kph1 |
|||||
| Speed @ 22,965' / 7,000 m |
541 mph3 870 kph3 |
|||||
| Climb | 3,937'/minute1 1,200 m/minute1 |
3,937'/minute3 1,200 m/minute3 |
||||
| Service ceiling | 37,565'1 11,450 m1 |
36,090'3 11,000 m3 |
37,500'2 11,450 m2 |
|||
| Range | 525 miles3 845 km3 |
|||||
| Range on internal fuel | 526 - 652 miles1 846 - 1,049 km1 |
|||||
| Range @ 30,000' / 9,000 m |
650 miles2 1,050 km2 |
|||||
| Armament | ||||||
| Nose | 4: 30 mm1 A-1a/U1: 4: 30 mm and 2: 20 mm1 |
A-2a: 4: 30 mm1 | ||||
| Wings | A-1b: Rockets1 | |||||
| Rounds | A-1b: 241 | |||||
| Bombs | A-2a: 1,102 lb1 A-2a: 500 kg1 |
Sources:
- Aircraft of WWII, Stewart Wilson, 1998
- Aircraft of WWII, General Editor: Jim Winchester, 2004
- Fighting Aircraft of World War II, Editor: Karen Leverington, 1995
