The Me 262 was the first of its kind, the first jet-powered aircraft. Although conceived before the war, with the initial plans being drawn in April 1939, the Stormbird was beset with technological (particularly the revolutionary engines) and political difficulties, resulting in it not entering combat until August 1944, with claims of nineteen downed Allied aircraft. The performance of the Me 262 so far exceeded that of Allied aircraft that on 1 Sepember 1944, USAAF General Carl Spaatz remarked that if greater numbers of German jets appeared, they could inflict losses heavy enough to force cancellation of the Allied daylight bombing offensive. The story of how the Stormbird came to be is fascinating history, and it comes to life in the hands of noted historian Colin Heaton. Told largely in the words of the German aces who flew it, The Me 262 Stormbird provides the complete history of this remarkable airplane from the drawing boards to combat in the skies over the Third Reich. Features two forewords, one by Jorg Czypionka, Me 262 night fighter pilot, and another by historian and author Barrett Tillman.
Me 262: Stormbird Rising
Emmy Award winning historian Bob Carruthers compiled this comprehensive overview of the Me.262.
- Written by Hermann Buchner, who was one of the few bomber pilots to become a fighter ace.
Illustrated with many photographs, mostly from the author's personal collection together with colour profiles of his aircraft and opponents, Stormbird presents a remarkable insight into the life of a Luftwaffe pilot in WWII.
Continuing in the popular series, EagleFiles, Stormbird Colors is EF#5.
With numerous first-hand accounts from pilots and detailed colour profiles, this book is a fascinating account of the dramatic birth of the jet fighter and the impact it had during the bitter struggles of 1944-45.
Me.262 V3 Variant The Me.262V-2 prototype, also powered by Jumo-004As, was not delivered until 2 October 1942. Despite all the delays and problems, the RLM had already ordered 15 preproduction Me.262s in May 1942, and added 30 more to ...
World War II Through the Eyes of Four of the Luftwaffe's Most Important Commanders Colin D. Heaton, Anne-Marie Lewis, ... Sandoz, Hans Sander, Hans-Walter Salomon, Heinz Saalfeld, Enzio Russ, Karl Ruopp, Albert Rullkötter, W. Rudolph, ?
Why did the Me 262 prove not to be the unparalleled success that Goering claimed it would be and what role did Hitler play in this ultimate failure? These are some of the questions this book answers.
Sharks of the Air tells the story of Willy Messerschmitt’s life and shows how this aeronautical genius built many revolutionary airplanes—not excluding the Luftwaffe’s mainstay, the Me 109—and culminating in the Me 262.