Messerschmitt Me 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the world’s first operational jet‑fighter, built by the German company Messerschmitt during World II. Development began in 1938 as the P.65 project and the prototype, the Me 262 V1, first flew on 18 July 1941. Production models entered service in 1944, but Allied bombing of factories and the Luftwaffe’s late adoption limited numbers to roughly 1,400 aircraft. The Me 262’s twin‑jet engines, the Junkers Jumo 004‑B, gave it a top speed of about 870 km/h (540 mph), far faster than contemporary propeller fighters such as the Spitfire or P‑51 Mustang. Its armament typically consisted of four 30 mm MK 108 cannons, allowing it to destroy Allied bombers with few hits. The aircraft also served in reconnaissance and fighter‑bomber roles, employing under‑wing rockets or a single 500 kg bomb. Although plagued by reliability problems and a short operational life, the Me 262 demonstrated the tactical advantage of jet propulsion and forced post‑war designers in the United States, United Kingdom and Soviet Union to accelerate their own jet programs. Its legacy endures as a symbol of technological daring that shaped modern military aviation throughout the 20th century.

Messerschmitt

Messerschmitt Me 262

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