A fast moving Me 262 Sturmvogel overshoots a breaking Gloster Meteor.
This never happened, of course, except on the wargames table.
Messerschmitt Myth No 1: The ME262 was the world's first operational jet fighter.
Actually, no: 616 RAF Squadron was operational with Meteors a few weeks before the 262 started operational service with the Luftwaffe.
Messerschmitt Myth No 2: The Me262 was designed with novel high technology swept back wings to make it a fast subsonic fighter.
Actually , no: The 262's wings are slightly swept but no more so than many other aircraft of the period and the reason was to move the CG aft. This method of controlling CG dates back to some of the very earliest pre WWI plane designs. The 262 was an aerodynamically clean well designed fighter that could get up to Mach 0.86 (circa760 mph at sea level) but it wasn't swept wing. The 1945 Meteor F4 was about 50mph slower but had better engines capable of faster break manoeuvres without flaming out.
A duel between a Meteor F3/4 or 262 would probably depend on position and pilot skill. The 262 pilot would have attempted a firing pass on a dive zoom, while the Meteor pilot would have tried to suck his opponent into a high speed scissors or similar.
The photo was taken by me using Oxford Diecast 1:72 models and Paint Shop Pro.
Aside from the actual duel, it would also be interesting to see a cost/benefit comparison of the two fighters... the Germans being known for "wasting" money on super weapons.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very interesting comment. I don't know but I suspect the Fw 190 was a more coast effective machine.
DeleteThere are still some aviation historians that insist that the 262 entered service with Erpobungskommando 262 in April 44, but as this was a trials unit that could be debated. But then again the one Meteor equipped flight of 616 might be classed the same.... I reckon it might be classed as a dead heat
ReplyDeleteI agree Roger but I get miffed by all the casual statements that the 262 was the first operational jet fighter.
DeleteYes, I think you will always find admirers and fanboys of German 'wunderwaffe' technology pushing these myths. I always smile when they froth over the sometimes 'revolutionary' but mostly impractical 'paper planes'designs.
DeleteNone of them would have worked anyway as the Germans could not build a decent jet engine. The Me-262 could indeed have easily been the first operational jet had it not been plagued with engine problems.
I intend to post more on the early jets. Most of the Luft 46 stuff should be classed alongside megapanzers with cruiser turrets. Space shuttle bombers..... Puhleese.
DeleteI intend to post more on the early jets. Most of the Luft 46 stuff should be classed alongside megapanzers with cruiser turrets. Space shuttle bombers..... Puhleese.
DeleteAs for jet to jet combat I think I would prefer the 4 x 20mm of the Meteor vs the 4 x 30mm on the 262. The 30s were great bomber killers but the 20s with a better rate of fire and with nearly double the ammo might be better in a dogfight.
ReplyDeleteThe 30mm was probably better for aces,which is all the Luftwaffe seemed to care about but I agree that the 20mil was a better weapon for the average pilot.
DeleteTrue enough you really only needed one hit with a 30mm to shred a fighter.
DeleteIndeed!
DeleteIndeed!
DeleteDear John (and Mr Gerrish)
ReplyDeleteThe MK 108 was remarkably light and had a hell of a wallop, but it was extremely slow-firing. It was actually possible to miss a B-24 ahead and the miss behind with the next round of the 'burst'.
The MK 103 in the Do-335 was a wholly different weapon (much more effective but also massive).
The post-war ADEN and DEFA 30mm cannon had nothing to do with the MK-108 in the Me-262. They were developed from the (also German) MG-151, originally 15 mm but upscaled to the MG-151/20 by the Germans during the war.
Nice models, John.
Dave
I thought the Aden was British. Mind you, I thought the GPMG was British. :)
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