Country of origin:

Germany

Description:

Single-seat fighter and fighter bomber

Power Plant:

Two 1,984 lbst Junkers Jumo 004B-3 axial flow turbojets

Specifications:

Armament:

Four 30 mm Rheinmetall Borsig Mk 108 cannons with 100 rounds per gun for upper pair and 80 rounds per gun for lower pair

History:

Known as the Schwalbe (Swallow) or Sturmvogel (storm petrel), the Me 262 was unquestionably the foremost fighter of its day, with a heavy armament, and a performance far superior to any aircraft available to the Allies during the latter stages of World War II. Unfortunately for the Luftwaffe, the Me 262 was not available in sufficient numbers to dramatically affect the course of events in the war fought in the air over Europe. In fact, of the 1,433 examples that were built, only about 215 aircraft saw operational service, and many of these were operated on close-support duties, a role for which the aircraft was not initially designed and for which it was not particularly suited.

In December 1939 the Reichsluftfahrtministerium (RLM) placed an order with Messerschmitt AG for three prototypes of an aircraft to be powered by the revolutionary new turbojets then being developed by Junkers and BMW. To determine the flight characteristics of the new aircraft, the prototype Me 262V1 was fitted with a 522 kw (700 hp) Junkers Jumo 210G piston engine, with which it was flown on 4 April 1941 for the first time. Late in 1941, after re-engining with two 1,000 lbst BMW 003 engines, a flight was attempted, but both engines failed. The first flight was in fact made with the turbojet powered third prototype, the Me 262V3. Fitted with two 1,850 lbst Junkers Jumo 004 turbojets, this aircraft was flown on 18 July 1942, but was destroyed on 11 August 1942 while under test at Rechlin, Germany.

The first four prototypes were fitted with a tailwheel-type undercarriage, which caused a severely restricted view from the cockpit during take-off and, with the centre of gravity aft, it was necessary to apply the brakes at 161 km/h (100 mph) in order to get the tail off the ground during take-off. The fifth prototype, the Me 262V5, was fitted with a tricycle undercarriage. The subsequent prototypes, up to V10, had the retractable tricycle undercarriage, and were all used in the trials programme.

Pre-production aircraft were designated Me 262A-0, and the initial production model was the Me 262A-1a, intended for the interceptor role. Because of the contingencies of war, development of the type was very swift, as was the development of the engines, and new appellations were given to the new variants as they appeared. One of the last models completed was the Me 262C-2b with BMW 003R mixed power engines, comprising the standard 1,760 lbst BMW 003A turbojet and a 2,700 lbst BMW 718 bi fuel rocket.

At least seven Me 262s were shipped to the United States on board the “HMS Reaper” for testing, of which three survive, and at least seven were transferred to the United Kingdom towards the end of the war, two of the latter being Me 262B-1a/U1 night fighters. The others were: Werk Nr 112372 Yellow 17 which was allotted Air Ministry number 51 and serial VK 893; Werk Nr 500210 Air Ministry 52 serial VH509 which went later to Canada; Werk Nr 500200 Black X Air Ministry 81 which had been operated by 2/KG51; Werk Nr 500443, an Me 262A-1a, which later went to South Africa and survives in a museum; and Werk Nr 130186, an Me 262C-1a, which was scrapped shortly after arriving in the United Kingdom.

One Me 262A-1a fighter-bomber (Werk Nr 500200) was allotted to Australia at the end of World War II as a war prize, arriving by ship on 22 December 1946. This aircraft (known as ‘black X’) began its career with KG51, the Edelweiss unit. Because of approaching Soviet forces it, with four other Me 262s, was flown towards approaching American forces and, flown by Ofw Hans Froelich, landed at Fassberg, northern Germany on 8 May 1945. It was captured by British forces and on 28 August was flown to Marson in northern France. Nine days later it was flown to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, UK. Inspection revealed it was a hastily constructed late production machine “with a sub-standard finish”. It had been assembled at Regensburg in March 1945, final assembly being undertaken at one of Germany’s hidden forest aircraft facilities. In the United Kingdom Royal Air Force insignia was applied, and records indicate between October and November 1945 it was test flown at least 13 times. At about this time it took part in a flyover of London by captured enemy aircraft.

On arrival in Australia it was immediately stored at RAAF Laverton, VIC. During the 1950s it was assembled and the British markings were painted over with incorrect German camouflage and markings. It was then transported to Canberra, ACT. In 1965 it was moved to RAAF Point Cook, VIC on long-term loan and its condition commenced to deteriorate, especially with the theft of parts and mishandling. In 1981 the Government Aircraft Factory at Fishermen’s Bend, VIC was tasked to restore the aircraft and the entire airframe was examined with ultra-violet inspection techniques in order to determine the effects of corrosion.

The spurious markings and camouflage were removed, revealing the original German markings and the British Air Ministry number 81. During this process a spent 12.7 mm (0.50 in) bullet and fragments of metal were extracted from the underside of the right wing. At this stage the AWM decided not to proceed further with the restoration as it was considered it was the only Luftwaffe Me 262 left in the world in its original condition, particularly as it had machine gun damage. It was returned to Canberra and placed in the AWMs Treloar Centre annex in the suburb of Mitchell. Here it remained dismantled until 2003 when it was taken to the AWM’s Anzac Hall, assembled and placed on display.

After the war the type was built in Czechoslovakia by Avia, the first, known as the S-92-1, flying on 27 August 1946, seeing some service until retired. A couple which became instructional airframes survive. Approximately nine Me 262s survive in museums around the world.

In the United States in Texas, using a captured Me 262 owned by a museum for reference, the Texas Airplane Factory in recent years commenced manufacture of six replicas of the Me 262 fitted with modern avionics and systems, and modern jet engines. These have been sold to warbird enthusiasts in the US and Germany. Production of these aircraft was later moved to Seattle where the first of this series flew in 2004 but was damaged in a landing accident and had to be repaired. They are occasionally seen at airshows in the United States and Europe.