German Air Force

The Swallow.

Messerschmitt Me 262 - probably a pre-production model - in flight. The first jet fighter to enter combat operations, it posed a serious threat to Allied air raiders despite a number of operational "bugs". However, its impact was limited by a number of extraneous factors. Of the 1,400-odd examples constructed (in a number of variants), only about 300 saw combat, principally due to the shortage of suitable/trained pilots and the severe shortage of fuel available to feed their thirsty engines. It follows that many surviving aircraft were captured by the Allies at the end of the war. It entered service with a number of European air forces, and was finally withdrawn (by the Czechoslovak air force) as late as 1967. Best regards, JR.