Messerschmitt Me 262

Messerschmitt Me 262 - Germany

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The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was one of the greatest missed opportunities for Germany during WWII, due to the insistence of Adolph Hitler and other high ranking officials that the airplane be used as a ground-attack/bomber rather than as a fighter/interceptor. Had the airplane been adopted earlier in the war as a fighter, it could have inflicted severe casualties on the Allied bomber campaign greater than could have been sustained and might have possibly turned the tide of war towards Germany. However, if had the Me 262 defeated the Allied bombing campaign, this could have delayed the war which could have resulted in the atomic bomb being dropped on Germany rather than Japan. By the time the aircraft’s potential was realized it was too late to be effective.

© The Aviation History On-line Museum All rights reserved.
Updated April 19, 2012.

Messerschmitt Me 262 - Germany
Home Page	Me 262 Text Not Available	Aircraft Index

The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was one of the greatest missed opportunities for Germany during WWII, due to the insistence of Adolph Hitler and other high ranking officials that the airplane be used as a ground-attack/bomber rather than as a fighter/interceptor. Had the airplane been adopted earlier in the war as a fighter, it could have inflicted severe casualties on the Allied bomber campaign greater than could have been sustained and might have possibly turned the tide of war towards Germany. However, if had the Me 262 defeated the Allied bombing campaign, this could have delayed the war which could have resulted in the atomic bomb being dropped on Germany rather than Japan. By the time the aircraft’s potential was realized it was too late to be effective.
© The Aviation History On-line Museum All rights reserved. Updated April 19, 2012.