This is exactly as I see things myself, and very well explained.
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What I don't know about strategy would fill books, but it does seem to me that if 262 was ever going to have any chance of halting the allied bombing campaign it would have had to have been available in numbers before things wound up by 1944. By that I mean the 262 might have retained air superiority for the LW, but I don't think it could ever have regained it.
My thinking is that, hypothetically, had the LW been able to send up, say, 200 262s with well trained pilots in 1944 they would undoubtedly have given the USAAF quite a mauling - for a while. But the 262s themselves would have become the prime object of Allied tactics. Allied fighters - which were never particularly vulnerable to the 262 - would have been swarming over LW airfields before and after raids. Bombing, including night bombing, would have been directed towards anything to do with it. I don't think 262 production could have stood that for long. I know German industry managed to re supply the LW with conventional aircraft even in the face of allied bombing, but I think the 262 would have been particularly vulnerable in this respect. It was far more time consuming to build than even the most advanced conventional fighters. It's engines required replacement every ten hours. In an operational sense, it shot itself down every two weeks or so. In the face of concentrated Allied attention, I think the 262, for all it's potential would have withered on the vine.
Now, if the 262 had been available in number before the daylight bombing campaign got under way, that might have been different. In fact I can feel a new thread coming on. I'm off to post it now.
We had this discussion before. http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/aviation/best-bomber-killing-aircraft-398-51.htmlKris
sorry but I interviewed Späte as well as both Rudi Opitz's. the score was 12 claimed fewer confirmed by anyone for the ratsy Jg 400. the unit was worthless, don't even go any farther as this thread is on the 262 let's clear the air now start another one if you prefer on the Komet.
Jumo 004A engine used less chromium then DB605A engine.
Germany had plenty of nickel and molybdenum during 1943. That didn't change until Finland and Donetz Basin switched sides.
Not sure about tungsten. Do you have data on tungsten requirements for Jumo 004A and DB605A engines?
there was a lot of interest in rocket powered interceptors at the end of the war
Looks like the author is leaning toward a little bit of revisionism...
Heinkel and Messerschmitt would have never collaborated, Heinkel was forever bitter towards Messerschmitt.[/QUOTE
It might be incorrect, but it's not revisionism. The basic argument that it was technological limitations, not politics, that delayed the Me-262 was made by William Green at least as early as the late 1960's. You are correct about Heinkel and Messerschmitt hating each other. I don't think the author is necessarily saying that collaborated together in creating the "conventional wisdom" but that they and Galland independently created aspects of the myth that politics and stupidity was the only reason jets were not introduced faster.
The basic argument that it was technological limitations, not politics, that delayed the Me-262
the EKdo 262 was built to approve the plane under combat situation. BTW what combat did the 616 Sqn have in july 1944, the early Meteor in summer 1944 was not much faster than a piston engined plane of that time.Ekdo 262 did fly combat missions with the Me 262. All other is semantics.
the EKdo 262 was built to approve the plane under combat situation. BTW what combat did the 616 Sqn have in july 1944, the early Meteor in summer 1944 was not much faster than a piston engined plane of that time.
cimmex
Ekdo 262 did fly combat missions with the Me 262. All other is semantics.
The Germans had the first useful operational jet fighter in the world.
yadayada
The Germans had the first useful operational jet fighter in the world.
No bickering and belitteling is going to change that.
No one is belittling the Me 262 - everything I've stated in my past posts in this thread is a fact. If you must know, I actually think it was faaaar cooler than the Meteor, but that doesn't change anything. It was what it was.