Originally Posted by Balkan-MiG

I think it was too expensive. 200 thousand dollars [Give or take a few thousand] for each aircraft seems a bit too much, dont you think?

Perhaps, but then again the USAF didn't need that many of them as it was a pure night-fighter and it did that job exceptionally well. It was a perfect bled of Electronics (one of the few reliable airborne AtA raders), maneuverability, and packed a wallop.

Only the Mosquito XVI came close and it lacked the electronics and firepower.

In the pacific it was so dangerous a single P-61 (P-61s hunted alone) could down multiple aircraft in without detection.

To All:

A couple of you mentioned the Me-262. I would counter this first the Me-262 wasn't a fighter it was an interceptor. The 262 was never designed to fight enemy fighters but to bring down the Heavy Bombers. The Me-262 had many faults, it maneuvered like a train, it was very fragile, and it was a very dangerous aircraft to fly and operate. Refueling the 262 was like defusing a bomb as its fuel was actually 2 separate fuels that had to be fueled separately and would explode on contact with oxygen. And remember by the time it was combat ready Germany was lacking permanent airstrips with the equipment necessary to handle such a difficult aircraft. Needless to say, accidents were common.

The Mosquito carried 4x20 mm cannons plus 4x303 Browning machine guns, I would have thought that this was a fairly good punch for any aeroplane

Originally Posted by mmarsh

To All:

A couple of you mentioned the Me-262. I would counter this first the Me-262 wasn't a fighter it was an interceptor. The 262 was never designed to fight enemy fighters but to bring down the Heavy Bombers. The Me-262 had many faults, it maneuvered like a train, it was very fragile, and it was a very dangerous aircraft to fly and operate. Refueling the 262 was like defusing a bomb as its fuel was actually 2 separate fuels that had to be fueled separately and would explode on contact with oxygen. And remember by the time it was combat ready Germany was lacking permanent airstrips with the equipment necessary to handle such a difficult aircraft. Needless to say, accidents were common.

I would counter your counter with the statement that the Me-262 is recognised worldwide as being the first jet fighter to enter operational service.

I would also question your comments on refueling it as it sounds like you are talking about Me-163 rocket interceptor rather than the Me-262.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

To All:

A couple of you mentioned the Me-262. I would counter this first the Me-262 wasn't a fighter it was an interceptor. The 262 was never designed to fight enemy fighters but to bring down the Heavy Bombers. The Me-262 had many faults, it maneuvered like a train, it was very fragile, and it was a very dangerous aircraft to fly and operate. Refueling the 262 was like defusing a bomb as its fuel was actually 2 separate fuels that had to be fueled separately and would explode on contact with oxygen. And remember by the time it was combat ready Germany was lacking permanent airstrips with the equipment necessary to handle such a difficult aircraft. Needless to say, accidents were common.

FYI, i also mentioned Interceptors in brackets.

Originally Posted by MontyB

I would counter your counter with the statement that the Me-262 is recognised worldwide as being the first jet fighter to enter operational service.

I would also question your comments on refueling it as it sounds like you are talking about Me-163 rocket interceptor rather than the Me-262.

Correct.

One problem with the 262 was the engines. They had a service life of between 10 and 25 hours depending on the pilot, on start up, sometimes had a nasty habit of catching fire.

would also question your comments on refueling it as it sounds like you are talking about Me-163 rocket interceptor rather than the Me-262.

Interestingly there was a rocket variant of the 262, there were only a few made though, but it used two fuels, sounds very much like the Me-163 engine

10 and 25 hours? Wow, thats a strange fact

How much did each cost? if you dont know, would they have cost alot? They probably did..

A aeroplane the RAF loved during the Battle of Britain was the JU87 Stuka dive bomber, as far as I am aware every or most that came over during the Battle of Britain were shot down. The Italian Air Force didnt fare much better either.

Originally Posted by Balkan-MiG

10 and 25 hours? Wow, thats a strange fact

How much did each cost? if you dont know, would they have cost alot? They probably did..

The German engine was way ahead of its time, a design that in reality required metals that were not available at the time. The Rolls Royce engines fitted to the Meteor had an operational life of 100 hours before overhaul. I saw Meteors in operational service during my time in the Far East from 1967 to 1970.

If Frank Whittle had been given the support he needed, the Battle of Britain could have be fought with Meteors. In the end, his company "Power Jets Ltd" was not allowed to build jet engines. The contract for building the engines went to the Rover car company who made a huge stuff up, then finally to Rolls Royce. Frank Whittle was quite rightly bitter about the treatment he and his comapny received from the British Government. The sad fact is, he was treated better and given more recognition for his work by the US then his own country.

Another interesting fact, one version of the Mosquito the FB Mk XVIII Tse Tse was fitted with a 6 pounder quick firing gun for attacking submarines and tanks. Without a doubt the Mosquito was an extremely versatile aircraft.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

Perhaps, but then again the USAF didn't need that many of them as it was a pure night-fighter and it did that job exceptionally well. It was a perfect bled of Electronics (one of the few reliable airborne AtA raders), maneuverability, and packed a wallop.

Only the Mosquito XVI came close and it lacked the electronics and firepower.

The P-61 entered service in June 1944, it had a top speed of 366 mph, it carried 4x 20mm cannon and 4x .50mm HMG's (though the HMG's were removed on most aircraft as the turret proved troublesome) and it was equipped with the SCR-720 air to air radar.

The Mosquito NF Mk 30 which also entered service in June 1944, had a top speed of 424 mph, it carried 4x 20mm cannon, and it was fitted with the same type of radar as the P-61, the SCR-720.

The most successful Allied night-fighter of WW2, the Mosquito is credited with over 600 kills in the European theater.

Now the Gloucester Meteor hardly ever gets a mention which was Britain's first operational jet fighter. In 1945 it held the world speed record for an aircraft travelling both ways over a measured course with a speed of 612 mph. This aircraft was operational in 1944 and in 1945 it was deployed in Europe to protect American bombers from the Me262