Review of Messerschmitt Me 262A “Schwalbe”
Mushroom Model Publications (MMP)
Author: Robert Peczkowskit
ISBN: 978-83-63678-17-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $45.00
ISBN: 978-83-63678-17-3
By Ray Mehlberger
MSRP: $45.00
HISTORY:
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (English: "Swallow") of Nazi Germany was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft.[5] Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems and top-level interference kept the aircraft from operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. Heavily armed, it was faster than any other Allied fighters, including the British jet-powered Gloster Meteor.[6] One of the most advanced aviation designs in operational use during World War II,[7] the Me 262 was used in a variety of roles, including light bomber, reconnaissance, and even experimental night fighter versions.
Me 262 pilots claimed a total of 542 Allied kills,[8] although higher claims are sometimes made.[Notes 1] The Allies countered its potential effectiveness in the air by attacking the aircraft on the ground and during takeoff and landing. Engine reliability problems, from the pioneering nature of its Junkers Jumo 004 axial-flowturbojet engines—the first ones ever placed in mass production—and attacks by Allied forces on fuel supplies during the deteriorating late-war situation also reduced the effectiveness of the aircraft as a fighting force. In the end, the Me 262 had a negligible impact on the course of the war as a result of its late introduction and the consequently small numbers put in operational service.[10]
While German use of the aircraft ended with the close of the Second World War, a small number were operated by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1951. Captured Me 262 were studied and flight tested by the major powers, and ultimately influenced the designs of a number of post-war aircraft such as the North American F-86 Sabre and Boeing B-47 Stratojet. A number of aircraft have survived on static display in museums, and there have also been several privately built flying reproductions.
Me 262 Schwalbe
Messerschmitt Me 262A
Role
Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
Messerschmitt
First flight
18 April 1941 with piston engine
18 July 1942 with jet engines[1]
Introduction
April 1944[2][3]
Retired
1945, Germany
1951, Czechoslovakia[4]
Primary users
Luftwaffe
Czechoslovak Air Force (S-92)
Number built
1,430
Mushroom Model Publications is based in the U.K. All their books are printed in English at Stratus Publications in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus also does books in the Polish language too.
This book is hard-bound of 112 pages in 8 ½” x 12” format.
The cover shows a small black and white photo of a 262 on a runway. This photo is superimposed against a light orange photo of a 262 on a runway with a second 262 doing a fly-over.
CHAPTERS:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Technical description
Technical data
Me 262A Prototypes
Me 262A Test beds
Production blocks
Me 262 Aces
Versions:
Me 262A-1a
Me 262A-1a/U1
Me 262A-1a/U4
Me 262A-1a/U5
Me 262A-1a/U2
Me 262A-1b
Me 262A-1a/Jabo
Me 262A-2a “Sturmvogel”
Me 262A-2a/U1
Me 262A-2a/U2
Me 262A-1/U3
Avia S-92
Additional Armament
Color Profiles
Detail Photos
General Views:
Fuselage
Canopy
Cockpit
Tail
Wings
Engines
Undercarraige
Armament
Bibliography
There are 30 black and white photos in the book and 16 tech data lists.
For line drawings there is:
8 for the Me 262A-1a
2 for the Me 262A-1a/U1
1 for the Me 262A-1a/U4
2 for the Me 262A-1a/U5
1 for the Me 262A-1b
2 for the Me 262A-1/Jabo
2 for the Me 262A-2a “Sturmvogel”
1 for the Me 262A-2a/U2
2 for the Me 262A-2a/U3
1 for the Me 262A-5a
There are also black and white photos of the RU-249 air-launched missiles and R4M rockets.
These line drawings are all to 1/72nd scale.
There are 61 color illustrations in some pretty neat various paint schemes, along with 105 color photos of remaining examples of 262 in various museums done as walk around types.
The book also includes 42 tech manual illustrations.
A one page bibliography is at the back of the book.
The cover of the Scale Plans set for the Me 262 that MMP markets is shown on the back of the book co ver. This is reviewed elsewhere here on INDY AMPS.
I want to thank Dr. Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and the folks at Casemate who sent it to me sincerely for this sample.
Information about all MMP books can be found on their web site at:
http:/www.mmpbooks.biz
The U.S. distributor is Casemate Publications.
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe (English: "Swallow") of Nazi Germany was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft.[5] Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems and top-level interference kept the aircraft from operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. Heavily armed, it was faster than any other Allied fighters, including the British jet-powered Gloster Meteor.[6] One of the most advanced aviation designs in operational use during World War II,[7] the Me 262 was used in a variety of roles, including light bomber, reconnaissance, and even experimental night fighter versions.
Me 262 pilots claimed a total of 542 Allied kills,[8] although higher claims are sometimes made.[Notes 1] The Allies countered its potential effectiveness in the air by attacking the aircraft on the ground and during takeoff and landing. Engine reliability problems, from the pioneering nature of its Junkers Jumo 004 axial-flowturbojet engines—the first ones ever placed in mass production—and attacks by Allied forces on fuel supplies during the deteriorating late-war situation also reduced the effectiveness of the aircraft as a fighting force. In the end, the Me 262 had a negligible impact on the course of the war as a result of its late introduction and the consequently small numbers put in operational service.[10]
While German use of the aircraft ended with the close of the Second World War, a small number were operated by the Czechoslovak Air Force until 1951. Captured Me 262 were studied and flight tested by the major powers, and ultimately influenced the designs of a number of post-war aircraft such as the North American F-86 Sabre and Boeing B-47 Stratojet. A number of aircraft have survived on static display in museums, and there have also been several privately built flying reproductions.
Me 262 Schwalbe
Messerschmitt Me 262A
Role
Fighter aircraft
Manufacturer
Messerschmitt
First flight
18 April 1941 with piston engine
18 July 1942 with jet engines[1]
Introduction
April 1944[2][3]
Retired
1945, Germany
1951, Czechoslovakia[4]
Primary users
Luftwaffe
Czechoslovak Air Force (S-92)
Number built
1,430
Mushroom Model Publications is based in the U.K. All their books are printed in English at Stratus Publications in Sandomierz, Poland. Stratus also does books in the Polish language too.
This book is hard-bound of 112 pages in 8 ½” x 12” format.
The cover shows a small black and white photo of a 262 on a runway. This photo is superimposed against a light orange photo of a 262 on a runway with a second 262 doing a fly-over.
CHAPTERS:
Acknowledgements
Introduction
Technical description
Technical data
Me 262A Prototypes
Me 262A Test beds
Production blocks
Me 262 Aces
Versions:
Me 262A-1a
Me 262A-1a/U1
Me 262A-1a/U4
Me 262A-1a/U5
Me 262A-1a/U2
Me 262A-1b
Me 262A-1a/Jabo
Me 262A-2a “Sturmvogel”
Me 262A-2a/U1
Me 262A-2a/U2
Me 262A-1/U3
Avia S-92
Additional Armament
Color Profiles
Detail Photos
General Views:
Fuselage
Canopy
Cockpit
Tail
Wings
Engines
Undercarraige
Armament
Bibliography
There are 30 black and white photos in the book and 16 tech data lists.
For line drawings there is:
8 for the Me 262A-1a
2 for the Me 262A-1a/U1
1 for the Me 262A-1a/U4
2 for the Me 262A-1a/U5
1 for the Me 262A-1b
2 for the Me 262A-1/Jabo
2 for the Me 262A-2a “Sturmvogel”
1 for the Me 262A-2a/U2
2 for the Me 262A-2a/U3
1 for the Me 262A-5a
There are also black and white photos of the RU-249 air-launched missiles and R4M rockets.
These line drawings are all to 1/72nd scale.
There are 61 color illustrations in some pretty neat various paint schemes, along with 105 color photos of remaining examples of 262 in various museums done as walk around types.
The book also includes 42 tech manual illustrations.
A one page bibliography is at the back of the book.
The cover of the Scale Plans set for the Me 262 that MMP markets is shown on the back of the book co ver. This is reviewed elsewhere here on INDY AMPS.
I want to thank Dr. Roger Wallsgrove, Editor-in-Chief of MMP and the folks at Casemate who sent it to me sincerely for this sample.
Information about all MMP books can be found on their web site at:
http:/www.mmpbooks.biz
The U.S. distributor is Casemate Publications.