Me-262

[plan_D]

Buzz Bombs were 1944 when Germany was getting desperate. In Germanys situation in 1944 Heavies would not have got them anywhere. The bomber streams had to be stopped, and nothing better than the Me-262.

In 1940 Heavies would have won the day. Fighters are both offensive and defensive, Fighter sweeps could be made of allied positions. Plus any ground attack aircraft such as the Me-262A-2a could be used to smash enemy armoured columns before any counter attack.

[dead parrot]

The Me262 in numbers over Normandy would have definitely changed the outcome of that corner of WW2, I think. The only reason the allied armies on the ground in France could hold on in the beginning was air supremacy, including the ability to not only protect protect their own armor but attack the German. The Germans couldn't even move in daylight because of this, so despite their superior armor they eventually were driven back.

Lots of Me262s would have (a) slowed the Typhoon and P-51 attacks and, as plan_D points out, (b) play havoc with the allied ground forces. Not to mention they might have cut off the naval supply lines over the channel.

I don't think it would have won the war, but had it been built in numbers in '43, it would stopped the immediate threat of a Western Front invasion in 1944, I reckon.

[Erich]

DP I think if the Luftwaffe techs and the government has the foresight probably 1942 when the 262 was undertesting, the unit could have been in production and most probably the Allies would have had to step up their own fast paced a/c lines to compete with a new look, fast and sleek. Counters would of course evolved but how long would it have taken. Remember the 262's engines were faulty and limted amount of fuels could be carried by the a/c except the two-seat night fighter that carried the two forward drop tanks, but that did slow the jet down substantially..... so this would of had to be remedied. would the dreaded Third Reich have been able to have the borrowed time to work unceasingly on their jet's to fixed the harassing problems ? hard to say

[plan_D]

The engines in Britain were starting to get well advanced so, although they only had the Meteor in the war there was possibility for better things. The Rolls-Royce Nene engine was developed in 1942, and it was 5000 lbs thrust. The most powerful engine in the world at the time. And it was cheap, economical and reliable.

[hundy]

I think it could have made the war last longer, and cost the allies dearly, however, I don't think the Germans would have won. I think it would have used more of the reasources, that they were running out of.

[cheddar cheese]

Nice view welcome to the site, hope you stick around

[lesofprimus]

By the time the -262 became operational, the war was already lost... Adolph Galland even stated this....

[cheddar cheese]

But the original question was. "Could it have won the war if it was in the war earlier?"

[lesofprimus]

Galland seemed to think so....

[cheddar cheese]

I dont one plane cant have such a dramatic effect on any war

[lesofprimus]

Hmmmm.... There was an article I read from a P-51 pilot who witnessed a -262 attack on a bomber formation during their bomb drop.... The -262's attack caused 6 bombers to basically disintegrate in 1 pass....

If the -262 was put into service earlier, along with the Ta-152, and they used them the way Galland wanted to, as fighters, then MAYBE it could have altered the war somewhat....

[the lancaster kicks ass]

i dunno because we still had the land offensive and weight of numbers.............

[cheddar cheese]

I agree with Les, but didnt we have the E.E Lightning in developmet toward the end of the war?

[lesofprimus]

Lanc, ur right somewhat, but if Galland and his "Jets" were able to make an earlier impact, German industry wouldnt have been so cut back... More fighter aircraft to stop Allied bombers, more panzers manufactured, more -262's, more U-boats, more -152's ect ect....

[the lancaster kicks ass]

CC, the EE lightening development started in 1946, but if the war had carried on, it would have been bought into service quicker than it did, shame about it's range though...................