Nicknamed Schwalbe (Swallow), the Messerschmitt Me 262 surpassed the performance of every other World War II fighter. Faster than the North American P-51 Mustang by 190 kilometers (120 miles) per hour, the Schwalbe restored to the faltering German Luftwaffe a short-lived qualitative superiority that it had enjoyed earlier in the war.

The Me 262 appeared in only relatively small numbers in the closing year of World War II. Messerschmitt factories produced 1,443 Me 262s, but only about 300 saw combat. The others were destroyed in training accidents or by Allied bombing attacks. The almost absolute Allied dominance of the air, and the development of fighter sweep tactics that offset the Me 262's performance advantage, ensured that the revolutionary fighter did not affect Allied air operations.

Only nine Me 262s survive in museums around the world. This one served with the famous Jagdgeschwader (Fighter Wing) 7. According to the tally on the fuselage, the Schwalbe's pilot, Heinz Arnold, scored 42 victories over Soviet piston-engine fighters and 7 over American bombers and fighters.

Display Status

This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.

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Object Details

Country of Origin

Germany

Type

CRAFT-Aircraft

Manufacturer

Messerschmitt A.G.

Physical Description

Twin engine, single seat, low wing, jet fighter

Dimensions

3-D: 19464cm, 3475.9kg (638 ft. 7 in., 7663lb.)
Wingspan: 12.5 m (40 ft 11 in)
Length: 12.1 m (39 ft 9 in)
Height: 3.8 m (12 ft 7 in)
Weight, empty: 4,419 kg (9,742 lb)
Weight, gross: 6,010 kg (13,250 lb)
Top speed: 870 km/h (540 mph)

Materials

Aluminum

Inventory Number

A19600328000

Credit Line

Transferred from the U.S. Air Force

Data Source

National Air and Space Museum

Restrictions & Rights

Open Access (CCO)
For more information, visit the Smithsonians Terms of Use.

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