TYPE: Anti-ship and –fortification destroyer. Project
ACCOMMODATION: Pilot only in Me 262
POWER PLANT: Two Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engines, rated at 1,500 kp each (Ju 287) and two Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines, rated at 950 kp each (Me 262)
PERFORMANCE: 500 mph (estimated)
COMMENT: In desperate attempts to stop the forward rushing Allied troops several proposals were offered using different pilotless aircraft as guided missile in pickapack combination with a piloted leading aircraft (‘Mistel’, ‘Mistletoe’). They should be used against ships, fortifications, and troop concentrations. The unmanned aircraft with a large hollow-charge warhead was guided to vicinity of its target by a single-seat fighter temporarily attached to a superstructure above the fuselage. When the objective was reached, the pilot of the upper component set the controls to approach the target in a shallow glide, and at the appropriate distance detached his aircraft and climbed away, the pilotless lower component continuing on its set course.
In March 1945 a proposal was submitted using a variant of the brand new Junkers Ju 287 as guided missile in combination with the Messerschmitt Me 262. This Ju 287 was somewhat smaller than the original aircraft, had the same wing and tail arrangement, and was to be powered by two or four turbojet engines of various types. For take-off a special trolley was developed by Rheinmetall-Borsig. There is no evidence whether this project ever was seriously discussed with the authorities (Ref.: 16).
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
Junkers Ju 287 with Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Mistel’
POWER PLANT: One Rolls-Royce ‘Merlin 66’ liquid-cooled engine, rated at 1,720 hp
PERFORMANCE: 404 mph at 21,000 ft
COMMENT: By the end of 1941, the ‘Spitfire’ Mk. V was experiencing increasing difficulty in combating the newer versions of the Messerschmitt Me 109 and found itself completely outclassed by the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. So the need for a higher performance was a matter of the most vital urgency. In order to achieve the desired performance improvement with the least possible delay, it was decided to install the Rolls-Royce ‘Merlin 60’ Series engine in the basic ‘Spitfire’ Mk.VC, this marriage of convenience being designated ‘Spitfire’ Mk. IX. Despite the fact that the ‘Spitfire’ Mk. IX was considered solely as an interim type, it was to be produced in larger quantities than any other Spitfire variant, in total 5.665 aircraft being manufactured. Logical evolutions of the ‘Spitfire’ Mk. IX were the photo-reconnaissance P.R. Mks. IX, X, and XI. A universal camera installation provided accommodation for two F.8 or F.52 vertical cameras, or two F.24 vertical and one F.24 oblique camera. A number of Spitfire P.R.Mk. IX was delivered to the 8th USAAF and the aircraft shown here belonged to the 7th Photographic Group, stationed at Chalgrove, U.K. (Ref.: 12)
POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004B-2 turbojet engines, rated at 900 kp each
PERFORMANCE: 510 mph at 32,800 ft
COMMENT: Another development of the Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a series was the Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a/U3 reconnaissance fighter. Several aircraft featured a bay in the nose for two side-by-side obliquely-mounted cameras. These could be two Rb 50/30s or an Rb 20/30 and a Rb 75/30. A small observation window was introduced into the floor of the cockpit. Due to the size of the cameras two bulge at both sides of the nose were installed. Because of the high speed all cannon armament was discarded. These aircraft were deployed to tactical reconnaissance groups (NAG = Nahaufklärergruppe) (Ref.: 7).
POWER PLANT: Franklin O-300-11 air-cooled engine, rated at 150 hp
PERFORMANCE: 185 mph
COMMENT: In 1940, the U.S. Army Air Corps drew up a requirement for a radio-controlled target drone for training anti-aircraft artillery gunners. The first aircraft in a series of target drones was a modification of the Culver LFA ‘Cadet’ commercial sports plane which eventually led to the PQ-14 series used throughout WW II and beyond. In 1942 Culver designed a larger and more powerful derivative of their PQ-8 ‘Cadet’ target as the model NR-D. A single PQ-8 was converted to the new configuration and tested by the USAAF as the XPQ-14. This was followed by YPQ-14A service test aircraft and more than 1400 PQ-14A production models. Of the latter, about 1200 were transferred to the U.S. Navy, which designated them as TD2C-1 ‘Turkey’. The PQ-14A was powered by a Franklin O-300-11 piston engine and had a retractable tricycle landing gear. Like the PQ-8, it was flown manned for ferry or check-out flights and by radio-control from the ground as a target drone. The YPQ–14B was a slightly heavier variant, which was followed by a production run of more than 1100 PQ-14B targets for the USAAF. A single PQ-14B was converted to use an O-300-9 engine and designated XPQ-14C (Ref.: 24).
POWER PLANT: One Nakajima Ha.115 radial engine, rated at 1,130 hp
PERFORMANCE: 320 mph at 19,680 ft
COMMENT: The Nakajima Ki-43 ‘Hayabusa’was a single-engine land-based tactical fighter used by the Imperial Japanese Army Air Force in WW II. It was light and easy to fly and became legendary for its combat performance in East Asia in the early years of the war. It could outmaneuver any opponent, but did not have armor or self-sealing tanks, and its armament was poor until its final version, which was produced as late as 1945. Allied pilots often reported that the nimble Ki-43s were difficult targets but burned easily or broke apart with few hits. In spite of its drawbacks, the Ki-43 shot down more Allied aircraft than any other Japanese fighter and almost all the JAAF’s aces achieved most of their kills in it. Prototypes for the Nakajima Ki-43-II flew in February 1942. The Ha-25 engine was upgraded with the 2-stage supercharger, thus becoming the more powerful Nakajima Ha-115 engine, which was installed in a longer-chord cowling. The new engine turned a three-bladed propeller. The wing structure, which had suffered failures in the Ki-43-I, was strengthened and equipped with racks for drop tanks or bombs. The Ki-43-II was also fitted with 13 mm armor plate for the pilot’s head and back, and the aircraft’s fuel tanks were coated in rubber to form a crude self-sealing tank. Nakajima commenced production of the Ki-43-II at its Ota factory in November 1942. Production was also started at the Tachikawa Hikoki KK and the 1st Army Air Arsenal (Tachikawa Dai-Ichi Rikugun Kokusho), also at Tachikawa. Although Tachikawa Hikoki successfully managed to enter into large-scale production of the Ki-43, the 1st Army Air Arsenal was less successful – hampered by a shortage of skilled workers, it was ordered to stop production after 49 Ki-43s were built. Nakajima eventually ceased production in mid-1944 in favor of the Nakajima Ki-84 ‘Hayate’, but the Tachikawa Hikoki continued to produce the Ki-43. Total production amounted to 5,919 aircraft. Many of these were used during the last months of the war for kamikaze missions against the American fleet (Ref.: 24).
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
Nakajima Ki-43-II-Otsu ‘Hayabusa’ of Headquaters Chutai, 77th Hiko Sentai
POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004B-2 turbojet engines, rated at 900 kp each
PERFORMANCE: 624 mph
COMMENT: The Messerschmitt Me 262 V9 was the 9th prototype and had nearly the same airframe as the Me 262A. It was completed in January 1944, it’s primary task being high speed trials up to the fighter’s Mach limitation. During the course of these various aerodynamic improvements were introduced. The leading edge of the inner wing as well as of the vertical tail was increased to 45 degree, the leading edge of the horizontal tail was swept back to 40 degree, a shallow, low-drag cockpit canopy was installed, and the muzzles were faired over. The highest speed attained by this experimental aircraft being 624 mph which was clocked at Leipheim on July 1944 (Ref.: 7).
POWER PLANT: Two Rolls Royce ‘Wellent’ 1 turbojet engines, rated at 771 kp each
PERFORMANCE: 410 mph at 30,000 ft
COMMENT: Early in 1940, Gloster Aircraft’s design team was entrusted with the design of a single-seat interceptor fighter to specification F9/40, the first specification ever prepared in Britain for an operational turbojet aircraft. Gloster had some experience in handling the turbojet engine as a new power unit for aircraft: The Gloster E.28/39 ‘Pioneer’ was the first jet-powered aircraft to fly in Britain. Now, the result of the new design, the ‘Meteor’, was the first jet aircraft to enter squadron service with the RAF, and the only Allied jet aircraft to see operational service during World War II. A conventional twin-engine layout was adopted for the new fighter and on February 1941, and the Ministry of Aircraft production placed an order for twelve prototypes. In the event, only eight of the prototypes were completed, the first of these commencing taxiing trials on July 1942, powered by low thrust delivering non-flying Rover W.2B turbojets. Difficulties with the more powerful Power Jets W.2/500 resulted in the installation of RoverB.23 engines and the first flight of the ‘Meteor’ was made on July, 1943. A variety of other engines were tested in the prototypes until the first twenty ‘Meteor I’ were delivered to the RAF and on August 1944 one of these scored the first confirmed victory by a British jet fighter when a V-1 missile was destroyed by tipping it over with its wing and thus causing it to crash. And although in service at the ending stage of WW II the Gloster ‘Meteor” was never encountered in the air with the German Messerschmitt Me 262 ‘Schwalbe’ (Ref.: 12).
POWER PLANT: Two Junkers Jumo 004B-1 turbojet engines, rated at 900 kp each
PERFORMANCE: 540 mph at 19,700 ft
COMMENT: The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed ‘Schwalbe’ (‘Swallow’) was the world’s first operational turbojet engine powered fighter aircraft. Design work started in late 1938 when deliveries the first brand new BMW and Junkers turbojet engines were expected. Immediately, Messerschmitt began design studies on a fighter project under the designation Messerschmitt Me P.1065. The RLM ordered to build a mock-up and the evaluation expected promising results. Delayed production of turbojet engines led to the installation of a Junkers Jumo 210 G piston engine into the first aircraft, now officially designated Messerschmitt Me 262 V1. In spring 1940 first BMW P.3302 turbojets were available (prototypes of the later BMW 003 jet engines) and – installed additionally to the piston engine – the first flight was made on March 1942. Because the BMW engines were not operationally at all the Me 262 V-3 was equipped with two Junkers Jumo 004 turbojet engines and made the first pure jet flight in July 1942. All flight tests were promising and production order for the new fighter was placed. One of the most advanced aviation designs in operational use during World War II, the Me 262 was used in a variety of roles, including light bomber, fighter bomber, reconnaissance, and night fighter. The Me 262 was faster, and more heavily-armed than any Allied fighter, including the first British turbojet-powered fighter Gloster ‘Meteor’. But permanent engine problems and top-level interference kept the aircraft from operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. In total about 1,400 Me 262s were produced when the WW II ended. Primary production version was the Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a, usable as both fighter and fighter-bomber. The aircraft shown here belonged to the III./JG 7 (Third Group / Fighter Squadron 7) and has two Wfr.Gr. 21 (‘Werfer-Granate’, Rocket propelled shell) on bomb racks (Ref.: 20, 24).
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a ‘Schwalbe’ with Wfr. Gr. 21, III/JG 7
POWER PLANT: One Heinkel-Hirth HeS 011 turbojet engine, rated at 1,300 kp thrust
PERFORMANCE: 617 mph
COMMENT: At the end of 1944, when the construction drawings of the Messerschmitt Me P. 1101 were completed, and in the light of the critical situation of Germany it became obvious that the production of that new fighter was too complicated and too expensive. Messerschmitt’s design bureau began work on a less advanced design that should be an intended improvement to the Messerschmitt Me P. 1101. This Messerschmitt Me P. 1106 based on the Me P. 1101 but went through several redesigns. The first version (Me P. 1106/I) had a short fuselage and a T-tail plane with cockpit faired into the vertical stabilizer, similar to the Lippisch Li P. 13a. The second (Me P. 1106/II) design had a short fuselage, too, the tail plane of butterfly style and the cockpit far aft. A third and final design (Me P. 1106/III) had a longer and slim fuselage with a V-tail plane and the cockpit moved slightly forward. In all designs the wings were swept back at 40 degrees. The planned power plant was a Heinkel HeS 011turbojet engine, and armament was to be two 30 mm MK 108 cannon. Since the cockpit had poor visibility and calculated performance had not been improved compared to the Me P. 1101, the Messerschmitt Me P. 1106/III project was abandoned (Ref.: 17, 22).
POWER PLANT: One Wright R-2600-20 Cyclone radial engine, rated at 1,900 hp
PERFORMANCE: 275 mph
COMMENT: The Grumman TBF “Avenger” was an American torpedo bomber developed initially for the United States Nay and the Marine Corps. The “Avenger” entered U.S. service in 1942, and first saw action during the Battle of Midway. Despite the loss of five of the six “Avengers” on its combat debut, it survived in service to become one of the outstanding torpedo bombers of World War II. The Douglas TBD “Devastator”, the U.S. Navy’s main torpedo bomber introduced in 1935, was obsolete by 1939. Bids were accepted from several companies, but Grumman’s TBF design was selected as the replacement for the TBD and in April 1940 two prototypes were ordered by the Navy. The first prototype was called the XTBF-1. It was first flown on 7 August 1941. Although one of the first two prototypes crashed near, rapid production continued. The TBF-1 “Avenger” was the heaviest single-engined aircraft of World War II, and only the USAAF’s P-47 “Thunderbolt” came close to equalling it in maximum loaded weight among all single-engined fighters, being only some 181 kg lighter than the TBF, by the end of World War II. The Avenger was the first design to feature a new “compound angle” wing-folding mechanism created by Grumman, intended to maximize storage space on an aircraft carrier; the Grumman F4F-4 “Wildcat” and later variants received a similar folding wing and the Grumman F6F “Hellcat” employed this mechanism as well. There were three crew members: pilot, turret gunner and radioman/bombardier/ventral gunner. In total, 9,839 Avengers and including special-purpose versions are built, such as TBF-1C for reconnaissance, TBF-1E with radar, TBF-1J for bad-weather flying, TBF-1L with searchlight in the bomb-bay and post-war development TBM-3W with APS-20 radar in a large ventral radome. Many “Avengers” saw action with other national air and naval aviation services around the world. (Ref.: 23, 24).
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I” and Grumman TBM-3 “Avenger”, VMTB-233, USS CVE 106 “Block Island II”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I””
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I”
Grumman TBF-1C “Avenger”, VC-58, USS CVE 21 “Block Island I” and Grumman TBM-3 “Avenger”, VMTB-233, USS CVE 106 “Block Island II”
Scale 1:72 aircraft models of World War II
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