One of the things I've learned while contributing to Sarge's blog is the importance of carefully proof reading your story. I've also learned that it's a lot more difficult than it sounds. Your brain tends to read what your brain told you to type. Which is not always what is actually written. I had a case of this with my "Juvats" posting recently. My intention for the subject was the progression of aircraft that the 80th TFS had flown since WWII. I mistakenly posted a picture of a P80 and captioned it as the first jet fighter. Which should have said first jet fighter for the Juvats as both the British and Germans had jet fighters before that. Thanks for pointing that out, Mea Culpa!. But... On the upside of that mistake, it produced a subject I found interesting for this posting.
So…Here we go with first jet fighters.
ME-262
According to the Military Aviation Museum (where I got the photo above) the first operational jet fighter was the ME-262 built by Messerschmidt. Much like any new technology it had its good points and its not so good points. First, it was much (much, much) faster than any of the Allied propeller driven fighters. Thus, the ME-262 could attack the Bomber fleet and run away before the Allied escort could bring sights to bear. However, as in any war, tactics are developed to maximize your strengths and minimize the enemy's. The Allies started positioning P-52 Mustangs over the ME-262 airfields as bombing attacks were being conducted in the vicinity. If a ME-262 took off, they would attack it while it was still accelerating. Since the engine’s spool up in the jet took a bit of time, the P-51 diving from altitude had a significant airspeed advantage. Since there weren't a lot of ME-262's in operation, loss of any was a big victory for the Allies. But, for purposes of this posting, they were the first operational jet fighter.
Gloster Meteor
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The Gloster Meteor was the first Allied jet fighter and the only Allied jet to see combat. It was faster than the Messerschmidt, but a bit less maneuverable. Not a good characteristic for a Fighter. Interestingly, it was still flying, albeit as a test bed, in 2023.
The P-59 Airacomet was the first US built jet fighter . Planning for the jet began in 1941 and flights began in July 1943. Unfortunately, it's capabilities did not match the capabilities of the P-51, P47, or P-38, so it never reached production.
Which brings me to my oops. The P-80 on first commissioning later renamed as the F-80 . This site explains a lot about the P-80 as a jet fighter. As most of you know the king of the air in Korea was the F-86 which took over the air to air role there. 277 P/F-80s were lost there. 1 loss is bad, 277 is terrible. They were soon remodeled and turned in to the T-33 which were still flying missions when I came on active duty and pilot training.
No, Beans, I never flew one, they were just for flying stuff and people around at the time. The T-37 and T-38 were in service by then.
MIG-9 Fargo
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The first Russian jet was the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-9, NATO code named "Fargo". Production started in 1946 and ended in 1948. Obviously, it did not fly in WWII. 610 were built. As I read this article I came to realize that the Soviets were not able to produce this "jet" before the war ended. Lots (Lots and Lots) of problems.
The Nakajima Kikka (橘花 for those of you who read Japanese)
‘As one can see, it bears quite a similar look as the ME-262. I don't know, but it wouldn't surprise me if there wasn't a bit of cooperation going on. It had zero influence on the war as it flew only once, and that was in August 1945.
And Finally!
Caproni Campini N.1
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The aircraft pictured above was Italy's entry into the "first" jet fighter competition. Design and testing was started in 1940 and flown in 1941. 2 models were built and flown. One was either destroyed by Allied bombing or by the Italians to avoid it's capture. The one above was discovered by the Allies after they defeated the Italian Army.
So. There are the first jet fighters and fighter prototypes from WWII.
And, even though I like all of them, this is my favorite Fighter.
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No surprise there!
Thanks for the idea Dearieme! Peace out y'all.
* to air, Sturmvogel if it was Air to Ground
