Luftwaffe Diva and ME-262

Messerschmitt Me-262 Schwalbe (swallow) - the world's first operational jet fighter developed by Luftwaffe in 1944. It distinguished itself as a milestone in the world's aviation history by bringing the golden era of prop-driven planes to an end. After massive air strikes over Third-Reich territories since late 1943, the High Command of Luftwaffe was desparately seeking a better way to counter the overwhelming American heavy bombers Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress, hence a newer generation of fighter was born. A high speed acceleration and climbing rate is required to reach the altitude within short period to stop the enemy's high-level bombers. The Me -262 was powered by a pair of Junkers -Jumo turbojet engines provides a combine thrust of 1980lbs, permits a maximum speed of 800 ft per second or even more - fast enough to outrun all conventional prop-driven fighters of the period, thus making the 262 virtually invulnerable in dogfights. Similar to the Japanese Kyushu J7W Shinden, The main armament comprised of 4 extremely powerful Rheinmetall-Borsig 30mm MK 108 autocannons capable of destroying a 4-engine heavy bomber with just several rounds. Besides, an extra provision of 24 50mm R4M air-to-air rockets mounted underwing was indeed another serious nightmare for Allied bombers. Though the 262 was another classic case of "too little too late", it wasn't that useless in fact - it proved to be extremely successful the time it saw action in 1945. A total of 509 claimed Allied kills was credited to the few ME-262 squadrons before the war's end.

Here is my little piece of ME-262 computer art - together with the fictitious but sexy "Luftwaffe Diva" equipping a MP-40 SMG.