Smith, J. Richard and Eddie J. Creek. Me 262, volume two. Burgess Hill, West Sussex: Classic Publications, 1998

ISBN 0 9526867 32
213 pages

Photos; maps; documents; diagrams; charts; tables; color plates; Glossary; Index

Appendices: Camouflage and Markings; Luftwaffe Ranks and Flying Units; Messerschmitt Me 262 Specification Figures

The first volume of Me 262 ended on page 224 and the second volume of Smith and Creek's series begins with page 225. Likewise, as the first volume ended with chapter seven, the new begins with chapter eight.

Chronologically speaking, the second volume begins with the United States Army Air Force raid against Regensburg on 17 August 1943. This bombing mission destroyed not only Messerschmitt factory buildings and Me 262 fuselages, but -- more importantly -- critical construction jigs and gauges. By the end of the year, only four prototypes were available for flight testing. The authors recapitulate in the first chapter some of the tale, told at the end of the first volume, of early testing and preparation for utilizing the Me 262 as a fighter followed by Adolf Hitler's insistence that the jet should be employed as a bomber. Chapter seven of volume one ended in June 1944. Chapter eight of volume two shows how, despite teething problems, doctrinal issues, and bureaucratic turf battles, the first Messerschmitts conducted combat flights in July 1944 to become officially "the world's first operational jet fighter" (just a few days before the British Meteor jet fighter went into action). Chapter eight continues to detail the earliest air actions -- from both the German and Allied perspective -- of the first Me 262s.

Chapter nine surveys the numerous Me 262 variants, including A-1a Jaeger, A-1a Jabo, A-1a/U1, A-1a/U2, A-1a/U3, A-1a/U4 with its 50mm cannon projection, A-2a Blitzbomber, A-2a/U1, A-2a/U2, A-4a and A-5a reconnaissance jets, B-1a trainer, C-1a, C-2b, C-3a, D-1, E-1, and E-2. This, is illustrated, as are all the chapters, with photos, color plates, line drawings, interior views, specifications, statistics, and sidebars. As in volume one, the photos and exquisite artwork prove to be the strongest elements of the presentation.

In chapter ten, Smith and Creek explain how the work of various facilities and departments fit into the overall picture of Me 262 development and production (including photos of the various facilities and reproductions of assorted wartime documents). By 10 August 1944, ten prototypes and a mere 112 production aircraft had been completed; of these, more than thirty had been destroyed or seriously damaged. The wonder weapon was clearly having little or no impact on the war. By the end of the month, Hitler had finally relented sufficiently to allow "every twentieth Me 262 would be equipped as a fighter." In September, production began to increase but much effort was devoted to experiments with armament including the WGr 21 rocket mortar, the R4M Tornado "folding fin" missile, and the R 100 BS missile with radar-assisted aiming and firing. Another experimental system used a rigid tow pole to pull a 1000kg bomb along with its own wing assembly and wheeled trolley. The authors also explain and illustrate the Messerschmitt project descriptions for a new series of jets, the P1099 and P1100, with an enlarged fuselage.

In August, "Kommando Schenk" was dispatched with nine Me 262 jabos -- of which only five arrived safely at the front -- to begin attacking Allied ground forces which were racing across France. As a bomber, though, the Me 262 still suffered many problems and, according to reports, it "was useless for accurate bombing. Pinpoint targets could not be hit. Kommando Schenk was therefore unable to claim any tactical successes." Chapter eleven measures the victories and failures of Me 262 operations through September and quotes extensively from the reports of Messerschmitt's top troubleshooter as well as after-action briefings. Despite the continued promise of the aircraft, it was not living up to the Fuehrer's vision.

In October 1944, despite Hitler's explicit orders, of 117 new Me 262s delivered, fifty-two were fighter models. At the beginning of November Hitler finally authorized production of the jet as a fighter. Of the meager numbers of operational aircraft available at the time, an attack by fighters of the Eighth Air Force destroyed seventeen on the ground (and damaged another nineteen) at Leipheim on 18 November. Chapter twelve covers the continued problems with production as Allied bombing takes its toll and factory schedules are disrupted and revised. Among other measures, by the end of the war machine tools and jigs were moved to huge underground production facilities. Even so, as the Third Reich's resources continued to diminish, competing priorities, transportation difficulties, labor shortages, and other bottlenecks hindered output.

By early November 1944, in addition to the experimental Me 262 unit at Lechfeld (which had scored the first jet successes against Mosquito reconnaissance missions and continued to fly such interceptions), there were two operational Me 262 units: Kommando Nowotny, flying fighters, and 3/KG 51, flying bombers. The pilots of Major Nowotny's fighter unit had been largely unsuccessful due in part to what one observer deemed "carelessness and inadequate training." Despite some success in the air, jet losses continued to mount due to mechanical failures and accidents. Among the Allied pilots credited with victories against a Kommando Nowotny jet at this time was Captain Chuck Yeager; Smith and Creek offer a different version of the incident, based on German records, which casts some doubt on Yeager's tally.

However, the records of the Weserflug aircraft factory at Lenwerder contest Yeager's version of events. At 11.25, Lt. Spangenburg's Me 262, W.Nr. 110389, was seen flying around the works airfield at 800-1000 m (3625-3300 ft). An air raid alarm had just been sounded and the airfield Flak defences erroneously identified Spangenburg as an enemy aircraft, whereupon they opened fire. With Yeager on his tail and under fire from the airfield gunners, Spangenburg flew in at high speed and landed two minutes later toward the south west. His jet bounced several times and continued to move at high speed towards some agricultural buildings close to the airfield perimeter. It then careered off the airfield and into an adjacent turnip field, colliding with a horse-drawn farm wagon and eventually crashing into a barn. Flames shot out of the aircraft, but as soon as the machine stopped, the pilot jettisoned his canopy and climbed out.

Not so lucky was Nowotny. He was shot down and killed shortly thereafter and his Kommando, which had lost twenty-six machines destroyed or damaged against eighteen confirmed victories, was transferred back to Lechfeld for retraining. Chapter thirteen's description of Me 262s in combat is lavishly adorned, as always, with photos, color illustrations, and informative sidebars.

All in all, volume two of Me 262 is a worthy successor to the first volume and another treasure trove for Luftwaffe enthusiasts.

It should be noted, by the way, that our original comment in the review of the first book -- that this would be a two-volume set -- was incorrect. The publisher informs us that Me 262 will have two more volumes, for a total of four: "Volume 3 will cover a part of the late 1944 and early 1945 fighter and bomber operations, plus probably the nighfighter angle. Volume 4 will conclude the operational narrative and will also cover projects, swept wing design, graveyard shots etc. Volume 3 on target for early autumn 1999 with Volume 4 following on as swiftly as possible thereafter."

Available from online booksellers, local bookshops, or directly from Classic Publications.

Thanks to Classic for providing this review copy.