When the revolutionary Messerschmitt Me 262 jet first appeared as a bomber in the skies over north-west Europe in late 1944, it represented both a new dawn in aeronautical development and a great shock to the Allied air forces and armies. In mid-1944, Adolf Hitler, having seen the impressive and formidable performance of Me 262 prototypes, stated his firm desire to see the aircraft enter service as a bomber. There was nothing which the Allies had in their air forces which could touch the Me 262. Although, due mainly to problems associated with delays in engine deliveries, its debut was too late to contest the Allied landings in Normandy, when it finally did enter service in the autumn of 1944, the bomb-carrying Me 262s conducted several hit-and-run raids against RAF airfields in Belgium and Holland. From then until the end of the war the Me 262 remained one of the most feared weapons in the Axis arsenal. This book covers the complete history of the Me 262 bomber and reconnaissance units during World War 2.

Author Biography

Robert Forsyth has studied the history and operations of the Luftwaffe for many years. He is the author of JV 44 - The Galland Circus (1996), Battle over Bavaria: The B-26 versus the German Jets (1998), Mistel: German Composite Aircraft and Operations 1942-1945 (2001), Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerikabomber (2006 - with Eddie J Creek), and He 162 Volksjager (2008 - with Eddie J Creek); for Osprey Publishing: Jagdverband 44 and Jagdgeschwader 7 (Aviation Elite Units), Fw 190 vs B-17 (Duel), Aces of the Legion Condor and Luftwaffe Viermot Aces (Aircraft of the Aces). He works in publishing. Eddie J Creek is co-author of a number of landmark books on Luftwaffe aircraft including Jet Planes of the Third Reich (1982), Arado Ar 234 (1992), Me 262 (1997-2000 - four volumes), On Special Missions - The Luftwaffe's Research and Experimental Squadrons 1923-1945 (2003), Do 335 Pfeil (2006), He 177 Greif (2009) and He 162 Volksjager. He has contributed to more books than he cares to remember. Jim Laurier is a native of New England, growing up in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. He has been drawing since he could hold a pencil and throughout his life he has worked in many mediums creating artwork on a variety of subjects. He has worked on the Osprey Aviation list since 2000, and in that time he has produced some of the finest artwork seen in these volumes.