Developed from a 1938 design by the Messerschmitt company, the Me 262 Schwalbe was the world’s first operational turbojet aircraft. First flown under jet power on July 18, 1942, development problems (particularly its temperamental engines), Allied bombings and cautious Luftwaffe leadership contributed to delays in quantity production.
On Jul. 25, 1944, an Me 262 became the first jet airplane used in combat when it attacked a British photo-reconnaissance Mosquito flying over Munich. As a fighter, the German jet scored heavily against Allied bomber formations. US Army Air Forces bombers, however, destroyed hundreds of Me 262s on the ground. Of the more than 1,400 Me 262s produced, fewer than 300 saw combat. Most Me 262s did not make it to operational units because of the destruction of Germany’s surface transportation system. Many of those that did were unable to fly because of lack of fuel, spare parts or trained pilots.
However the Schwalbe proved much faster than conventional airplanes.
P-47M
Was there any allied fighter that could shoot down the Me 262 in aerial combat?
Pete Feigal, former Pro Military Artist, explains on Quora;
‘The closest competitor was the P-47M, hotrodded first from the factory and then by the very experienced ground crews at the 56th FG.
‘The P-47M hot-rodded fighters that were given to the 56th FG, “Zemke’s Wolfpack.” in the finally six weeks of the war. They were also given special ammo for their .50’s that could esp. “light up” the kerosine-type fuel of the Me 262 for extra hitting power.
‘The Me 262’s could hit a max of 550 mph and the P-47M could hit 500 mph, only 50 mph less. They were the only Allied fighter that had a chance of taking out a Me 262 in aerial combat if the Jet wasn’t damaged, landing, taking off or taxiing. The 56th shot down a number of 262’s and also some Arado jet bombers.
‘With the new P&W R-2800-57 “C-series” engine, with a GE turbo-supercharger, and latest wide bladed prop, and then with extra hot-rodding by the experienced crew chiefs of the 56th, it made 2,800 horse power and could hit an honest 500 mph. Some of these aircraft went on to race, post-war.
‘According to Wikipedia;
‘“At high altitude, the P-47Ms could attain a climb rate of 3,500 feet per minute and a maximum speed of 473 miles per hour in level flight—though some pilots reported achieving 490 to 500 mph when using WEP (Wartime Emergency Power). This made the P-47M arguably the fastest piston-engine fighter to see combat in the war—though still slower than the Me-262’s 540-miles per hour maximum speed.”
500 mph at altitude in level flight
‘According to Yanks Air Museum;
‘“The P-47M was the largest and heaviest single-seat fighter ever built and the fastest fighter in WWII. The Thunderbolt M reached speeds of 504 mph at 34,000 feet in level flight. The P-47M was designed by WWI ace Alexander Kartveli to combat jets and the V-1 rocket.”’
Feigal concludes;
‘And finally according to 456 Fighter Interceptor Squadron;
‘“P-47M, the Fastest Piston Engine Fighter Of The War. The P-47…was fitted with a high output version of the P&W R-2800. Specifically, the R-2800-57. This engine made 2,800 hp @ 2,800 rpm at 35,000 feet. This is in WEP, (War Emergency Power.) The aircraft actually attained 507 mph at an altitude of 34,300 feet…was an especially good climbing fighter too. (Note: after the new wide-bladder props were installed.)There is adequate evidence to indicate that some of the more resourceful crew chiefs in the 56th Fighter Group, managed to hotrod the P-47M to the point that some reliable pilots were reporting 500 mph at altitude in level flight.”’
Photo credit: War Thunder Wiki and U.S. Air Force