The jet-powered Me 262 Sturmvogel ("Stormbird") has long since gained its place in the annals of international aeronautical history. With its sleek aerodynamic design and high performance jet engines, the Me 262 radically changed the way in which air combat was waged.

The first design work on the Me 262 began in October 1938, with the first test flight, piloted by Fritz Wendel, occuring on April 18th, 1942. Tests continued well into 1942, although by this time the Me 262 was outfitted with two highly-efficient BMW turbojet engines. When he saw the aircraft for the first time in early 1943, Hitler insisted that the plane be designed as a low-level bomber instead of a fighter, which undermined the sleek aerodynamic properties of the jet aircraft. After much in-fighting among the Luftwaffe's upper echelons, the plane was eventually converted back into a high level interceptor, with series production beginning in the spring of 1944. The first jet fighter unit, commanded by Major Walter Nowotny, was formed in the summer of 1944 and was composed of many of the Luftwaffe's leading aces.

By war's end, 1,433 Me 262s had been produced, far too few a number to have much of an impact on the Allies strategic bombing campaign. In the end, the Allies' superiority in numbers overcame the tremendous technical achievements ushered in by the Me 262 program.

Pictured here is a 1:72 scale replica of a German Messerschmitt Me 262A-1A jet fighter that was piloted by Franz Schall, who was attached to Kommando Nowotny, during 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 6-3/4-inches
Length: 5-3/4-inches

Release Date: January 2009

Historical Account: "Flameout" - Born on June 1st, 1918 in Graz, Austria, Franz Schall was a German World War II fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.

On the morning of November 8th, 1944, he shot down three USAAF P-51 Mustangs escorting USAAF bombers but then suffered a flameout of both engines. While attempting to glide back to his base at Hesepe, he was intercepted by a P-51, piloted by 1st Lt. James W. Kenney of the 357th Fighter Group, which badly damaged Schall's Me 262 A-1a (W.Nr. 110 404) "White 7". Schall managed to bail out only to see his aircraft explode.

On April 10th, 1945, Schall shot down a P-51 Mustang, for his 137th, and last, victory, but then attempted an emergency landing at Parchim. His aircraft rolled into a bomb crater and exploded, killing him instantly.

Franz Schall was credited with 137 victories in 550 missions. The majority of his victories were claimed over the Eastern front, including 61 Il-2 Stormoviks. All 14 of his victories claimed over the Western front were gained flying the Me 262 jet fighter and included six four-engine bombers and 10 P-51 fighters.