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 262B-1A/U1 night fighter that was flown by Kurt Welter, who was attached to II.Gruppe/Nachtjagdgeschwader 11, then deployed to Larz, Germany, during 1945. Sold Out!

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

Release Date: June 2017

Historical Account: "Light Night" - Oberleutnant Kurt Welter joined the fledgling Luftwaffe in 1934 and after qualifying as a pilot, began a long career as a flying instructor - it was not until the summer of 1943 that he transferred to an operational fighter unit and began flying interceptor missions against Allied air forces. An extremely capable pilot, Welter began claiming victories almost as soon as he became operational, although Allied aerial supremacy dictated that there would always be plenty of opportunities to hone his skills.

Welter would become notorious as a hunter of RAF Mosquito night intruders, which began mounting 'light night' strike raids against targets around Berlin in an attempt to demoralize the population of the city. As one of the most capable aircraft of the war, the De Havilland Mosquito was fast and maneuverable, able to deliver a similar bomb load to that of a USAAF B-17 and posed a serious threat to the Luftwaffe. Determined to halt this Mosquito menace, Welter was given command of a dedicated nightfighter unit, equipped with the new Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, which was more than capable of catching the elusive British intruders, when serviceable. Welter claimed the first night victory of a jet powered fighter in December 1944 and went on to record a total of 63 combat victories, from just 93 missions flown. Although his victory claims have been challenged by historians over the years, his tally included no less than 33 night intruder Mosquitos.