The Me 262 Stormbird From the Pilots Who Flew, Fought, and Survived It

by Heaton, Colin; Lewis, Anne-Marie; Czypionka, Jorg; Tillman, Barrett

• ISBN13: 9780760357354
• ISBN10: 0760357358
• Edition: Reprint
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2017-03-01
• Publisher: Zenith Press

Summary

Me 262 Stormbird tracks the complete history of World War II's most remarkable fighter aircraft from the drawing boards to combat in the skies over the Third Reich.

The Me 262 was the first jet-powered aircraft to see regular service in the skies of World War II. This piece of engineering captured the imaginations of aviation enthusiasts of all stripes--from children following the course of World War II at home, to the Allied pilots who flew against it.

The story of how the Stormbird came to be is a fascinating one, and it comes to life here in the capable hands of noted historian, Colin Heaton. Although conceived before the war, with the initial plans drawn in April 1939, the Stormbird was beset with technological problems (particularly in the revolutionary engines) and political difficulties, resulting in it not entering combat until August 1944. However, when it took to the skies, it returned with claims of nineteen downed Allied aircraft.

The Me 262 outperformed Allied aircraft to such a degree that on September 1, 1944, USAAF General, Carl Spaatz, remarked that if greater numbers of German jets appeared, they could inflict losses heavy enough to force cancellation of the Allied daylight bombing offensive.

Told largely in the words of the German aces who flew the aircraft, The Me 262 Stormbird provides the complete history of a truly incredible aircraft from the drawing boards to combat service of the Third Reich. Features two forewords, by Jorg Czypionka, Me 262 night fighter pilot, and Barret Tillman, historian and author.

Author Biography

Professor Colin D. Heaton served in the U.S. Army and later the U.S. Marines. He was a guest historian on the History Channel program Dogfights: "Secret Weapons," and he has authored several books of military history, including German Anti-Partisan Warfare in Europe 1939--1945 and Night Fighters: The Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat over Europe, 1939--1945, which he coauthored with Anne-Marie Lewis. He has taught history and military history at American Military University. 

Anne-Marie Lewis received her BA with honors and MA from American Military University in international relations and is also a professional photographer. She lives in Southport, North Carolina.

Professor Colin D. Heaton served in the U.S. Army and later the U.S. Marines as a scout sniper under Livingston's command. He was a guest historian on the History Channel program Dogfights: Secret Weapons and has authored several books of military history: German Anti-Partisan Warfare in Europe 1939--1945 (Schiffer Publishing 2001); Night Fighters: The Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat over Europe, 1939--1945 (Naval Inst. Press, 2008), which he coauthored with Anne-Marie Lewis; and Occupation and Insurgency: A Selective Examination of The Hague and Geneva Conventions on the Eastern Front (Algora, 2008). He has taught history and military history at American Military University. Anne-Marie Lewis (Southport, NC) has coauthored Night Fighters: The Luftwaffe and RAF Air Combat over Europe 1939--1945, The German Aces Speak, Noble Warrior, and is working on a biography of Hans Marseille with Colin Heaton.

Barrett Tillman is the author of Whirlwind in addition to more than 40 books and 550 articles. Tillman's work has been cited in dozens of history books and has been used as course work by the air force, the navy, and Marine Corps. He lives in Arizona with his wife, Sally.

Table of Contents

Contents List of Tables Forewords by Jorg Czypionka and Barrett Tillman Acknowledgments Introduction Chapter 1 Too Little, Too Late Chapter 2 On the Drawing Board Chapter 3 Test Flights Chapter 4 In the Field Chapter 5 Competition and Innovation Chapter 6 The Stormbird Takes Wing Chapter 7 A Questionable Political Decision Chapter 8 First Encounters Chapter 9 Challenges of the Jet Chapter 10 Night and Day Chapter 11 Fighting the Fighters Chapter 12 Fighting the Bombers Chapter 13 <I>Kommando Nowotny Chapter 14 The Death of Nowotny Chapter 15 <I>Kommando Nowotny Carries On Chapter 16 Victories in the Face of Defeat Chapter 17 Allied Forces Fight Back Chapter 18 The Last Death Throes of JG-7 Chapter 19 Galland and the Squadron of Experts Chapter 20 The Loss of Steinhoff Chapter 21 Back in the Air Chapter 22 Galland’s Last Mission Chapter 23 The End of the War and JV-44 Chapter 24 Operations Lusty and Paperclip: The Postwar Scramble for Jets Appendix 1 “My Last Mission” by Joe Petersbur Appendix 2 German Ranks and Medals Appendix 3 Additional Me 262 Data Bibliography Notes