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Re: Me 262 should have been used as a bomber?
Ok, as some of you may know, I've spent a little time investigateing the 262. And it's all out in print and documented.
First, the 262 was a lousy bomber, as it didn't have adequate bomb aiming. Not the fault of the pilots, they did the best they could at guessing. Initial altitude limits didn't help...
Second, it was a lousy dog fighter. ALMOST EVERY instance where the pursued pilot followed his instincts and turned into his pursuers, he was shot down.
Mind you, I have a very healthy respect for this aircraft, but I know it did ONE thing well...bomber interception. It excelled there. If it got through the fighter protection, it was most likely going to bring down a bomber. Fortunately for us still speaking English, that wasn't figured out until March 45 and the R4M's.
Guys, the 262 was a remarkable aircraft, the first of it's kind. And it should be looked at it as that. But endless "what if's" are pointless. It had engine problems that couldn't be solved with the loss of certain metals, and of course fuel was an issue. Oddly, many pilots were trained in it that didn't reach service with it.
Let's just look at it with the respect due, an engineering marvel of the time, with all it's flaws, but in real life, would never have been a war winner. But our respective Air Forces all enjoy the benefits of it's teething problems.
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