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Re: Jet V Jet 1n 1944 / 45
No. The Meteor Mk.Is used against the V-1s in 1944 were pretty low-performing. Some of the later Mk.IIIs were sent over to the Continent but only used for ground-strafing and familiarisation. Even the Mk.IIIs showed little advance in performance over the Spitfire Mk.XIV or Tempest Mk.V, and were considerably shorter-ranged. It took the Mk.IV before the Meteor came into its own as the RAF's best fighter.
The main role of the Me 262s was against the mass bomber formations, which generally made them generally a USAAF problem, and short range was the last thing needed. They were no problem in July 1944 - I don't think they saw any combat until September, and then in small initial numbers.
Had Hitler's intentions been taken seriously, and had the Germans solved the engine reliability problems a year earlier (exceedingly unlikely!), then matters might have been different, but in truth the German jets were little more than a potential worry until 1945, and in terms of overall effect not much more even then. Lots of publicity, lots of charisma, decidedly worrying potential, but only limited actual results.
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