[Richard T. Eger]

Dear Alessandro,

I'm going to try to answer your questions, if I can.

Regarding the number of cannons on the V9, I assume that you are looking at the photos on page 768 in volume 4 and the side view drawing on page 769. First off, as configured here, the aircraft is an Me 262 HG I. I think the lack of a visible upper gun port may be an optical illusion. The photo one up from the bottom hints at an upper gun. If you go on to page 770, you'll see the V9 later in life with the gun bay open and both upper and lower guns visible. As the HG I, the aircraft was being tested for increased speed, a role more likely that of a fighter than a bomber variant with its attendant bomb racks and bombs. So, either way, I'd say it was equipped with 4 MK 108's.

As for that mysterious opening on the engine hatch, my best guess is that that is an air inlet for planned cockpit heating. I do have a photo of a Jumo 004 with a cylindrical object with an inlet tube that would have mated up with this aperture in the cowling. The multi-hole rack above the engine immediately behind the engine hatch has one hole specified for cabin air. However, many engine photos don't show the device with the inlet. Putting two and two together, I think the inlet in the cowling was built in with the eventual use for cabin heating, something that few, if any, Me 262's actually had, to the best of my knowledge.

If someone else has a better explanation, I'd like to know the answer myself.

Regards,
Richard