Beauty is an illusion of the mind; beauty may be found where ever there is thought.
we are not afraid, our hearts to the families of those who have been lost.
Someone is watching. Someone is hunting. Exploding through the N.E. flank of the towering cumulous a stray burst of light catches the altimeter as the marker flashes through 6000 meters, speed, 755 km/h plus and accelerating. As a pilot in Erprobungskommando 262 flying preproduction Me 262s he, as with the others in his group, are charged with the development of combat tactics for the revolutionary jet aircraft. Everything is different. The relative quiet of the cockpit, the lack of reassuring vibrations rattling roughshod through the airframe, a rumble of a big BMW churning between you and your enemy, but the speed, the speed is breath taking.
This model represents 9K+BN, a Me 262A-2a, assigned to 5/KG (j) 54 based at Schwabisch Hall, Dec. 1944, using a camouflage typical of 5/KG (j) during the period. This aircraft was shot sown by Allied fighters over Coesfeld on 14 February 1945. Note: Me 262-2a Sturmvogel (Stormbird) was reconfigured with underwing hard pointes for carrying two 550 lbs bombs. The Me 262A-2a/U1 was the definitive blitzbomber version with two cannon removed to provide space for a bomb aiming device.
