Me 163 B-Ia Komet 6./JG 400 Husum Mai 1944

Kit: Revell 1:48

The Messerschmitt Me 163B was the Worlds first Production rocket Fighter – and the first rocket Fighter to be deployed on the front Lines. In June 1944, the 1st Squadron of the JG 400 Fighter Wing (1./JG 400), based in Bad Zwischenhahn, received its first Messerschmitt Me 163B-O and shortly thereafter relocated to the Wittmundhafen Base. However, the first Mission against the Allied B-17 Bombers was flown by the 2./JG 400, based in Brandis, Leipzig. Although the Messerschmitt 163 was very successful in its Missions, it remained an incalculable Risk for the Pilots. Accidents occurred particularly frequently during Landing, as even the Smallest residual amounts of the rocket propellants used, Hydrazine Hydrate (C-Stoff) and hydrogen Peroxide (T-Stoff), triggered explosive combustion upon contact with oil.

Refueling the Messerschmitt Me 163 also required extreme care to avoid Explosion. Because the fuel was corrosive, the Mechanics had to wear Special protective suits during refueling. In Addition, sufficient Water was always available from Tankers Equipped with high-pressure pumps to immediately neutralize any spilled fuel. The Flight Performance of the Messerschmitt Me 163 was impressive. Its initial power was 4,880 Meters per Minute, allowing it to reach its Service ceiling of 12,000 Meters in just 3.35 Minutes. With a top Speed of 944 km/h, it was only just Below the Speed of Sound. Unfortunately, it had a very Short Range; the Engin only had fuel for a maximum of about 12 Minutes. This Made the Messerschmitt Me 163 a suitable choice for asset Protection, such as important armaments Factories. After the Second World War, testing and further development of the Messerschmitt 163 Continued in Russia using captured Materials. However, it never went into Series Production again. The Japanese Empire also expressed Interest in the Messerschmitt 163 during the war. Since the German submarine carrying a prototype of the Messerschmitt 163 and numerous plans and design Documents was sunk en route and irretrievably lost, Mitsubishi used the available Materials to build several Messerschmitt 163s for testing by the Japanese Air Force. However, it never went into Series Production.

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