Messerschmitt Me-262 Jet Fighter
The Messerschmitt Me-262 was an amazing technological achievement. The world’s first operational turbojet fighter, the most technologically advanced fighter interceptor of the war--the superlatives go on for this amazing airplane.
In spite of its technological prowess, the Me-262 had little impact on the conduct of the war. First, and possibly most telling, Adolf Hitler wanted the plane developed as a “blitz bomber” rather than as a fighter interceptor. Second, the perennial fuel shortages made it nearly impossible to build and fly the airplane in quantity. Although more than 1,400 Me-262s were manufactured, no more than 300 ever saw combat, and according to General Adolf Galland himself, no more than 50 or 60 were ever operational at the same time.
It was Galland’s opinion that if the Me-262 had become operational even eighteen months earlier, the course of the air war in Europe would have changed. He writes, “I am of the opinion that with only three hundred Messerschmitt Me-262 jet fighters we could have on any day shot down a minimum of two hundred bombers. If this would have continued for a week or two, then the day bombing would have had to be stopped.”
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Success has many fathers, and failure is an orphan. In this book, those elements that are successful have many fathers, and any failures or mistakes are the sole responsibility of the authors.
Many people provided advice, counsel, support, and hard work on our behalf in the creation of this book. First, we thank our editor, Brian Thomsen, for his tireless work and advocacy in getting this manuscript accepted as well as whipped into shape, and our agent, Elizabeth Pomada, not only for business support but for advice and counsel in every aspect of the project. Jim Mintz, Tor’s project editor for this book, provided exemplary leadership. Copyeditor Juli Barbato’s eagle eye was invaluable.
Special thanks to Barbara K. Dobson for her work in drawing together all the information about the real Ford’s Folly and for transcribing Odell Dobson’s wartime oral history tapes. Patrick Dobson, Donald Niles Sr., Don Perrin, and Kevin Rose provided extensive technical support on the details of military operations. The amazing Frank Chadwick sent us a very detailed critique of the book and caught many of our technical errors; those that remain are through no fault of his. Edward R. Smith created the background and original character of Reid Sanger for an unpublished juvenile novel. Allison Niles prepared the maps.
Many readers, advisers, and helpers critiqued and supported us in so many ways, from technical advice to literary criticism, from research support to advocacy, from key information to material loans, including (in alphabetical order): Rosemary Althoff, John Ardington, Fred Baxter, Walter J. Boyne, Tim Brown, Charles Clancy, Troy Denning, Odell F. Dobson, Samuel Freeman, Scott Gemberling, Rosina Harter, Mickey Johnson, Hal King, Rob King, Michael Larsen, Chuck Leffier, Brian Librandi, Walter Mason, Joel Mumma, Warren Phinney, Charlotte Porter, Janet Rasmussen, Jim Runtz, Mary Seghers, Patrick Seghers, Jim Singer, Phyllis Singer, Lester Smith, Robert Van Der Linden, and Steve Winter. If we’ve forgotten anyone, we most sincerely apologize.
Our manuscript reviewers were drawn from numerous sources, including our “Fox on the Rhine” seminar at the 1998 GENCON® Game Fair; the Alliterates literary society--of which Doug Niles is by far the most handsome member; members of Usenet discussion groups on alternate history and World War II; as well as friends, colleagues, and coworkers who volunteered their time, help, and moral support.
And, of course, we thank our families, especially our wives, Christine Niles and Deborah Dobson, for their patience, love, and support throughout this project.
Visit Michael’s website for additional information, bibliographic citations, comments, game scenarios for Douglas Niles’s SPI/TSR boardgames ONSLAUGHT: D-DAY TO THE RHINE™ and WORLD WAR II: EUROPEAN THEATER OF OPERATIONS™, as well as the original transcribed oral history of Odell Dobson’s last flight aboard Ford’s Folly and subsequent experiences in a German POW camp.
--Douglas Niles and Michael Dobson, July 1999
Table of Contents
FOX ON THE RHINE
PROLOGUE
OPERATION VALKYRIE
OPERATION REICHSTURM
OPERATION COBRA
OPERATION BLOODY HELL
OPERATION FUCHS AM RHEIN
EPILOGUE
GLOSSARY
APPENDIXES
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Fox On The Rhine Page 55