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Hunting Swallows

The ME-262A-1a Schwalbe and the -2 Sturmvogel were reported to be the most heavily armed fighters in WWII, and the only jet powered aircraft to be assigned to squadrons in fighting numbers. Only 100 or so of the aircraft had fuel enough to participate in combat missions, first deployed in June 1944, and by VE-Day 1433 of the aircraft had been produced. The speed of these early jets at altitude made them almost invincible; their attacks on Allied bomber formations went virtually unchallenged. Though they drew fire their speed made them a very difficult target, even for the escort fighters, though victories were recorded by P-51's, P-47's and La-2's. 

Many of the victories over these swift aircraft were scored by taking advantage of its fatal flaws. During landing approach they would be low on fuel, maneuvered poorly at low speeds, and had poor acceleration. Allied pilots soon learned to take advantage of this and would follow the ME-262's to their fields and into their landing approach patterns. 

Victories in this circumstance were, however, not assured. As these were valuable aircraft to the Luftwaffe, they took note of these actions and responded. To thwart the Allied tactics they pulled otherwise deployed fighters in for airfield defense, notably FW-190's and ME-109's. Typically FW-190's were assigned to low level approach and field perimeter cover, while the ME-109's were assigned high level cover missions. This counter move proved to be to the Allied advantage, as well, as it drew aircraft off intercept missions to guard airfields.

Inspired by an Aviation Art print, dedicated to Gen. Chuck Yeager, which I saw in one of my reference books. I chose as my subject just such an Allied victory-a P-51 making a low pass after downing an ME-262.