Military Model Scene

Title: Messerschmitt Me262
Author: Dan Sharp
Publisher: Tempest
ISBN: 978-1-911658-27-6

'Design and Politics' of this famous WW2 jet, a recent book from author Dan Sharp and Tempest Books. A 326-page hard-cover book packed with detail on this famous German jet of WW2.
The story of the Me262 is spread over 11 chapters, plus even more detail added in 7 appendices. The design and development story begins back in 1938 and is taken forward, through what in the introduction the author describes as a chronology that is spread across 3 periods, and which in turn can be sub-divided into 4 stages. From the early development by Messerschmitt, slowed by the demands for work on producing existing piston-engined designs to replace losses during the Battle of Britain, and then returning to the priority for the design of a jet. Plenty of issues involved, all dealt with in the chronological story of the book. Technical matters, such as the design of a suitable engine, in particular the Junkers 004, the political interference of whether it should be a fighter, a fighter-bomber or a bomber and the difficulties of changing over from production and logistical support from older designs to the new jets, without impacting the ability of the Luftwaffe to carry out their work. There is coverage of not only the fighter itself, the armament it carried but also the variants, such as night-fighter, reconnaissance and heavy armament such as the R4M rockets and the 5cm MK 214 cannon. So many design variations featured in original drawings that one wonders what might have been had they been built. Odd things which were built, such as the DFS Schleppgerat, basically an airborne trailer to be towed into the air by the 262, carrying an additional fuel tank, or another with a large bomb. Then in the appendices, even more with things like the Japanese jet design based on the 262, along with handling notes from Messerschmitt pilot Fritz Wendel and more.
I have read a fair bit on the Me262 over the years but this is the best account I think I have read to date, with informative and detailed text, a great collection of archive images plus the addition of illustrations of many original design drawings. It also reminded me of a story my own father told me of his experience late in the war, being strafed by a pair of them every day for week, and on each day at the same time, 3pm. At the end of the week they had asked the RAF for help, and a squadron of Typhoons/Tempests were waiting for the 2 jets. Dad said as they dived down there were 4 puffs of black smoke and the 2 jets flew off at high speed, leaving the RAF aircraft behind them. Bearing in mind this excellent book, and the visit to the UK last weekend of a modern replica of an Me262, with reliable modern engines, I can't help but wonder what my late father would have said if he could have seen both the book and the jet. With all the references in this one excellent book from author Dan Sharpe I have no hesitation in recommending it.
Thanks to Tempest books for our review copy.

Robin