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The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the mainstay of the
Luftwaffe fighter force throughout the war. It was constantly upgraded
to match improving Allied fighters. More Bf 109's were produced than
any aircraft in the War except the Russian Il-2. |
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The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 was developed to replace the Me
109 when German air supremacy was challenged by British Spitfires. A
masterpiece of warplane design, the new interceptor was able to fly
higher and faster than the Me 109. |
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Designed by Kurt Tank of the Focke-Wulf company, the Ta
152 pushed the Fw 190's design to its limit. It was faster and more
maneuverable than even the P-51 Mustang. But only a handful was
produced. |
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The Dornier Do 335 was the fastest piston-engined
aircraft of the war. With a puller engine in the nose and a pusher
engine in the tail, the Do 335 could reach a speed up to 752km/h. |
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The Messerschmitt Me 163 was one of the many strange
designs developed by the Luftwaffe toward the end of the War. The
Komet was the fastest aircraft in the war and remains the only
rocket-propelled aircraft to ever go to combat. |
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The Messerschmitt 262A1 was the perfect plane to any
fighter pilot, as a German test pilot called it "flying with an angel's
push." The 262 might well have turned the tide against the Allies had
it been available for combat earlier. |
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The Heinkel He 162 was the last effort by the Luftwaffe
to mass-produce a cheap jet fighter to stop the Allied bombing raids.
Although it could match the performance of the Me 262, the
Salamander was too late to have any significant impact on the
war. |
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The Bachem Ba 349 was the last desperate measure to
fend off American daylight bombers from German skies. The Ba 349 was
part-expendable and capable only of local defense. The closing Allied
troops overran the launch sites before any Ba 349 could see
action. |