The Messerchmitt Me262 was the world’s first operational jet fighter. It’s high speed allowed it to easily engage attacking bombers but it was vulnerable while taking off and landing. It entered service in mid 1944 and had little effect on the outcome of the war.

This Me-262A-1a, was flown by the Gruppen Kommandeur of III/JG 7, Major Rudolf Sinner in March 1945 in the Brandenburg-Briest area of Germany.

Sinner may have had two Me-262s at his disposal, both aircraft carrying the unusual green striping, but the stripes going in the opposite direction each one.

Sinner was shot down by USAAF P-51s in April 1945.

His parachute didn’t fully deploy resulting in injuries, further injuries when he was dragged by his parachute into a barbed wire fence after which he was strafed by the P-51s.

He feigned death but his injuries from the battle and the landing kept him out of action for the remaining period of the war.

Tamiya 1/48 kit with EagleCal decals and Eduard seat belts. Painted in Model Master enamels and completed by Wayne in about 2010.