Throughout the Second
World War both the Royal Air Force and the Luftwaffe attempted to
produce an effective jet aeroplane. Hans Ohain, who was employed
by the Ernst Heinkel company, developed the HE 178, but it was not
a successful aircraft.
The jet fighter Messerschmitt
Me 262 made its first test flight on 25th March, 1942. The following
year, the jet bomber, the Arado Ar 234B appeared and first flew
on 15th June, 1943.
The Heinkel He 162A did
not make its first flight until 6th December, 1944. It was not a
success as an under-carriage door came off. Four days later on another
test flight it crashed when one of its wings disintegrated. Changes
were made and 300 were built but very few saw action before the
end of the Second World War.
