German scientists and engineers were well ahead of
the world in terms of breaking ground on a new breed of fighters and
bombers. Towards the end of the war, the Germans had begun experimenting
with rocket-powered aircraft and ultimately jet fighters and bombers.
Below is a listing of the creations assembled together. Some saw actual
combat, others were in testing when the allied took over installations
and still others never made it out of the design phase.
Aircraft development during this time fell into four
categories - glider, propeller, rocket power and jet power. The
German's accelerated the development in the rocket and jet powered
testing, leading the world into the jet age. American, British and
Soviet governments would eventually confiscate many of the German
developmental aircraft and ultimately learn from them in developing
their own jet-powered aircraft. The Korean War ushered in the world's
first jet powered air war followed by the Vietnam War, which introduced
the concept of guided munitions in the form of missiles (which incidentally
was under development by the German Air Force during the latter half
of WW2 as well). |