The Messerschmitt Me-262 was one of the very first combat capable jet fighter planes in the history of world aviation.
This pioneering twin-engine aircraft entered service with the Luftwaffe (German air force) in mid-1944 and was used effectively in several roles during World War II.
While the plane proved effective against bomber pilots who have never encountered jet aircraft before, it was deployed too late into the war. The plane is also a maintenance nightmare, due to the fact that its Jumo 002 engines have very limited lifespan of 21 hours of usage and causing a strain on Germany's lack of supply. Furthermore, contary to popular belief, the Allied powers have also deployed their jet aircraft into the European theatre (most notably P-80 Shooting Star and Gloster Meteor) during the early 1944, which means that the plane will not affect the course of the war regardless of how early it was deployed.
