[GonzoGOP]

The Messerschmitt Me 262 has to be at the top of the list. Its a hundred miles per hour faster than the nearest competitor, has 4 x 30mm cannon and at the very end was being fitted with rudimentary guided missiles. Had they been supplied in quantity the allied bomber offensive wouldn't have stood a chance. Fortunately Hitler delayed it for a year and by the time it got into service there were P51s waiting above every airfield to ambush them on takeoff and landing (the only time they were really vulnerable).

[TheThirdRuffian]

Those were cool, but airborne time was what? 15 minutes?

[Ararat]

Yes, but it could only fly for a few minutes.

[Ararat]

Yes, but it could only fly for a few minutes.

[Oztrich Boy]

The Messerschmitt Me 262 has to be at the top of the list. Its a hundred miles per hour faster than the nearest competitor, has 4 x 30mm cannon

Good bomber destroyer but as a fighter it would have been eaten alive by the not as cool looking Gloster Meteor

Those 30mm cannon have also been described as 30mm grenade launchers - low velocity. slow firing. The Meteor is going to have an advantage in a long range qun duel.

If the Schwalbe closes for a knife fight, that long narrow sailplane wing isn't the bestest dogfight wing (also loaded 25% more than the Meteor short broad chord fighter wing). Also the Me-262 cannon had a tendency to jam under hard manouvering.

Higher speed is only useful to dictate the terms of a fight into a type you can win. But if there is no way you have an advantage, it's ony use is get out of Dodge.

[Kickass Conservative]

I think Chuck Yeager was credited with shooting down the first Me-262 in his P-51.

He got the kill when the Me-262 was just about to land.