[agere_contra]

The first ever jet combat was a Gloucester Meteor against one of these 262's. The Meteor won, but be very glad that Hitler delayed jet research for about two years. I don't think Germany would have won the war with earlier jets, but the defensive advantage of fast short-time-of-flight fighter jets would have extended the war by about two years IMO.

[Little Ray]

Didn't think there was any jet to jet combat in WWII. The Meteors were stuck in the UK intercepting V1s and didn't have the range to reach Germany, anyway. Is there a link to this?

[Gamera977]

I've always read that the first jet vs. jet combat was Korea, MiG-15 vs. Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star. I've never heard of the 262 vs. a Meteor. The Meteor, though a jet, really didn't have performance any better than a Griffin engined Spitfire or a Hawker Typhoon, Tempest.

Though if the A-bombs hadn't been dropped the first jet combat very likely would have been in the Second World War- the Lockheed P-80 vs. the Nakajima Kikka.

And though I hate to say this as an American- best-looking aircraft ever, IMHO the Supermarine Spitfire. Graceful, classy lines, a very elegant design for the brutal work of killing.

[af_vet_rr]

The first ever jet combat was a Gloucester Meteor against one of these 262's. The Meteor won, but be very glad that Hitler delayed jet research for about two years. I don't think Germany would have won the war with earlier jets, but the defensive advantage of fast short-time-of-flight fighter jets would have extended the war by about two years IMO.

That's pretty much how I feel - Germany was doomed once we starting putting a severe crimp in their oil production/supplies. We would have won (and we had our own jet fighters on the verge of coming into service), but I think they could have disrupted things enough to make it last a little while longer.