Description

The Me262 A-2a was the fighter/bomber version of the Me262. When Allied bombing raids on the German homeland were rapidly intensifying, the Luftwaffe proposed the hastened deployment of the revolutionary Me262 A-1a jet fighter/interceptor. However, Hitler issued strict contrary orders prioritizing the deployment of the A-2a fighter/bomber version of the Me262. In June 1944, deployment of the A-2a fighter/bomber began. The A-2a was equipped with only two 30mm MK108 guns (compared to the A-1a’s four guns) but had an extra fuel tank in the rear part of its fuselage and could carry up to a 1-ton payload of bombs. The Me262 A-2a would see active service up till the end of World War II.