Heinkel's single-jet He 162 fighter arrived in Luftwaffe service at the
very end of the Second World War - but its development can be traced
back to the beginning of July 1944. A contest had been set in motion to
design a powerful and aerodynamically advanced replacement for
Messerschmitt's twin-jet Me 262 and Heinkel believed it could win.
As the competition progressed and Germany's resources dwindled, it
became clear that an advanced jet fighter was not what the Luftwaffe
needed. A new concept was formulated: a cheap, basic fighter equipped
with a single readily-available turbojet. The advanced fighter contest
was temporarily shelved and Volksjäger was born.
Swept metal wings, V-tail and HeS 011 engine swapped for straight wooden
wings, conventional tail and BMW 003 engine, Heinkel's fighter design
was rushed through a brief selection process before Adolf Hitler himself
placed an order for 1,000 a month. A massive effort saw the He 162 go
from blueprints to flying prototype in less than two months. But was it
a triumph of engineering prowess or a costly white elephant which
hastened the end of the war? Using contemporary documents, author Dan
Sharp explains and explores the development history of this fascinating
and controversial late-war 'secret project'.
