Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a (Operation Bodenplatte)

The Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a was the production version of the first operational jet fighter, and its units were deployed in Operation Bodenplatte, a major Luftwaffe offensive on January 1, 1945,. The goal of the attack was to destroy Allied aircraft and airfields but it failed, resulting in heavy losses for the Luftwaffe, including significant numbers of experienced pilots. Although the Me 262A-1a was a superior aircraft to its piston-engined counterparts, its deployment during Bodenplatte and other late-war operations was hampered by the Luftwaffe's general lack of air superiority and inadequate training, leading to heavy losses of the advanced jets.