Concise history of Messerschmitt's Schwalbe, the world's first operational turbojet fighter aircraft. While the Me 262 had a negligible impact on the outcome of WWII, its design had a strong influence on postwar aircraft development around the world. An extensive visual description of the airframe - inside and out from every perspective; detail photos are of Me 262A-1 WNr 500071 as restored at the Deutsches Museum in Munich. Illustrated with more than 100 b/w photos, over 100 color photos, 12 full color profiles plus line drawings and scrap art; 80 pages.