“It’s unbelievable what one squadron of twelve aircraft did to tip the balance.”

According to Goering and the Luftwaffe High Command, they were supposed to be the fighter elite.

Their element is to attack, to track, to hunt, and to destroy the enemy.

Many pilots of the time were the opinion that a fighter pilot in a closed cockpit was an impossible thing, because you should smell the enemy.

Can beat any quantity numerically many times stronger yet technically inferior.

Flying is more than a sport and more than a job

Many to whom the first victory over the opponent has been long denied either by unfortunate circumstances

Tie him to a narrow and confined task, rob him of his initiative, and you take away from him the best and most valuable qualities he posses

It is true to say that the first kill can influence the whole future career of a fighter pilot.

The colossus of World War II seemed to be like a pyramid turned upside down

I would like to mention that I have flown the 262 first in May ‘43.

No engine vibrations. No torque and no lashing sound of the propeller.

We have built a total of about 1250 of this aircraft, but only fifty were allowed to be used as fighters

The fighter can only be used as a bomb carrier with lasting effect when sufficient air superiority has been won.

This often results in improving one’s own position.

The battle is tough but if you reach where you want to go, then at least in some sense it is worth it.

At this time, the aircraft was completely secret.

I asked the colonel what type of aircraft it was, and he said, “Don’t worry about it, Bob. . . if you can see it, it’s obsolete.”

We are like an exquisite high-speed aircraft which for lack of a tiny part is left stranded beside the runway, rendered slower than a tractor or bicycle.

Changing the direction of a large company is like trying to turn an aircraft carrier.

I have a photocopy of it, and I am saying that in production this aircraft could perhaps substitute for three propeller- driven aircraft of the best existing type.

This aircraft didn’t have any priority in design or production.

I first knew of the existence of this aircraft only early in ‘42 – even in my position.

We have built a total of about 1250 of this aircraft, but only fifty were allowed to be used as fighters

At this time, the aircraft was completely secret.