The German Me 163, a rocketpowered defensive fighter, was one of the most unusual aircraft of World War II Fortunately, its potential impact was minimized by technical problems and the small number produced The Me 163 was the end result of a long line of tailless research aircraft designed by Dr Alexander Lippisch"The angle of climb was about 45 degrees and I couldn't see the horizon It was an incredibly volatile aircraft, and its operational record – just 16 kills and 10 aircraft lost in combat – made it, in my opinion, a tool of desperation" Despite its volatility the Komet was the fastest aircraft of the Second World WarOct 25, · It was the Allied air forces' first encounter with a new German secret weapon the rocketpowered Messerschmitt Me163 Komet, an aircraft so fast its performance would not be matched for nearly a decade, yet so horrendously dangerous to fly it would claim the lives of more German pilots in development and training than Allied aircrew it took
