Me-163B Komet JG.400; Brandis 1945
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This is my interpretation of one of the daring missions to intercept allied bombers at the nearby Leuna hydrogenation plant. These one and only rocket fighter unit was established to protect important immobile strategic objects. The aircraft made a speed record as it was the first manmade aircraft to reach >1000 km/h and were able to reach bombers in 36.000 ft. height in just under four minutes after takeoff and were 300 km faster than anything the allied had at hand at these times. No wonder the crews were exited to be the chosen to be allowed to fly this "Wunderwaffe". Germany´s famous female test pilot also flew it and greatly adored the flight abilities of the Komet. She said exitingly "it felt as you were riding a cannonball". Thats why one of the units emblem was also the famous Baron von Münchhausen who was riding on a cannonball. Nevertheless it was also a risky mission as the T- Stoff (Hydrogenperoxyd) and C-Stoff (Hydrazinehydrate) reacted fiercly when accidently came together during the fuelling process or in a leakage. Therefore the pilots were issued with acidproof protection suits and gloves but some were literally dissolved alive inside their cockpits. The JG 400 was splitted and one group were shifted to the german Island Husum but without fuel were not ably to fly a mission there. The group in Brandis, near the hydrogenation plant had some fuel to the very last day of the war.
