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German Blitz Bomber

 

This was called the Arado AR 234 Blitz Bomber and is the first jet bomber to fly in wartime action.  The Lufthansa built and tested this jet in 1944 and fly it into combat in 1945.  It was 100 miles an hour faster than any other plane so could do reconnaissance or drop bombs over the Allied Forces with impunity.  The cockpit canopy consisted of plexi-glass for the best view from any planes cockpit.

 

After the war many of the German jet planes were shipped to the USA to use as models for future jet planes.  This AR 234 is the only one left in the entire world and has been  rebuilt and displayed in the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum at Dulles.