Duel With a Jet

WEATHER: Nitefire suggested
INSERTS: None
RADAR: SCR-720A

Me262s saw action at night in the so-
called Kommando Stamp, in which the
Schwalbe was flown using Wild Boar tac-
tics, as it had no radar.  When larger
numbers of 2-seat Me262B trainers became
available, it was decided to convert
some of them to night fighters. The only
significant changes were the addition of
FuG 218 Neptun radar in a Hirschgeweih-
style (stag's antlers) array, and stan-
dard mounting of twin 79g fuel tanks,
the latter being necessitated by the
reduction in fuel capacity with the
addition of the radar operator. This,
the Me262B-1a, saw limited action with
10./NJG11 during 1945, but only a few
were produced. The follow-on model was
to be the Me262B-2a, which had a lengthe-
ned fuselage to restore fuel capacity,
and Neptun radar with a Morgenstern-style
(Morningstar) array partially covered
with a wooden nose cone. Later versions
were to have the advanced FuG 240 "Berlin"
radar in a nose dome.
There is no record of the Me262B and the
P-61 ever engaging in combat, but if they
had, the results would have been interes-
ting. The Me262B was, of course, much fas-
ter, but the P-61 was much more maneuver-
able.
ORDERS:
You are returning from a long-range
night patrol over Southern Germany,
where many cities and targets are
burning from earlier raids. Engage
any targets of opportunity on your way
back to base.

