FIRST BLOOD

Mission number of Me 163 tour: 1

When the first prototypes of the Me 163
were completed in 1941, there was quickly
the idea to equip it with some armament.
It took, however, long years of develop-
ment before this remarkable aircraft saw
its first action against Allied aircraft.
 In the beginning of 1944 the first (and
only) Jagdgeschwader equipped with Me 163s
, JG 400, was formed and in the following
months further expanded.
At the end of July that year the Me 163
Komet encountered enemy aircraft for the
first time. Leutnant Hartmut Ryll, a pilot
of JG 400, was able to damage a B-17. On
August 5, he shot down a four-engined
bomber. At the same time Lt. Silcox and
Lt. Fernandes were shot down in their P-51
Mustangs from Me 163s.

YOUR MISSION

You are on your very first combat mission
with the Me 163. Your orders are to inter-
cept the B-17 formation heading for
Leipzig. You are the wingman of Lt. Ryll
as he takes the Schwarm up from Brandis
airfield.
Watch out for the escorting fighters, es-
pecially when you burned out your fuel
and you want to return to Brandis.

