{"product_id":"sharks-of-the-air-willy-messerschmitt-and-the-development-of-historys-first-operational-jet-fighter-9781612008929","title":"Sharks of the Air: Willy Messerschmitt and the Development of History's First Operational Jet Fighter","description":"In July 1944 the Allies were stunned by the appearance of the Messerschmitt Me-262, the world's first operational jet warplane. This new German fighter was more than 100 mph faster than any other aircraft in the skies. Although always greatly outnumbered, the Me-262 gained scores of victories over Allied fighters and bombers, and by the end of the war, many of the Luftwaffe's greatest aces had clamored to be in their cockpits. No wonder military leaders believed that if it had been introduced earlier, this jet could have changed the outcome of the war.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eSharks of the Air\u003c\/i\u003e tells the story of Willy Messerschmitt's life, and shows how this aeronautical genius built many revolutionary airplanes--not excluding the Luftwaffe's mainstay, the Me-109--and culminating in the Me-262. It describes how his various warplanes fought in Spain, Poland, France, Britain, the U.S.S.R., and over Germany, and it provides thrilling accounts of air battles drawn from combat reports and interviews with veterans. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThis book also shows how Messerschmitt--like other geniuses such as Porsche, von Braun, and Speer-- was affected by cutthroat Nazi politics, and describes his intense rivalries with other aircraft designers. It reveals aspects of his life never before made public, including his love affair with the beautiful Baroness Lilly Michel-Rolino, a rich aristocrat who left her husband to live with Willy.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eAnd finally it shows how in World War II Messerschmitt believed he was loyally supporting the Fatherland, until he realized too late that Hitler was a madman. Like many of the technical innovations of Nazi Germany in the war, production arrived too late in order to change the final outcome. If Messerschmitt had been given free rein from the start, however, Allied air superiority might never have occurred.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Casemate\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 07\/20\/2020\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781612008929\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 408\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.50lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.90h x 6.00w x 1.10d","brand":"James Neal Harvey","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":36662024732828,"sku":"9781612008929","price":24.61,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0473\/0804\/6492\/products\/img_f178ac6b-b9e9-4616-a685-8db643f1d547.jpg?v=1603900859","url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/sharks-of-the-air-willy-messerschmitt-and-the-development-of-historys-first-operational-jet-fighter-9781612008929","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}