Jet Fighter ME 262. The Messerschmitt Me 262 was a groundbreaking German jet fighter aircraft employed during the Second World War. It was the first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft in the world and entered service in 1944. The Me 262 was known for its advanced design and, with a speed of up to 870 km/h (540 mph), was significantly faster than any Allied aircraft. Despite its technical superiority, it was introduced too late and in insufficient numbers to influence the outcome of the war. The Me 262 was employed primarily as a fighter and interceptor aircraft and achieved only limited success due to production delays, fuel shortages, and the overwhelming numerical superiority of the Allied air forces.