Me 262

The Messerschmitt Me 262 was the world's first operational jet aircraft, taking a high toll on Allied bomber formations. Luckily, it was introduced late in the war and had hard-to-maintain engines; coupled with the lack of fuel, this limited its impact in the war.

America's first jet fighter, the XP-59A Airacomet, had mediocre performance and never entered wartime service.

The Me 262 is NASM catalog #A19600328000.