The Messerschmitt Me-262 "Schwalbe" was a jet fighter built by the German Messerschmitt Aircraft Company for the Luftwaffe at the end of the Second World War. It first entered combat in the late summer of 1944, making it the first jet aircraft to enter combat in the history of human aviation.The German pilots called the Me-262 the "Turbo" and the Allies called it the "Stormbird". Although a lack of fuel and rare metals prevented the Me-262 from fully exploiting its capabilities in the war, German pilots flying the fighter still managed to shoot down some 509 enemy aircraft and lose 100 of their own during the war.A-1a/U4 "Pulkzerstörer"Anti-bomber interceptor version, only two prototypes were built, with a single 50 mm Bordkanone BK 5 large calibre anti-tank gun in the nose.