First Me163 kill

[gryshnak]

On this day in 1944, Leutnant Hartmut Ryll scored the first successful kill by a Me163 Komet when he downed a B-17.

Ryll was killed in action the very next day, shot down by P-51 escorts.

Gryshnak

[denishc]

 As I understand it, for being so technically ahead of any other aircraft in the war, the Me-163 wasn't a very successful interceptor.  By the end of the war how many aircraft did the Me-163 shoot down?

[denishc]

 One other question, was Lt. Ryll flying a Me-163 when he was killed?  

[Theis]

From Me 163 Units

"Leutnant Hartmut Ryll attacks two B-17's (both return home), but is shot down by P-51's. The Komet explodes, Ryll is killed, wreck impacts near Bad Lausick (Wnr 3100..)."

[denishc]

 An intersting subject.  Was the Me-163's rocket engine used during the attack of a bomber formation or was all its fuel used in the initial climb?  Did the Me-163 use a fast, unpowered glide in the attack?

[cspyro21]

 An intersting subject.  Was the Me-163's rocket engine used during the attack of a bomber formation or was all its fuel used in the initial climb?  Did the Me-163 use a fast, unpowered glide in the attack?

Apparently it did indeed use all of its fuel climbing up and gliding down upon the bombers...or so I think...(I think I read it somewhere - I really need a better memory )

[expat]

Ryll was killed in action the very next day, shot down by P-51 escorts.

Catch 22, be shot down or try and land and stay in one piece.

Matt

[Theis]

try and land and stay in one piece.

Not the case in the ME 163!!
It was hell to land with, and germany lost more Me-163 pilots due to landing accidents and fuel burning the pilots up, than to enemy fighters!!

[Hagar]

Not the case in the ME 163!!
It was hell to land with, and germany lost more Me-163 pilots due to landing accidents and fuel burning the pilots up, than to enemy fighters!!

I think that's what Matt was referring to. Be shot down by the enemy fighters or blown up attempting to land. A Catch 22 situation.

PS. It was a dangerous occupation but not all Me 163 pilots were killed.

PPS. Interesting article here. http://homepage.ntlworld.com/andrew.walker6/komet/flight/flight1.htm