Simviation Forum - First Me163 kill

Aug 5^th, 2006 at 3:47pm

gryshnak Offline
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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.

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Reply #1 - Aug 6^th, 2006 at 1:07pm

denishc Offline
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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?

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Reply #2 - Aug 6^th, 2006 at 1:11pm

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

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Reply #3 - Aug 6^th, 2006 at 1:56pm

Theis Offline
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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..)."

Bar by Mees

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Reply #4 - Aug 7^th, 2006 at 1:42am

denishc Offline
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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?

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Reply #5 - Aug 7^th, 2006 at 8:59am

cspyro21 Offline
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Quote:

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 Grin

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Reply #6 - Aug 7^th, 2006 at 9:48am

expat Offline
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Quote:

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

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Reply #7 - Aug 7^th, 2006 at 11:13am

Theis Offline
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Quote:

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!!

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Reply #8 - Aug 7^th, 2006 at 11:19am

Hagar Offline
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Quote:

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

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