Heavy losses and a shortage of experienced pilots dictated that surviving Me 262 bomber units were amalgamated into ad hoc
fighter units, required to defend the Reich against Allied air attacks -
despite his bombing credentials, Gapp went on to score a number of
victories against US heavy bombers. On 7th May 1945, Gapp
flew his Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter towards the west, in an
attempt to avoid capture by advancing Soviet forces. He crash-landed
his jet into a newly ploughed field near Podersam (Saaz), before
destroying his aircraft, thus denying its use by Allied forces.
During the closing stages of the Second World War, the beleaguered
Luftwaffe were left hoping that one of Hitler’s wonder weapons would
help to stem the tide of increasing Allied attacks, which were taking a
withering toll on their numbers. Unfortunately for them, their defeat
was simply a matter of time, but not before the German aviation industry
managed to show their technological prowess with the introduction of
the first operational jet fighter in the world – the sinister looking
Messerschmitt Me 262. Even though the Me 262 was highly advanced, it
never had the chance to make a significant difference, as Allied air
superiority was so significant, that any Luftwaffe airfields still
operating aircraft were subjected to almost constant attack – they were
literally unable to safely take off, or land.