The Perilous and Scariest Aircraft to Pilot During WWII

In World War II, one aircraft stood out for its speed and danger—the German Me 163B Comet. This rocket-powered fighter was designed to intercept enemy bombers with incredible speed. Its revolutionary design made it the only operational rocket fighter of the war. The Me 163B Comet was built by German engineers and was a bold step into a new era of aviation. However, its innovative design came with serious risks. The fuel system, for example, placed volatile liquid T-Stoff right behind the pilot’s cockpit. This dangerous arrangement meant that even a small mistake could lead to a catastrophic explosion. The aircraft was known for its record-breaking speed and unique compact design, but it was also infamous for claiming the lives of its own pilots.

The Me 163B had a very small wingspan of only 9 meters and a length of less than 6 meters. This compact size allowed for greater maneuverability, a quality that was essential for its role as an interceptor. The Comet could reach speeds that exceeded 1,000 km per hour, far surpassing its competitors. The rocket engine gave the aircraft an unmatched rate of climb, with reports of it climbing nearly 5,000 meters per minute. Despite these impressive features, the Comet was a death trap for those at the controls. Its fuel tanks, built with minimal separation to save space, increased the risk of fires and explosions. Ground crews had to work with extreme care during fueling operations to avoid a fatal accident.

The Perilous Test Flights of the Me 163B Comet

One of the first test flights of the Me 163B Comet took place in 1942 with German test pilot Wolf Gang Spa at the controls. Spa was a former gliding champion who had gained respect for his flying skills. On his maiden flight, he powered up the engine, and the Comet roared to life. As the aircraft took off, Spa muttered that he was about to see what the engine and the small fighter could do. The Comet climbed rapidly, reaching 12,000 meters in just a few minutes. However, disaster struck during takeoff when a fuel line ruptured. The engine lost power, and the plane began to tilt. Spa quickly ejected, deploying his parachute, and watched as the Comet crashed in a fiery explosion. The impact scattered smoke and debris across the field, and Spa was left shaken by the experience.

Another test flight highlighted the danger of the Comet. In October 1942, a German pilot named Hana Reich took the aircraft on one of her early test flights. Reich was an experienced test pilot who had already flown several missions in the Comet. During her fifth flight, she experienced severe problems right after takeoff. The plane needed to be towed by another aircraft to gain altitude. However, when she tried to release the tow cable, the mechanism failed, and her radio stopped working, leaving her unable to alert the ground crew. As she approached the ground at an unusually high speed, the landing gear failed, causing the Comet to bounce and spin on impact. Reich suffered multiple injuries, including fractures to her skull and other severe wounds, yet she managed to document the incident while receiving help. Her flight showed that even a small error or equipment malfunction could turn the Comet into a lethal machine.

The Perils of Flying the Me 163B Comet

Later, during a routine training flight on December 30, 1943, another incident further revealed the risks of flying the Comet. German test pilot Yoshi Po was flying the aircraft when its landing gear struck the fuselage during takeoff. The impact broke a fuel line, and toxic fuel began to leak into the cockpit. The strong odor of the fuel filled the cabin, and Yoshi Po felt immediate pain as the liquid began to affect his skin and tissues. The plane bounced on the runway and then crashed nose-first before flipping over. In the wreckage, fuel had caused severe burns and dissolved soft tissues, leaving Po with critical injuries. When fellow pilot Wolf Gang Spa arrived at the crash site, he saw Po’s damaged body and realized the risk was far greater than anyone had expected. This accident was a grim reminder of how the design flaws in the fuel system could lead to terrible outcomes.

The Me 163B Comet was a unique aircraft that brought new ideas to fighter design. It was built to be fast and agile, and its rocket engine allowed for incredible performance. However, the decision to place dangerous fuel tanks near the cockpit meant that safety was often compromised. The accidents experienced by pilots like Wolf Gang Spa, Hana Reich, and Yoshi Po show that flying the Comet was not for the faint of heart. The German engineers who designed the Comet pushed the limits of technology during a time of intense pressure, and their choices left a legacy marked by both innovation and tragedy.