ARADO Ar 234 BLITZ THE WORLD’S FIRST JET POWERED BOMBER

The origins of this type date back to a specification issued by German Air Ministry in 1940 for a Fast turbojet powered single-seat reconnaissance aircraft. The design proposed by Arado, the Ar 234, went on to become the world’s first jet powered bomber.

The first prototype, the Ar 234V-1, first flew on June 15, 1943 and this was quickly followed by seven other prototypes, all using a launching trolley and landing skid arrangement since the aircraft’s

fuselage was narrow that it could not take a conventional undercarriage.

Once the aircraft reached 197ft the launch trolley was released and returned to earth on parachutes for reuse.

The third prototype, Ar 234V-3, was fitted with an ejection seat and had rocket assisted take off equipment installed under the wings. During the prototype trials, the launch trolley arrangement had performed very well, but it was realized that the aircraft’s immobility on landing would be a great disadvantage when it came to operational deployment.

Turn around times would be increased and the aircraft would be vulnerable to enemy air attack. It was therefore decided to abandon the trolley and skid, and all production aircraft had a conventional wheeled undercarriage fitted into the wider fuselage of the production B series.

Despite being famed as the first jet bombers, early Ar 234s did serve as reconnaissance aircraft that readily avoided enemy interception. Some special examples also equipped an experimental night fighter unit. However, Germany’s fortune the Blitz’s performance soon led to its development as a bomber that entered service with the Luftwaffe in October 1944.

Operated by KG76, the aircraft’s first operational missions were flown against targets during the Ardennes offensive in December 1944. This jet bomber unit was very active in the early weeks of 1945 by taking part in a ten day series of attacks against the Ludendorff Bridge at Remagen, which had been captured by the Americans. The Blitz was a pioneering aircraft which was closely studied by the Allies post war.