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Rocket Fighter
The Messerschmitt 163 (Me 163) was developed and tested by the Germans in absolute secrecy.
As the Second World War drew to a close and Allied bomber formations swept across the German countryside, the Luftwaffe high command pinned its last desperate hopes on this deadly new flying machine.
Although the Me 163 came too late for Germany, it forever altered the face of war. Mano Ziegler, one of the few men to survive the Me 163's initiation in battle, tells the story of the brave pilots pushed to the limits of physical endurance --- men who, bound by duty and driven by courage, experienced high-altitude velocities and air pressures no human body had ever before endured. He also tells the story of the plane itself, which screamed across the sky at unheard of speeds to usher in the age of supersonic flight and of supersonic fighters.
As the Second World War drew to a close and Allied bomber formations swept across the German countryside, the Luftwaffe high command pinned its last desperate hopes on this deadly new flying machine.
Although the Me 163 came too late for Germany, it forever altered the face of war. Mano Ziegler, one of the few men to survive the Me 163's initiation in battle, tells the story of the brave pilots pushed to the limits of physical endurance --- men who, bound by duty and driven by courage, experienced high-altitude velocities and air pressures no human body had ever before endured. He also tells the story of the plane itself, which screamed across the sky at unheard of speeds to usher in the age of supersonic flight and of supersonic fighters.
188 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1961
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About the author
Mano Ziegler
10 books4 followersMano Ziegler had a lifetime fascination with flight. At the age of eight, he wrote to Manfred Freiherr von Richthofen, the famous "Red Baron", asking to be allowed to fly with him. Richthofen even replied, telling him, "Yes, we'll fly together!".
At the age of 21, Ziegler took up glider flying. He also pursued his sport of diving and was a core member of Germany's Olympic high-diving team. In 1932 and 1934 he was student world high-diving champion at the world championships in Darmstadt and Turin.
When war broke out in 1939, Ziegler became a pilot in the Luftwaffe, and from 1943 until the war's end he flew the Me 163 with Erprobungskommando 16 (Operational Test Unit 16) and Jagdgeschwader 400 (Fighter Group 400).
After the war, Ziegler escaped from Russian captivity and - having returned to Berlin - continued to fly and write newspaper articles. In Berlin he guested as a high-wire walker with the Camilla Mayer circus troupe, walking the 24-metre high wire - without any prior training - for a newspaper article. He eventually became editor-in-chief of the Flug-Revue aviation monthly in Stuttgart and, as such, made his first supersonic flight in an English fighter aircraft in the spring of 1960.
At the age of 21, Ziegler took up glider flying. He also pursued his sport of diving and was a core member of Germany's Olympic high-diving team. In 1932 and 1934 he was student world high-diving champion at the world championships in Darmstadt and Turin.
When war broke out in 1939, Ziegler became a pilot in the Luftwaffe, and from 1943 until the war's end he flew the Me 163 with Erprobungskommando 16 (Operational Test Unit 16) and Jagdgeschwader 400 (Fighter Group 400).
After the war, Ziegler escaped from Russian captivity and - having returned to Berlin - continued to fly and write newspaper articles. In Berlin he guested as a high-wire walker with the Camilla Mayer circus troupe, walking the 24-metre high wire - without any prior training - for a newspaper article. He eventually became editor-in-chief of the Flug-Revue aviation monthly in Stuttgart and, as such, made his first supersonic flight in an English fighter aircraft in the spring of 1960.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
July 16, 2023
As part of Erprobungskommando 16, Mano Ziegler was one of the pilots that tested the Me-163 rocket fighter. The book tells the story of the unit and the brave men that flew the 'powered egg'. Flying the aircraft was easy, at least once the pilot was familiar with it and it behaved as it should, but what made it dangerous was the fuels used to propel the thing. A mishap during refueling, a cracked pipe or connection, or battle damage could make the aircraft, and its luckless pilot, disappear instantly. More than one take-off or landing ended in disaster.
The author does a great job, telling the story of this all. The idiosyncrasies of the aircraft, the men and operating procedures, the training. I found myself finishing this book almost in one go. As always, when pilots are involved, funny stories are part of this history. But it also shows how losing a comrade affects men in this dangerous business of war.
The author does a great job, telling the story of this all. The idiosyncrasies of the aircraft, the men and operating procedures, the training. I found myself finishing this book almost in one go. As always, when pilots are involved, funny stories are part of this history. But it also shows how losing a comrade affects men in this dangerous business of war.
February 8, 2024
Mano Ziegler's account of his days as an air combat trainer and warrior in Germany's bizarre rocket powered aircraft program is so amazingly narrated, you can't help but to think of the Luftwaffe as home to the "good guys." German airmen, despite fighting for an ignoble cause, took to the skies with chivalry, and determination, and many of them a certain grace respected by combat pilots from all sides.
But the real hero of this story is the ME-163 Rocket Fighter itself. As Ziegler himself said, "We had failed to achieve our aim, but the fame of this fantastic warplane was not to rest on her successes. The number of victory stripes that bedecked her fuselage were small, but she had opened a new era in flying. A mettlesome creature as gentle as a dove one moment and a fiend at others, she was unique."
But the real hero of this story is the ME-163 Rocket Fighter itself. As Ziegler himself said, "We had failed to achieve our aim, but the fame of this fantastic warplane was not to rest on her successes. The number of victory stripes that bedecked her fuselage were small, but she had opened a new era in flying. A mettlesome creature as gentle as a dove one moment and a fiend at others, she was unique."
April 23, 2019
https://plateroom28.blog/2019/02/24/r...
What a remarkable read! Mano Ziegler, a second world war fighter pilot with the Luftwaffe, published, in 1961, “Raketenjaeger 163“. This excellent little book was subsequently published in English as “Rocket Fighter”. It is the very readable story of the development of the Messerschmidt 163 rocket-powered interceptor during WWII. My copy came as a gift from a close friend of mine.
What a remarkable read! Mano Ziegler, a second world war fighter pilot with the Luftwaffe, published, in 1961, “Raketenjaeger 163“. This excellent little book was subsequently published in English as “Rocket Fighter”. It is the very readable story of the development of the Messerschmidt 163 rocket-powered interceptor during WWII. My copy came as a gift from a close friend of mine.
May 29, 2018
Great book, well written and very interesting. The book is about Test Commando 16, wich tested the Me 163 before it became operational. The author was part of this secret test program and one of the few survivors.
November 12, 2018
Interesting story of a very unusual aeroplane!
Not bad considering the author's native language was not English. Clumsy in one or two places but on the whole, pretty good and totally engaging. A darned good read!
Not bad considering the author's native language was not English. Clumsy in one or two places but on the whole, pretty good and totally engaging. A darned good read!
August 26, 2014
Excellent insight into a very cool by nasty weapon in WWII. Between the lines is a good look at a soldiers life.
December 11, 2015
Not really a war story but a story of the development of the ME 163 and some its pilots. Well written and enjoyable.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews