Aircrafttotal Encyclopedia

The Messerschmitt Me 264 was a long-range strategic bomber developed during World War II for the German Luftwaffe as its main strategic bomber. The design was later selected as Messerschmitt's competitor in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's (the German Air Ministry) Amerikabomber (America Bomber) programme, for a strategic bomber capable of attacking New York City from bases in France or the Azores.

The origin of the Me 264 design came from Messerschmitt's long-range reconnaissance aircraft project, the P.1061, of the late 1930s. A variant on the P.1061 was the P.1062 of which three prototypes were built, with only two "engines" to the P.1061's four, but they were the more powerful Daimler-Benz DB 606 "power systems", each comprising a pair of DB 601 inverted V-12 engines. These were also used in the long-range Messerschmitt Me 261, itself originating as the Messerschmitt P.1064 design of 1937. The DB 606's later use in the Heinkel He 177A's airframe design resulted in derision by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring as "welded-together engines" in August 1942, due to badly designed engine installations. In early 1941, six P.1061 prototypes were ordered from Messerschmitt, under the designation Me 264. This was later reduced to three prototypes.Messerschmitt Bf 109

Operational history

The first prototype, the Me 264 V1 , bearing the Stammkennzeichen factory code of RE+EN, was flown on 23 December 1942. It was powered at first by four Jumo 211 J inline engines of 990 kW (1,340 hp) each. In late 1943, these were changed to the BMW 801 G radials which delivered 1,290 kW (1,750 hp). Trials showed numerous minor faults and handling was found to be difficult. One of the drawbacks was the very high wing loading of the Me 264 in fully loaded conditions at some 356 kg/m ² (73 lb/sq ft). Comparable aircraft, such as the Boeing B-29 Superfortress with a wing loading of 337 kg/m ² (69 lb/sq ft), the redesigned He 277 at 334.6 kg/m ² (68.5 lb/sq ft) and the Ju 390 at 209 kg/m ² (43 lb/sq ft) had lower wing loadings. The relatively high wing loading caused poor climb performance, loss of manoeuvrability, stability and high take-off and landing speeds. The first prototype was not fitted with weapons or armour but the following two prototypes, the Me 264 V2 and V3 had armour for the engines, crew and gun positions. The Me 264 V2 was built without defensive armament and vital equipment and the Me 264 V3 was to be armed and have the same armour.

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt

Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt
Messerschmitt ME 264 America Bomber

General Info

Crew: 8
Length: 20.8979 m (68 ft 6.75 in)
Wingspan: 43.00 m (141 ft 1 in)
Height: 4.2990 m (14 ft 1.25 in)
Wing area: 127.700 m² (1,374.55 sq ft)

Powerplant

Empty weight: 21,150 kg (46,627 lb) Max takeoff weight: 56,001 kg (123,460 lb) Powerplant: 4 × BMW 801D (or BMW 801G) 14-cylinder air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,300 kW (1,700 hp) each for take-off 1,070 kW (1,440 hp) at 5,700 m (18,700 ft) Propellers: 3-bladed constant-speed propellers

Performance

Maximum speed: 520 km/h (320 mph,

Maximum speed: 546 km/h (339 mph, 295 kn) at 36,000 kg (79,366 lb) at 6,101 m (20,015 ft)

470 km/h (290 mph; 250 kn) at 34,400 kg (75,840 lb) at 8,300 m (27,230 ft)

565 km/h (351 mph; 305 kn) at 8,300 m (27,230 ft) with GM-1 operating

Cruise speed: 349 km/h (217 mph, 188 kn) at 8,001 m (26,250 ft)
Range: 15,000 km (9,300 mi, 8,100 nmi) 333 km/h (207 mph; 180 kn)
Service ceiling: 8,000 m (26,250 ft) at 36,000 kg (79,366 lb)
Rate of climb: 2.00 m/s (393 ft/min)

Armament

Guns: ** 4 × 13 mm (0.51 in) MG 131 machine guns
- 2 × 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon
Bombs: 3,000 kg (6,614 lb) bombload in internal bomb bay at 14,400 km (8,947 miles). 6,000 kg (13,200 lbs) bombload in internal bomb bay at 8,600 km (5,343 miles)

Special Links Bayerische Flugzeugwerke (BFW) Messerschmitt

Links to Youtube & Others

Three prototypes were built but production was abandoned to allow Messerschmitt to concentrate on fighter production and the Junkers Ju 390 was selected in its place. Development continued as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft instead.

Messerschmitt ME 264 America Bomber

The Me 264 was an all-metal, high-wing, four-engine heavy bomber of classic construction

Youtube Link

The two pending prototypes were ordered to be completed as development prototypes for the Me 264A ultra long-range reconnaissance aircraft.[3]

Messerschmitt AG
Messerschmitt ME 264
America Bomber