A new on to me The ME-264

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A new on to me The ME-264

The Me 264 Amerika (America) was a long-range maritime reconnaissance aircraft developed by Messerschmitt during World War II for the Luftwaffe. It was intended to support U-boat operations far into the Atlantic, serving both as a scout to direct the attack, as well as launching attacks of its own. The design was later selected as a competitor in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's (the German Air Ministry) "Amerika Bomber" programme, which intended to develop a strategic bomber capable of attacking New York City from bases in Germany, although it is highly doubtful that this would have been achieved with a meaningful payload, if at all. One prototype was built, but production was abandoned to allow Messerschmitt to concentrate on fighter production while another design, the Junkers Ju 390, had been selected in its place as a maritime reconnaissance plane

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The Messerschmitt Me 264 Amerika (America) was a long-range strategic bomber aircraft developed during WW2 for the Luftwaffe under the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's "Amerika Bomber" programme.

The bomber was to be capable of flying from Germany to New York City and back. One prototype was made but production was abandoned to allow Messerschmitt to concentrate on fighter production and because the Junkers Ju 390 had been selected in its place for the Amerika Bomber.

The Me 264 had little armour and guns in the interest of increasing fuel capacity. The heavy bomber would have had a crew of 5-6.
It had four 1,700 HP BMW 801D 14-cylinder radials with GM-1 (nitrous oxide-laughing gas) boost on its 141 foot wings. The smooth fuselage measured 68.5 feet in length and it could weigh as much as 123,460 lbs. when fully loaded. 75-79,000 lbs. was normal. A 4,400 lb. bomb load could be carried at maximum range configuration. Four 13 mm Mg 131s and two 20 mm MG 151s were mounted for defensive purposes. Normal cruise was 217 MPH but at 75,000 lbs. it could haul at 351 MPH with the GM-1 on at its 27,230-foot ceiling.
 

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