During WWII, the German aircraft industry was not shy about trying something new in hopes that it would lead to a successful aircraft. Well, actually that was true of all the warring powers, but it seems that the Germans were better at making these projects come to fruition. One only has to look at how successful their turbojet projects were in getting into unit operations compared to the Allies.

However, not all projects worked out and while some died on paper, others actually made it into prototypes before being swept under the rug. Such is the case with the Messerschmitt Me-328. Conceived as a light bomber using mostly non-strategic materials (as in wood), it was to have a fairly unique method of propulsion. In this case, it was the Argus pulsejet. These engines were successfully used a bit later on the V-1 flying bombs. However, the 328 was to use them as the major power source.

As with any developing power plant, the pulsejet was unable to provide the power needed for the 328, though it theory it should have been able to. In addition, the engine had a pulse frequency of 50-60 hertz, which was a strong vibration felt throughout the airframe. While it never caused airframe failure, it did do a number on the pilot, to such a point that this feature, along with the insufficient power issue were enough to doom the type. Even after everyone thought it was dead, it was brought back to consciousness by some who considered using it as a semi-suicide aircraft. Hitler was dead set against the idea so once again, it was put to sleep.

The author has really done his work on this one, combing through what has to be reams of information to be able to provide the full story of this aircraft. Several prototypes were built and flown, mostly as gliders, but one was flown as a powered aircraft. None survived the war, which is a shame as they would have made an interesting museum piece. The book contains probably every extant photo of the 328 and that includes the one used as a mistel with a Do-217. The majority of image are drawings of the different parts of the aircraft as well as later propositions. In the back of the book are a dozen pages of profiles of how it might have been. Overall, it is a fascinating story of politics and development of what remains a fairly obscure Luftwaffe project. Well worth picking up.

July 2024

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