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{{Short description|Interceptor jet aircraft, German, WW2}}
{{redirect|Volksjäger|the Focke-Wulf project|Focke-Wulf Volksjäger}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{More citations needed|date = February 2008}}
{{Infobox aircraft
|name = He 162
|image = File:Heinkel, He 162, Spatz Volksjager (7585406720).jpg
|image_caption = He 162A, WkNr. 120230, during post-war trials in the USA
|aircraft_type = [[Jet fighter]]
|national_origin= Germany
|manufacturer = [[Heinkel]]
|designer =
|first_flight = 6 December 1944
|introduction = January 1945
|retired = May 1945
|primary_user = ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
|produced = 1945
|number_built = 120
}}
The '''Heinkel He 162 ''Volksjäger''''' ([[German language|German]], "People's Fighter") is a German single-engine, jet-powered [[fighter aircraft]] fielded by the [[Luftwaffe]] late in [[World War II]]. Developed under the [[Emergency Fighter Program]], it was designed and built quickly and made primarily of wood as metals were in very short supply and prioritised for other aircraft. ''Volksjäger'' was the [[Reich Air Ministry]]'s official name for the government design program competition won by the He 162 design. Other names given to the plane include ''Salamander'', which was the codename of its wing-construction program, and '''''Spatz''''' ("Sparrow"), which was the name given to the plane by the [[Heinkel]] aviation firm.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/heinkel-he-162-2-spatz-sparrow/nasm_A19600321000 |title = Heinkel He 162 A-2 Spatz (Sparrow) |author = <!--Not stated--> |date = |website = airandspace.si.edu |publisher = Smithsonian Institution National Air & Space Museum |access-date = September 25, 2021 |quote = Pilots mastered some of the Spatz's nasty habits but the jet would always be a difficult, even dangerous, aircraft to fly, even for experienced pilots...the He 162 has often been erroneously referred to as the Salmander. The term is a codename for the wing structure, not the aircraft.}}</ref>
The aircraft was notable for its small size.{{efn|Although almost the same length as a [[Messerschmitt Bf 109]], its [[wingspan]] was much shorter at {{convert|7.2|m}} vs. {{convert|9.9|m}} for the Bf 109}} It had a distinctive top-mounted engine which, combined with the aircraft's low [[landing gear]], allowed the engine to be easily accessed for maintenance. This made [[Parachuting|bailing out]] of the aircraft without hitting the engine difficult, and the He 162 was the first single-engine aircraft provided with an [[ejection seat]] in an operational setting. The small size left little room for fuel, which combined with the inefficient engine resulted in very low endurance - in the order of 20 minutes - and it only had room for two [[autocannon]], making it relatively underarmed for the era.
A series of fatal accidents during testing required a series of refinements that delayed the program. Although production lines were set up and deliveries began in early 1945, the impending defeat of Germany by that time made the effort pointless. Of nearly 1,000 aircraft on the assembly lines, only about 120 were delivered to the airfields and most of those never flew, usually due to shortages of parts, fuel, and pilots. Small numbers were used in development squadrons and these ultimately saw combat in a few cases during April 1945, yet the He 162 also proved to be quite dangerous to its own pilots as its tiny fuel load led to a number of aircraft crashing off field, while additional losses were attributed to structural failure.
Production was still running when the [[German Instrument of Surrender|war ended in May 1945]]. Numerous aircraft were captured by the Allied forces along with ample supplies of parts from the production lines. [[Eric Brown (pilot)|Eric Brown]] flew one just after the war and considered it a first-rate aircraft with few vices. Several He 162s have been preserved in museum collections around the world.
==Development==
===State of the Luftwaffe fighter arm===
Through 1943, the U.S. [[Eighth Air Force]] (8AF) and German ''Luftwaffe'' entered a period of rapid evolution as both forces attempted to gain an advantage. Having lost too many fighters to the bombers' defensive guns, the Germans invested in a series of heavy weapons that allowed them to attack from outside the American machine guns' effective range. The addition of the 30mm calibre [[MK 108 cannon|MK 108]], and even heavier ''Bordkanone'' autoloading weapons in [[BK 37|37mm]] and [[BK 5 cannon|50mm]] calibres on their ''Zerstörer'' heavy fighters, and the adoption in spring 1943 of the ''[[Werfer-Granate 21]]'' unguided rockets, gave the German single and twin-engined defensive fighters a degree of firepower never seen previously by Allied fliers. Meanwhile, single-engine aircraft like [[Focke-Wulf Fw 190 operational history#The Sturmböcke|specially equipped Fw 190As]] added armor to protect their pilots from Allied bombers' defensive fire, allowing them to approach to distances where their heavy weapons could be used with some chance of hitting the bombers. All of this added greatly to the weight being carried by both the single and twin-engine fighters, seriously affecting their performance.{{sfn|Weal|1996|p=78}}{{sfn|Forsyth|2009|pp=58–59}}
In early 1944, the 8AF re-opened its bombing campaign with the [[Big Week]] offensive in conjunction with the RAF, to force a decisive battle with Luftwaffe by attacking German aircraft production and so achieve Allied air superiority over Europe. The bombers returned to the skies with the long-range [[P-51 Mustang|North American P-51 Mustang]] escort fighters progressively replacing [[Republic P-47 Thunderbolt]]s and [[Lockheed P-38 Lightning]]s. Unencumbered with the heavy weapons needed to down a bomber, the Mustangs (and longer-ranged versions of other aircraft) were able to fend off the ''Luftwaffe'' with relative ease. The ''Luftwaffe'' responded by changing tactics, forming in front of the bombers and making a single pass through the formations, giving the defense little time to react. Major General [[Jimmy Doolittle]], commander of 8AF, had changed policy in January 1944; rather than forcing escorts to stay with the bomber formations, they were free to fly ahead of the bomber formations and roam freely over Germany to hit the Luftwaffe's defensive fighters wherever they could be found.<ref>McFarland and Newton 1991, {{page needed|date=November 2022}}.</ref>
This change in tactics resulted in a sudden increase in the rate of irreplaceable losses to the Luftwaffe day fighter force, as their heavily laden aircraft were "bounced" long before reaching the bombers.{{sfn|Hess|1994|pp=77–78}} Within weeks, many of their aces were dead, along with hundreds of other pilots, and the training program could not replace their casualties quickly enough. The Luftwaffe were able to put up little fight during the summer of 1944, allowing the [[Normandy landings|Allied landings in France]] to go almost unopposed from the air. With few planes coming up to fight, Allied fighters were let loose on the German airbases, railways and truck traffic. Logistics soon became a serious problem for the Luftwaffe, as maintaining aircraft in fighting condition became almost impossible. Getting enough fuel was even more difficult because of a devastating [[Oil campaign of World War II|campaign against German petroleum industry targets]].<ref>Miller 2006, p. 320.</ref><ref name=WalterBedellSmith>{{Cite report |last = Williamson |first = Charles C. |author2 = Hughes, R. D. |author3 = Cabell, C. P. |author4 = Nazarro, J. J. |author5 = Bender, F. P. |author6 = Crigglesworth, W. J. |date = 5 March 1944 |title = Plan for Completion of Combined Bomber Offensive |work = Dwight D. [[Eisenhower Presidential Library]]: Smith, Walter Bedell: Collection of World War II Documents, 1941–1945; Box No.: 48 |publisher = HQ, U.S.S.T.A.F }}</ref>
===Origins===
[[File:Heinkel He 162 Freeman Field IN 1945.jpg|thumb|He 162 ''120077'', surrendered to the British at Leck, pictured at Freeman Field, Indiana, 1945]]
Addressing this posed a considerable problem for the Luftwaffe. Two camps quickly developed, both demanding the immediate introduction of large numbers of jet fighter aircraft. One group, led by General [[Adolf Galland]], the [[Inspector of Fighters]], reasoned that superior numbers had to be countered with superior technology, and demanded that all possible effort be put into increasing the production of the jet powered [[Messerschmitt Me 262]] in its A-1a fighter version, even if that meant reducing production of other aircraft in the meantime.<ref name = "dorr 153"/>
The second group pointed out that this would likely do little to address the problem; the Me 262 had notoriously unreliable [[Junkers Jumo 004|Jumo 004 jet engines]] and [[landing gear]], and the existing logistics problems would mean there would merely be more of them on the ground waiting for parts that would never arrive, or for fuel that was not available.<ref name = "Forsyth 8">Forsyth 2016, p. 8.</ref> Instead, they suggested that a new design be built – one so inexpensive that if a machine was damaged or worn out, it could simply be discarded and replaced with a fresh plane straight off the assembly line.<ref name = "Forsyth 7">Forsyth 2016, p. 7.</ref> Thus was born the concept of the "throwaway fighter".{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
Galland and several other Luftwaffe senior officers expressed their vehement opposition to this [[light fighter]] concept,<ref name = "dorr 153">Dorr 2013, p. 153.</ref>{{Sfn|Uziel|2011|pp= 240–243}} while head of the Luftwaffe ''Reichsmarschall'' [[Hermann Göring]] and Armaments Minister [[Albert Speer]] fully supported the idea. Göring and Speer got their way; accordingly, a contract [[invitation to tender|tender]] to supply a single-engine jet fighter that was suited for cheap and rapid mass production was established under the name ''Volksjäger'' ("People's Fighter").
===Volksjäger===
{{see also|Emergency Fighter Program}}
The official RLM ''Volksjäger'' design competition parameters specified a single-seat fighter, powered by a single [[BMW 003]] turbojet,<ref name = "Christopher 145">Christopher 2013, p. 145.</ref><ref name = "LePage 38">LePage 2009, p. 38.</ref> a slightly lower-thrust engine not in demand for either the Me 262 or the [[Arado Ar 234]] jet bomber, already in service.<ref name = "Forsyth 89"/> The main structure of the ''Volksjäger'' competing airframe designs would use cheap and unsophisticated parts made of wood and other non-[[strategic material]]s and, more importantly, could be assembled by semi- and non-skilled labor, including [[Forced labour under German rule during World War II|slave labor]].<ref name = "LePage 244"/><ref name = "dorr 152">Dorr 2013, p. 152.</ref>
The specification stipulated various performance requirements, including a maximum weight of {{convert|2000|kg|lb|abbr=on}},<ref name = "Christopher 145"/> a maximum speed of 750 km/h (470 mph) at sea level, an operational endurance of at least a half hour, while the takeoff distance was to be no greater than 500 m (1,640 ft).<ref name = "Forsyth 89">Forsyth 2016, pp. 8-9.</ref> Provisions for armour plating in areas such as the fuel tanks and around the pilot were also to be made, however, manufacturers were also asked to provide detail on the aircraft's performance both with and without armour installed. The armament was specified as either a pair of {{convert|20|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[MG 151 cannon|MG 151/20 cannon]] with 100 rounds each, or two {{convert|30|mm|in|abbr=on}} [[MK 108 cannon]] with 50 rounds each.<ref name = "Forsyth 10">Forsyth 2016, p. 10.</ref>
Furthermore, the ''Volksjäger'' needed to be easy to fly.<ref name = "Forsyth 7"/> Some officials, such as [[Artur Axmann]] and [[Karl Saur]], suggested even glider or student pilots should be able to fly the jet effectively in combat and, had the ''Volksjäger'' achieved widespread use, this would have been a likely occurrence.<ref name = "Forsyth 178">Forsyth 2016, pp. 17-18.</ref> After the war, [[Ernst Heinkel]] said, "[The] unrealistic notion that this plane should be a 'people's fighter,' in which the [[Hitler Youth]], after a short training regimen with clipped-wing two-seater gliders like the [[DFS Habicht|DFS ''Stummel-Habicht'']], could fly for the defense of Germany, displayed the unbalanced fanaticism of those days."<ref>Excerpt from Lucas Arts' "Secret Weapons of Luftwaffe" CD-ROM's Text Manual.</ref><ref name = "heath 223">Heath 2022, p. 223.</ref> The clipped-wingspan DFS Habicht models had varying wingspans of both {{convert|8|m|ftin|abbr=on}} or {{convert|6|m|ftin|abbr=on}}, and were used to prepare more experienced ''Luftwaffe'' pilots for the dangerous [[Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet|Me 163B]] ''Komet'' rocket fighter – the same sort of training approach would also be used for the Hitler Youth aviators chosen to fly the ''Volksjäger''.<ref name = "Forsyth 78">Forsyth 2016, pp. 7-8.</ref>
On 8 September 1944, the requirement was issued to industry;<ref name = "LePage 244">LePage 2009, p. 244.</ref><ref name = "dorr 151">Dorr 2013, p. 151.</ref> bidders were required to submit their basic designs within ten days while quantity production of the aircraft was to commence by 1 January 1945.<ref name = "Forsyth 9">Forsyth 2016, p. 9.</ref> Because the winner of the new lightweight fighter design competition would be building huge numbers of the planes, nearly every German aircraft manufacturer expressed interest in the project, such as [[Blohm & Voss (aircraft)|Blohm & Voss]], and [[Focke-Wulf]], whose [[Focke-Wulf Volksjäger 1]] design contender, likewise meant for BMW 003 turbojet power bore a resemblance to their slightly later [[Focke-Wulf Ta 183|Ta 183 ''Huckebein'']] jet fighter design. However, Heinkel had already been working on a series of "paper projects" for light twin-engine fighters over the last year under the designation [[Heinkel P.1073|P.1073]], with most design work being completed by Professor Benz, and had gone so far as to build and test several models and conduct some [[wind tunnel]] testing.<ref name = "Forsyth 910">Forsyth 2016, pp. 9-10.</ref>
As Heinkel had a head start on its design, some officials believed that the outcome was a largely foregone conclusion.<ref name = "Forsyth 10">Forsyth 2016, p. 10.</ref> Nevertheless, many companies opted to produce responses; some of these competing designs were technically superior (in particular to the [[Blohm & Voss P 211]] proposal). Messerschmitt did not submit any design, the company's founder, [[Willy Messerschmitt]], dismissed the ''Volksjäger'' concept to be a delusional failure.<ref name = "Forsyth 11">Forsyth 2016, p. 11.</ref> During October 1944, the competition's results were announced, only three weeks following the requirement being issued; to little surprise, Heinkel's submission was selected for production.<ref name = "Forsyth 15">Forsyth 2016, p. 15.</ref> In order to confuse Allied intelligence, the RLM chose to reuse the 8-162 airframe designation (formerly that of a [[Messerschmitt Bf 162|Messerschmitt Bf 162 fast bomber]]);<ref name = "sharp 16">Sharp 2020b, p. 16.</ref> Heinkel had reportedly requested another designation, ''He 500'', for the aircraft.<ref name = "sharp 178">Sharp 2020b, p. 178.</ref><ref name = "Forsyth 22">Forsyth 2016, p. 22.</ref>
==Design==
[[File:Heinkel He 162 CASM 2012 8.jpg|thumb|He 162 tail section]]
Heinkel had carried out some design work of a new twin-engine fighter with one engine placed on top of the aircraft and another under the nose, the highest point on the bottom of the fuselage. For the single-engine development, he removed the lower engine and repositioned the remaining upper engine just aft of the [[cockpit]] and centered directly over the wing's center section.<ref name = "sharp 1778">Sharp 2020b, pp. 177–178.</ref> This arrangement simplified the overall balance of the aircraft, while also placing the engine in a convenient point for removal as it could be removed upward with a small crane.<ref name = "Ford 224"/> The need for a crane to be present at every airfield that the aircraft would operate from was a point of contention of the aircraft from Heinkel's rivals.<ref name = "Forsyth 14">Forsyth 2016, p. 14.</ref>
One consequence of the aircraft's basic configuration was that the jet exhaust would pass directly over the upper rear fuselage and the tail area. For this reason, the tail was constructed with two small vertical stabilizers positioned to either side of the exhaust's path, and the horizontal elevator mounted below it.<ref name = "dorr 150"/> The horizontal section had considerable [[dihedral (aircraft)|dihedral]] at 14º, raising the vertical stabilizers inline with the wing.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |title = Baubeschreibung des einmotorigen Jagdeinsitzers, Baumuster 162, mit TL-Triebwerk BMW 003 E-1 (in German) |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 15 October 1944 |website = deutsche-luftwaffe.de |publisher = Heinkel Flugzeugwerke |access-date = 6 July 2016 |page = 40 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160804005136/http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |archive-date = 4 August 2016 }}</ref>
The aircraft's relatively compact wing was mounted relatively high on the fuselage and was attached using four bolts.<ref name = "Christopher 145"/><ref name = "dorr 150"/> The leading edge was straight while the trailing edge had a significant forward sweep. It was not possible to remove the wing without first removing the engine, an arrangement that would have hindered routine maintenance of the aircraft.<ref name = "Forsyth 14"/> The combination of the engine being directly above the pilot and the wings on either side would make a conventional bailout very risky, so the aircraft was designed from the start to feature an ejection seat akin to the one used in the [[Heinkel He 219]] [[night fighter]].{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
The main landing gear retracted into the fuselage below the wing and were of the [[Tricycle gear|tricycle]] layout.<ref name = "dorr 150">Dorr 2013, p. 150.</ref> Heinkel had significant previous experience with this layout on earlier designs including the [[Heinkel He 280]],<ref name = "Christopher 58">Christopher 2013, p. 58.</ref><ref name = "sharp 72">Sharp 2020b, p. 72.</ref> however, this was the first of their designs to use this layout from the start. A small window in the lower cockpit between the rudder pedals allowed the pilot to visually check whether the gear was down.<ref name="memorialflight">{{cite AV media |year = 2008 |title = Heinkel 162 (He162) landing gear test |medium = YouTube |url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlRL320cCGY |access-date = 9 July 2013 |format = YouTube |publisher = memorialflight |___location = Le Bourget, Paris, France }}</ref><ref>[http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~t_miyama/sptzflg.html Animation of He 162 nosegear retraction cycle]</ref><ref>[http://www5a.biglobe.ne.jp/~t_miyama/162mlg.html Animation of He 162 maingear retraction cycle]</ref> Partly due to the late-war period it was designed within, some of the He 162's landing gear components were "recycled" existing landing gear components from a contemporary German military aircraft to save development time: the main landing gear's oleo struts and wheel/brake units came from the [[Messerschmitt Bf 109 variants#Bf 109K|Messerschmitt Bf 109K]], as well as the double-acting hydraulic cylinders, one per side, used to raise and lower each maingear leg.<ref>{{cite book |last = Sengfelder |first = Günther |date = 1993 |title = German Aircraft Landing Gear |___location = Atglen, PA USA |publisher = Schiffer Publishing |pages = 136–137 |isbn = 0-88740-470-7 |quote = <!--The He 162's landing gear consisted partly of elements taken from other designs. The main landing gear legs and wheels were from the Bf 109K. The hydraulic jack used to raise and lower the landing gear was also taken from the Bf 109. -->}}</ref>
===Prototypes===
The He 162 V1 first prototype flew within an astoundingly short period of time: the design was chosen on 25 September 1944 and first flew on 6 December,<ref name = "Ford 224" /><ref name = "Forsyth 245">Forsyth 2016, pp. 24-25.</ref> less than 90 days later. This was despite the fact that the factory in [[Wuppertal]] making [[Tego film]] [[plywood]] glue — used in a substantial number of late-war German aviation designs whose airframes and/or major airframe components were meant to be constructed mostly from wood — [[Bombing of Wuppertal in World War II|had been bombed by the Royal Air Force]] and a replacement had to be quickly substituted, without realizing that the replacement adhesive was highly acidic and would disintegrate the wooden parts it was intended to be fastening.<ref name = "dorr 156">Dorr 2013, p. 156.</ref>
The first flight of the He 162 V1, by ''Flugkapitän'' Gotthold Peter – the first German jet fighter aircraft design to be jet-powered from its maiden flight onward – was fairly successful, but during a high-speed run at 840 km/h (520 mph), the highly acidic replacement glue attaching the nose gear strut door failed and the pilot was forced to land. Other problems were noted as well, notably a pitch instability and problems with sideslip due to the [[rudder]] design.<ref name = "Christopher 145"/><ref name = "Forsyth 259">Forsyth 2016, pp. 25-29.</ref> None were considered important enough to hold up the production schedule for even a day. On a second flight on 10 December, again with Peter at the controls, in front of various Nazi officials, the glue again caused a structural failure. This allowed the [[aileron]] to separate from the wing, causing the plane to roll over, it broke up in the air and crashed, killing Peter.<ref name="Ford 224" /><ref name = "sharp 18">Sharp 2020b, p. 18.</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Maloney |title=Heinkel He-162 |publisher=Aero Publishers, inc |publication-date=1965 |pages=33}}</ref>
An investigation into the failure revealed that the wing structure had to be strengthened and some redesign was needed, as the glue bonding required for the wood parts was in many cases defective.<ref name = "Ford 224" /><ref name = "dorr 156"/> However, the schedule was so tight that testing was forced to continue with the current design. Speeds were limited to 500 km/h (310 mph) when the second [[prototype]] flew on 22 December. This time, the stability problems proved to be more serious, and were found to be related to phenomenon known as [[Dutch roll]].<ref name = "sharp 155">Sharp 2020b, p. 155.</ref>
While this tendency could be resolved by reducing the dihedral, however, as the He 162 was supposed to enter production within weeks, there was no time to implement major design changes. Instead, a number of small changes were made, such as the addition of [[lead]] ballast in the nose to move the [[Center of gravity|centre of gravity]] towards the front of the aircraft while the tail surfaces were also slightly increased in size.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}} Despite these measures, some figures, such as [[Alexander Lippisch]], declared the flying characteristics of the He 162 to be unsuitable for inexperienced pilots.<ref name = "sharp 311">Sharp 2020b, p. 311.</ref>
The third and fourth prototypes, which used an "M" for "Muster" (model) number instead of "V" for "Versuchs" (experimental) number, as the He 162 M3 and M4, after being fitted with the strengthened wings, flew in mid-January 1945.<ref name = "sharp 11">Sharp 2020b, p. 11.</ref><ref name = "Forsyth 302">Forsyth 2016, pp. 30-32.</ref> These versions also included – as possibly the pioneering example of their use on a production-line, military jet aircraft – small, anhedraled [[aluminium]] [[Wingtip device#Hoerner wing tips|"drooped" wingtips]], reportedly designed by [[Alexander Lippisch]] and known in German as ''Lippisch-Ohren'' ("Lippisch Ears"), in an attempt to cure the stability problems via effectively "decreasing" the main wing panels' marked three degree dihedral angle.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |title = Baubeschreibung des einmotorigen Jagdeinsitzers, Baumuster 162, mit TL-Triebwerk BMW 003 E-1 (in German) |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 15 October 1944 |website = deutsche-luftwaffe.de |publisher = Heinkel Flugzeugwerke |access-date = July 6, 2016 |page = 39 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160804005136/http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |archive-date = 4 August 2016 }}</ref> Both prototypes were equipped with two 30 mm (1.18 in) MK 108 cannon in the He 162 A-1 anti-bomber variant; in testing, the recoil from these guns proved to be too much for the lightweight fuselage to handle, and plans for production turned to the A-2 fighter with two 20 mm MG 151/20 cannon instead while a redesign for added strength started as the A-3. The shift to 20 mm guns was also undertaken because the smaller-calibre weapons would allow a much greater amount of ammunition to be carried.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
The He 162 was originally built with the intention of being flown by the Hitler Youth, as the Luftwaffe was fast running out of pilots. However, the aircraft's complexity required more experienced pilots. Both a standard-fuselage length, unarmed BMW 003E-powered two-seat version (with the rear pilot's seat planned to have a ventral access hatch to access the cockpit) and an unpowered two-seat [[Military glider|glider]] version, designated the He 162S (''Schulen''), were developed for [[Flight training|training]] purposes.<ref name = "Forsyth 51">Forsyth 2016, p. 51.</ref> Only a small number were built, and even fewer delivered to the sole He 162 Hitler Youth training unit to be activated (in March 1945) at an airbase at [[Żagań|Sagan]]. The unit was in the process of formation when the war ended, and did not begin any training; it is doubtful that more than one or two He 162S gliders ever took to the air.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 141-2737, Bei Mödlingen, unterirdische Flugzeugproduktion.jpg|thumb|The [[Hinterbrühl]] underground production line for the He 162A was captured in April 1945]]
Various changes had raised the weight over the original 2,000 kg (4,410 lb) limit, but even at 2,800 kg (6,170 lb), the He 162 was still among the fastest aircraft in the air with a maximum airspeed of {{convert|790|km/h|kn mph|0|abbr=on}} at sea level and {{convert|839|km/h|kn mph|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|6000|m|ft|abbr=on}},<ref name="Christopher 146">Christopher 2013, p. 146.</ref> but could reach {{convert|890|km/h|kn mph|0|abbr=on}} at sea level and {{convert|905|km/h|kn mph|0|abbr=on}} at {{convert|6000|m|ft|abbr=on}} using short burst extra thrust.<ref>Donald 1994, p. 119.</ref> The short flight duration of barely 30 minutes was due to only having a single 695-litre (183 US gallon) capacity flexible-bladder fuel tank in the fuselage directly under the engine's intake.<ref name="Wood"/> The original ''Baubeschreibung'' document submittal for the He 162 dated mid-October 1944 showed a pair of fuel tanks for the original version of the ''Spatz's'' airframe as-designed: a single, smaller capacity 640 litre (169 US gal) fuselage main tank in approximately the same ___location as the later 695 litre tank was placed, with an additional wing centre-section tank just above and behind it, never produced for the production run, of some 325 litres (86 US gal) feeding by gravity into the main fuselage tank.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |title = Baubeschreibung des einmotorigen Jagdeinsitzers, Baumuster 162, mit TL-Triebwerk BMW 003 E-1 (in German) |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 15 October 1944 |website = deutsche-luftwaffe.de |publisher = Heinkel Flugzeugwerke |access-date = 6 July 2016 |page = 43 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160804005136/http://www.deutscheluftwaffe.de/archiv/Dokumente/ABC/h/Heinkel/He%20162/Baubeschreibung.pdf |archive-date = 4 August 2016 }}</ref> The A-2 version, in some examples (as the one flown by [[Royal Navy]] test pilot [[Captain (Royal Navy)|Captain]] Eric Brown postwar) had an emplacement of a pair of "impregnated" 180 litre (47.5 US gal) wing tanks, one built into each inner wing panel, within the first four [[Rib (aeronautics)|wing rib]]s out from the root and between the spars, that fed into the main 695 litre fuselage tank in a similar manner to what the earlier 325 litre center-section tank had been proposed to do; but were themselves ungauged, their exhaustion of fuel only marked when the main fuel gauge began to fall during flight.<ref>Brown 2010, p. 137.</ref> The production He 162A-2 was armed with a pair of 20mm MG 151/20 cannon.<ref name="Christopher 146"/><ref name = "dorr 159">Dorr 2013, p. 159.</ref>
Multiple facilities were engaged in the production of the He 162, including the assembly lines in [[Salzburg]], the [[Hinterbrühl]], and the [[Mittelwerk]].<ref name="Christopher 146"/><ref name = "dorr 1545">Dorr 2013, pp. 154-155.</ref> By April 1945, it had been anticipated that output would reach 1,000 aircraft per month, which was double the rate achieved when the Mittelwerk plant commenced deliveries.<ref name="Christopher 146"/> Furthermore, the Air Ministry expected that production were rise even beyond this figure in order to produce sufficient fighter coverage.<ref name = "LePage 267">LePage 2009, p. 267.</ref><ref name = "sharp 179">Sharp 2020b, p. 179.</ref>
==Operational history==
During January 1945, the Luftwaffe formed an ''[[Erprobungskommando]] 162'' ("Test Unit 162") evaluation group to which the first 46 aircraft were delivered. The group was based at the Luftwaffe main test center, or ''Erprobungsstelle'' at [[Rechlin-Lärz Airfield|Rechlin]].
In February, deliveries of the He 162 commenced to its first operational unit, I./JG 1 (1st Group of [[Jagdgeschwader 1 (World War II)|''Jagdgeschwader'' 1 ''Oesau'']] — "1st Fighter Wing"), which had previously flown the Focke-Wulf Fw 190A. I./JG 1 was transferred to [[Parchim International Airport|Parchim]], which, at the time, was also a base for the Me 262-equipped [[Jagdgeschwader 7|''Jagdgeschwader'' 7]], some 80 km south-southwest of the Heinkel factory's coastal airfield at "Marienehe" (today known as [[Rostock]]-Schmarl, northwest of the Rostock city centre), where the pilots could pick up their new jets and start intensive training beginning in March 1945. This was all happening simultaneously with unrelenting Allied air attacks on the transportation network, aircraft production facilities and [[petroleum]], [[oil]], and [[lubrication]] (POL) product-making installations of the Third Reich – these had now begun to also target the Luftwaffe's jet and rocket fighter bases as well. On 6 April, the [[United States Army Air Forces|USAAF]] bombed the field at Parchim with 134 [[B-17 Flying Fortress|Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress]]es, inflicting serious losses and damage to the infrastructure.<ref name = "Forsyth 62">Forsyth 2016, p. 62.</ref> Two days later, I./JG 1 moved to an airfield at nearby [[Ludwigslust]] and, less than a week later, moved again to an airfield at [[Leck, Nordfriesland|Leck]], near the Danish border. On 8 April, II./JG 1 moved to Heinkel's aforementioned Rostock northwestern coastal suburban factory airfield and started converting from Fw 190As to He 162s. III./JG 1 was also scheduled to convert to the He 162, but the ''Gruppe'' disbanded on 24 April and its personnel were used to fill in the vacancies in other units.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
The He 162 first saw combat in mid-April 1945. On 19 April, ''Feldwebel'' Günther Kirchner shot down a [[Royal Air Force]] fighter and, although the victory was credited to a flak unit, the British pilot confirmed during interrogation that he had been downed by an He 162.<ref>Mombeek 1992, p. 297.</ref><ref name = "dorr 160">Dorr 2013, p. 160.</ref> The Heinkel and its pilot were both lost that same day as well, having been shot down over Husum<ref>{{Cite web |title=Victories |url=https://www.hawkertempest.se/index.php/piloter/victories |access-date=2023-12-31 |website=www.hawkertempest.se}}</ref> by Flying Officer Geoffrey Walkington,<ref>Shores 2006, pp. 497–498.</ref><ref>Thomas and Holmes 2016, pp. 60–61.</ref> piloting an RAF [[Hawker Tempest]]. Though still in training, I./JG 1 began to score kills in mid-April, but went on to lose 13 He 162s and 10 pilots. Ten of the aircraft were operational losses, caused by [[flameout]]s and sporadic structural failures. Only two of the 13 aircraft were actually shot down. The He 162's 30-minute fuel capacity also caused problems, as at least two of JG 1's pilots were killed attempting emergency [[deadstick landing]]s after exhausting their fuel.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
During its exceedingly brief operational service career, the He 162's cartridge-type ejector seat was employed under combat conditions by JG 1's pilots at least four times. Kirchner had been the first to eject when he was attacked on April 19, but he was too low and was killed when his parachute failed to open.<ref>Shores 2006, p. 498.</ref><ref>Thomas and Holmes 2016, p. 60.</ref> The second recorded use was by Lt Rudolf Schmidt on April 20, with Fw. Erwin Steeb ejecting from his He 162 the following day. Finally, Hptm. [[Paul-Heinrich Dähne]] attempted to eject from his aircraft on April 24, but was killed when the cockpit canopy failed to detach.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
[[File:Heinkel 162.jpg|thumb|A captured He 162, circa 1945]]
[[File:Captured Heinkel He 162 at Leck airfield, Germany, in 1945 (342-FH-3A16590-A58561AC).jpg|thumb|Captured He 162 ''120230'' in France, brought to the US by [[Operation Lusty]]]]
In the last days of April, as the Soviet troops approached, II./JG 1 evacuated from Marienehe and on 2 May joined the I./JG 1 at [[Leck, Nordfriesland|Leck]]. On 3 May, all of JG 1's surviving He 162s were restructured into two groups, I. ''Einsatz'' ("Combat") and II. ''Sammel'' ("Collection"). All JG 1's aircraft were grounded on 5 May, when [[General Admiral]] [[Hans-Georg von Friedeburg]] signed the surrender of all German armed forces in the Netherlands, Northwest Germany and Denmark. On 6 May, when the British reached their airfields, JG 1 turned their He 162s over to the Allies.<ref name = "Forsyth 81">Forsyth 2016, p. 81.</ref> Numerous aircraft were shipped to the U.S., Britain, France, and the Soviet Union for further evaluation.<ref name = "dorr 161">Dorr 2013, p. 161.</ref><ref name = "Forsyth 67">Forsyth 2016, pp. 6-7.</ref>
''Erprobungskommando'' 162 fighters, which had been passed on to [[JV 44]], an elite jet unit under Adolf Galland a few weeks earlier, were all destroyed by their crews to keep them from falling into Allied hands. Heinkel did not resort to such measures, the company's engineers supplied the Americans with detailed designs for the He 162.<ref name = "sharp 148">Sharp 2020b, p. 148.</ref>
The difficulties experienced by the He 162 are believed to have been primarily a result of its rush into production, rather than any inherent design flaw.<ref name = "LePage 266">LePage 2009, p. 266.</ref> One experienced ''Luftwaffe'' pilot who flew the He 162 called it a "first-class combat aircraft." Test pilot Eric Brown of the [[Fleet Air Arm]], who flew a record 486 different types of aircraft, said the He 162 had "the lightest and most effective aerodynamically balanced controls" he had experienced.<ref>Brown, Eric. "Mastering Heinkel's Minimus; Air Enthusiast, 2:6, June 1972.</ref> Brown had been warned to treat the rudder with suspicion due to a number of in-flight failures. This warning was passed on by Brown to RAF pilot Flt Lt R A Marks, but was apparently not heeded. On 9 November 1945, during a demonstration flight from [[RAE Farnborough]], one of the fin and rudder assemblies broke off at the start of a low-level roll causing the aircraft to crash into Oudenarde Barracks, [[Aldershot]], killing Marks and a soldier on the ground.<ref>{{cite news |title = Two Killed In Flying Accident |newspaper = The Times |___location = London, England |date = 10 November 1945 |page = 2 }}</ref>
==He 162 ''Mistel''==
The [[Mistel]] series of fighter/powered bomb composite [[ground-attack aircraft]] pre-dated the He 162 by over two years, and the ''Mistel'' 5 project study in early 1945 proposed the mating of an He 162A-2 to the [[Arado E.377]]A flying bomb.<ref name = "Ford 224">Ford 2013, p. 224.</ref><ref name = "LePage 1601">LePage 2009, pp. 160-161.</ref> The fighter would sit atop the bomb, which would itself be equipped with two underwing-mounted BMW 003 turbojets. This ungainly combination would take off on a sprung trolley fitted with tandem wheels on each side for the "main gear" equivalent, derived from that used on the first eight Arado Ar 234 prototypes, with all three jets running. Immediately after take-off, the trolley would be jettisoned, and the ''Mistel'' would then fly to within strike range of the designated target. Upon reaching this point, the bomb would be aimed squarely at the target and then released, with the jet turning back for home. The ''Mistel'' 5 remained a "paper project", as the Arado bomb never progressed beyond the blueprint stage.{{citation needed|date=October 2020}}
==Variants==
* '''He 162 A-0''' — first ten pre-production aircraft.
* '''He 162 A-1
* '''He 162 A-2
* '''He 162 A-3
* '''He 162 A-8''' — proposed upgrade with the more powerful Jumo 004D-4 engine of 10.3 kN (2,300 lbf) top thrust levels. ''Muster'' (model) prototype airframes M11 and M12's testing revealed a top speed of 885 km/h (550 mph) at sea level at normal thrust and 960 km/h (597 mph) with maximum thrust,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/he162/HE-162-F-TS-672-RE.pdf|title=History and Experiences of He-162|website=wwiiaircraftperformance.org|access-date=11 August 2023}}</ref> close to the Me 163B rocket fighter's top velocity figures.
* '''He 162 B-1
:The He 162B airframe was also used as the basis for the [[Emergency Fighter Program|Miniature Fighter Project]] design competition powered by one or two "square-intake" Argus As 044 [[pulsejet]] engines. The pulsejet, however didn't provide enough thrust for takeoff and neither Heinkel nor the [[Oberkommando der Luftwaffe|OKL]] showed much enthusiasm for the project.<ref>[http://www.airvectors.net/avhe162.html The Heinkel He-162 Volksjaeger]</ref>
*
*
*
* '''He 162S''' — two-seat training glider.
==Operators==
;{{flag|Nazi Germany}}
* ''[[Luftwaffe]]''
;{{flag|France}}
* [[French Air Force]] (Test aircraft)
;{{flag|United Kingdom}}
* '' [[Royal Aircraft Establishment]] ''
==Aircraft on display==
* An He 162 A-2 (''Werknummer'' 120227) of JG 1 is on display at the [[Royal Air Force Museum London]], Hendon, London, UK.<ref name=RAFMuseum>{{cite web |first= Andrew |last= Simpson |date=2015 |url = https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/collections/1990-0697-A-Heinkel-162.pdf |title = Individual History: Heinkel He162A-2 W/NR.120227/AIR MIN 65/VN679/8472M, Museum Accession Number 1990/0697/A |publisher = [[Royal Air Force Museum]] |access-date = 30 November 2022}}</ref>
* An He 162 A-2 (''Werknummer'' 120077) is displayed at the [[Planes of Fame]] Museum on static display in Chino, California, USA. This aircraft was captured by the British at Leck and sent to the United States in 1945 where it was given the designation FE-489 (Foreign Equipment 489) and later T-2-489.<ref>Forsyth & Creek 2008, p. 180</ref>
* An He 162 A-2 (''Werknummer'' 120230), thought to have been flown by ''Oberst'' [[Herbert Ihlefeld]] of 1./JG 1, is currently owned by the American [[Smithsonian Institution]]'s [[National Air and Space Museum]], USA.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.si.edu/object/heinkel-he-162-2-spatz-sparrow%3Anasm_A19600321000 |title = Heinkel He 162 A-2 Spatz (Sparrow) |publisher = [[Smithsonian Institution]] |access-date = 30 November 2022}}</ref> This He 162A, captured by the British at Leck and sent to the US, along with several other recovered aircraft ([[Operation Lusty]]), is currently fitted with the tail unit from ''Werknummer'' 120222.
* An He 162 A-2 (''Werknummer'' 120086) is on display at the [[Canada Aviation and Space Museum]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Heinkel He 162A-1 Volksjäger (120086) |publisher= Canada Aviation and Space Museum |url=https://ingeniumcanada.org/aviation/artifact/heinkel-he-162a-1-volksjager-120086 |website=ingeniumcanada.org |access-date=5 February 2023 |language=en}}</ref>
* An He 176A-2<ref>Sharp 2020a, p. 133</ref> (''Werknummer'' 120076) is displayed at the [[Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin]].<ref>{{Cite web |url = http://www.sdtb.de/Medieninfo-Heinkel-He-162.1921.0.html |publisher= Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin |title = Medieninfo: Heinkel He 162 |access-date = 26 November 2011 |archive-date = 29 May 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120529231119/http://www.sdtb.de/Medieninfo-Heinkel-He-162.1921.0.html |url-status = dead }}</ref>
* An He 162 A-1 (''Werknummer'' 120235) Captured at Leck, at [[Imperial War Museum Duxford]], UK.<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/70000186 |title = Heinkel 162A-1 Salamander |publisher = Imperial War Museum |access-date = 30 November 2022}}</ref><ref name=RAFMuseum/>
* An He 162 A-2 (''Werknummer'' 120015) formerly of III./JG1, is currently under restoration at the ''[[Musée de l'Air et de l'Espace]]'' near Paris, France, with a fully restored and operable retracting landing gear.<ref name="memorialflight"/>
* An He 162 is most likely in storage at the US Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum (''Werk Nummer'' 120222, Air Force number T-2-504).<ref>Forsyth & Creek 2008, p. 181</ref>
<gallery mode="packed" heights="140">
Image:He-162A-2DSCF0846 b.jpg
|Wk. Nr. 120227, RAF Museum, London
Image:He-162A-1.jpg|Wk. Nr. 120235, Imperial War Museum, London (now moved to Duxford)
Image:Heinkel_He_162_CASM_2012_5.jpg |Wk. Nr. 120086, Canada Aviation and Space Museum, Ottawa
</gallery>
;Reproduction
* He 162, produced by George Lucas (Nunda, NY) displayed at National Warplane Museum, Geneseo NY ([https://nationalwarplanemuseum.com www.nationalwarplanemuseum.com])
==Specifications (He 162A)==
[[File:Heinkel He 162 3-view.svg|thumb|He 162A 3-view]]
{{Aircraft specs
|ref= ''Hitler's Luftwaffe.''<ref name=Wood>Wood and Gunston 1977, pp. 194–195.</ref>
|prime units?= met
<!--
General characteristics
-->
|crew= 1
|length m= 9.05
|span m= 7.2
|height m= 2.6
|wing area sqm= 11.16
|aspect ratio= <!-- sailplanes -->
|airfoil= <!--'''root:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA]] ; '''tip:''' [[NACA airfoil|NACA]]<ref name="Selig">{{cite web |last1 = Lednicer |first1 = David |title = The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage |url = https://m-selig.ae.illinois.edu/ads/aircraft.html |website = m-selig.ae.illinois.edu |access-date = 16 April 2019}}</ref>-->
|empty weight kg= 1,660
|gross weight kg=
|max takeoff weight kg= 2,800
|fuel capacity= {{cvt|695|L|USgal impgal}}
|more general=
<!--
Powerplant
-->
|eng1 number= 1
|eng1 name= [[BMW 109-003E-1]] or [[BMW 109-003E-2]]
|eng1 type= [[turbojet engine]]
|eng1 kn= 7.85
<!--
Performance
-->
|max speed kmh= 840
|max speed note= at {{cvt|6000|m}}{{efn| {{cvt|790|km/h|mph kn}} at [[sea level]] normal thrust, {{cvt|890|km/h|mph kn}} at sea level emergency boosted thrust, and {{cvt|905|km/h|mph kn}} at {{cvt|6000|m}} emergency boosted thrust }}
|cruise speed kmh=
|stall speed kmh=
|never exceed speed kmh=
|minimum control speed kmh=
|range km= 975
|combat range km=
|ferry range km=
|endurance=<!-- if range unknown -->
|ceiling m= 12,000
|g limits=<!-- aerobatic -->
|roll rate=<!-- aerobatic -->
|climb rate ms= 23.42
|time to altitude=
|wing loading kg/m2= 252
|fuel consumption kg/km=
|power/mass=
|thrust/weight= 0.35 (normal thrust)
:::0.41 (emergency boosted thrust)
|more performance=
<!--
Armament
-->
|guns= 2 × {{cvt|20|mm|3}} [[MG 151/20]] [[autocannon]] with 120 {{abbr|rpg|Rounds per Gun}} (He 162 A-2) '''or''' 2 × {{cvt|30|mm|3}} [[MK 108 cannon]] with 50 rpg (He 162 A-0, A-1)
|avionics=
}}
==See also==
{{aircontent
|related=
|similar aircraft=
* [[de Havilland Vampire]] <!--single centreline engine, wooden construction, contemporaneous -->
* [[Henschel Hs 132]] <!--top mounted engine, wooden construction, contemporaneous -->
* [[Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star]]
* [[Messerschmitt Me 262]]
|lists=
* [[List of aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of fighter aircraft]]
* [[List of jet aircraft of World War II]]
* [[List of World War II military aircraft of Germany]]
* [[Wunderwaffe]]
|see also=
}}
==References==
===Notes===
{{notelist}}
===Citations===
{{Reflist}}
===Bibliography===
* {{cite book |last = Brown |first = Eric |title = Wings of the Luftwaffe: Flying Captured German Aircraft of World War II |publisher = Hikoki Publications |edition = Revised |date = 2010 |isbn = 978-1-9021091-5-2|author-link=Eric Brown (pilot)|___location=Manchester, UK}}
* {{Cite book |last = Christopher |first = John |year = 2013 |title = The Race for Hitler's X-Planes |___location = Stroud, UK |publisher = History Press |isbn = 978-0-7524-6457-2}}
* {{cite book |last = Donald |first = David |title = Warplanes of the Luftwaffe |___location = London, United Kingdom |publisher = Aerospace Publishing |date = 1994 |isbn = 1-874023-56-5}}
* {{cite book |last = Dorr |first = Robert F. |title = Fighting Hitler's Jets |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=-nBmAgAAQBAJ |publisher = Zenith Press |date = 2013 |isbn = 978-0-7603-4398-2}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Ford |first1 = Roger |title = Germany's Secret Weapons of World War II |date = 2013 |publisher = Amber Books |___location = London, United Kingdom |isbn = 9781909160569}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Forsyth |first1 = Robert |last2 = Creek |first2 = Eddie J |title = Heinkel He 162 Volksjager: From Drawing Board to Destruction: The Volksjäger |___location = Hersham, United Kingdom |publisher = Classic Publications |date = 2008 |isbn = 978-1-90653-700-5}}
* {{Cite book |last = Forsyth |first = Robert |year = 2016 |title = He 162 Volksjäger Units |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=_tsODQAAQBAJ |publisher = Osprey Publishing |series =Combat Aircraft No. 118 |isbn = 978-1-47281-459-3}}
* {{Cite book |last = Forsyth |first = Robert |year = 2009 |title = Fw 190 Sturmböcke vs B-17 Flying Fortress |___location = Oxford, United Kingdom |publisher = Osprey Publishing |series=Duel No. 24|isbn = 978-1-84603-941-6}}
* {{cite book |last = Heath |first = Tim |title = In Furious Skies: Flying with Hitler's Luftwaffe in the Second World War |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=RWuEEAAAQBAJ&pg=PA220 |publisher = Pen and Sword History |date = 2022 |isbn = 978-1-5267-8526-8}}
* {{Cite book |last = Hess |first = William. N. |year = 1994 |title = B-17 Flying Fortress - Combat and Development History |publisher = Motor books |isbn = 0-87938-881-1}}
* {{cite book |last = Lepage |first = Jean-Denis G. G. |title = Aircraft of the Luftwaffe 1935–1945: An Illustrated History |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=hdQBTcscxyQC&pg=PA243 |___location = Jefferson, North Carolina, US |publisher = McFarland |date = 2009 |isbn = 978-0-7864-3937-9}}
* {{cite book |title = To Command the Sky: The Battle for Air Superiority Over Germany, 1942–1944 |first1 = Stephen L. |last1 = McFarland |first2 = Wesley Philips |last2 = Newton |year = 1991 |publisher = Smithsonian Institution Press |___location = Washington, D. C. |isbn = 1-56098069-9}}
* {{cite book |last = Miller |first = Donald L. |year = 2006 |title = Masters of the Air: America's Bomber Boys Who Fought the Air War Against Nazi Germany |url = https://archive.org/details/mastersofair00dona |url-access = registration |___location = New York, US |publisher = Simon & Schuster |isbn = 978-0-7432-3544-0}}
* {{cite book |last = Mombeek |first = Eric |title = Defending the Reich- The History of Jagdgeschwader 1 'Oesau' |___location = Norfolk, UK |publisher = JAC Publications |date = 1992 |isbn = 0-9515737-1-3}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Smith |first1 = J. Richard |last2 = Conway |first2 = William |title = The Heinkel He 162 |series=Aircraft in Profile number 203 |___location = Leatherhead, United Kingdom |publisher = Profile Publications |date = 1967}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Smith, J. |first1 = Richard |last2 = Creek |first2 = Eddie J |date = 1982 |title = Jet Planes of the Third Reich |___location = Boylston, Massachusetts, US |publisher = Monogram Aviation Publications |isbn = 0-914144-27-8}}
* {{cite book |last1=Sharp |first1=Dan |title=Heinkel He 162 |date=2020a |publisher=Tempest Books |___location=Horncastle, UK |isbn=978-1-911658-24-5|series=Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe Close Up, Number 1}}
* {{cite book |first = Dan |last= Sharp |title = Secret Projects of the Luftwaffe - Vol 1 - Jet Fighters 1939 -1945 |publisher = Tempest Books|date = 2020b |isbn = 978-1-911658-80-1 |url = https://books.google.com/books?id=Z7QWEAAAQBAJ}}
* {{Cite book |last = Shores |first = Christopher |title = 2nd Tactical Air Force. Volume III: From the Rhine to Victory: January to May 1945 |publisher = Classic Publications |year = 2006 |isbn = 1-90322-360-1}}
* {{Cite book |last1 = Thomas |first1 = Chris |first2 = Tony |last2 = Holmes |title = Tempest Squadrons of the RAF |publisher = Osprey Publishing |year = 2016 |isbn = 978-1-4728-1454-8 |series=Combat Aircraft No 117 |___location = Oxford, United Kingdom |oclc = 933722337}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Uziel |first1 = Daniel |author-link1 = Daniel Uziel |title = Arming the Luftwaffe: The German Aviation Industry in World War II |date = 2011 |publisher = McFarland |___location = Jefferson, US |isbn = 9780786488797 |language = en}}
* {{Cite book |last = Weal |first = John |year = 1996 |title = Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front |___location = Oxford, United Kingdom |publisher = Osprey Publishing |series=Aircraft of the Aces No 9 |isbn = 978-1-85532-595-1}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Wood |first1 = Tony |last2 = Gunston |first2 = Bill |title = Hitler's Luftwaffe: A pictorial history and technical encyclopaedia of Hitler's air power in World War II |___location = London, UK |publisher = Salamander Books |date = 1977 |isbn = 0-86101-005-1}}
==Further reading==
* {{cite book |last1 = Balous |first1 = Miroslav |last2 = Bílý |first2 = Miroslav |title = Heinkel He 162 Spatz (Volksjäger) |language = Czech, English |___location = Prague, Czech Republic |publisher = MBI |date = 2004 |isbn = 80-86524-06-X}}
* {{cite magazine |last = Couderchon |first = Philippe |title = The Salamander in France Part 1 |magazine = [[Aeroplane Magazine]] |date = April 2006}}
* {{cite magazine |last = Couderchon |first = Philippe |title = The Salamander in France Part |magazine = Aeroplane Magazine |date = May 2006}}
* {{cite book |last = Green |first = William |title = Warplanes of the Third Reich |___location = London, UK |publisher = Macdonald and Jane's Publishers Ltd. |date = 1970 |edition = Fourth impression (1979) |isbn = 0-356-02382-6}}
* {{cite book |last = Griehl |first = Manfred |title = The Luftwaffe Profile Series No.16: Heinkel He 162 |___location = Atglen, PA |publisher = Schiffer Publishing |date = 2007 |isbn = 978-0-7643-1430-8}}
* {{cite book |last = Griehl |first = Manfred |title = Heinkel Strahlflugzeug He 162 "Volksjäger" — Entwicklung, Produktion und Einsatz |language = German |___location = Lemwerder, Germany |publisher = Stedinger Verlag |date = 2007 |isbn = 978-3-927697-50-8}}
* {{cite book |last = Hiller |first = Alfred |title = Heinkel He 162 "Volksjäger" — Entwicklung, Produktion, Einsatz |___location = Wien, Austria |publisher = Verlag Alfred Hiller |date = 1984}}
* {{cite book |last = Ledwoch |first = Janusz |title = He-162 Volksjager (Wydawnictwo Militaria 49) |___location = Warszawa, Poland |publisher = Wydawnictwo Militaria |date = 1998 |isbn = 83-86209-68-2}}
* {{cite book |last = Müller |first = Peter |title = Heinkel He 162 "Volksjäger": Letzter Versuch der Luftwaffe |language = German, English |___location = Andelfingen, Germany |publisher = Müller History Facts |date = 2006 |isbn = 3-9522968-0-5}}
* {{cite book |last = Myhra |first = David |title = X Planes of the Third Reich: Heinkel He 162 |___location = Atglen, PA |publisher = Schiffer Publishing |date = 1999 |isbn = 0-7643-0955-2}}
* {{cite book |last = Nowarra |first = Heinz J. |title = Heinkel He 162 "Volksjager" |___location = Atglen, PA |publisher = Schiffer Publishing |date = 1993 |isbn = 0-88740-478-2}}
** (Translation of: {{cite book |title = Der "Volksjäger" He 162 |language = German |___location = Friedberg, Germany |publisher = Podzun-Pallas Verlag |date = 1984 |isbn = 3-7909-0216-0}}.)
* {{cite book |last = Peter-Michel |first = Wolfgang |title = Flugerfahrungen mit der Heinkel He 162;— Testpiloten berichten |language = German |___location = Norderstedt, Germany |publisher = BOD-Verlag |date = 2011 |isbn = 978-3-8423-7048-7}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Smith |first1 = J. Richard |last2 = Creek |first2 = Eddie J. |title = Heinkel He 162 Volksjager (Monogram Close-Up 11) |___location = Acton, MA |publisher = Monogram Aviation Publications |date = 1986 |isbn = 0-914144-11-1}}
* {{cite book |last1 = Smith |first1 = J. Richard |last2 = Kay |first2 = Anthony |title = German Aircraft of the Second World War |___location = London, UK |publisher = Putnam & Company |date = 1972 |edition = Third (1978) |isbn = 0-370-00024-2}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* [https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/heinkel-he-162-2-spatz-sparrow The NASM's Heinkel He 162A ''Spatz'', to be restored] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191223153342/https://airandspace.si.edu/collection-objects/heinkel-he-162-2-spatz-sparrow |date=2019-12-23 }}
* [http://www.airvectors.net/avhe162.html The Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger at Greg Goebel's AIR VECTORS]
* [http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1997/06/stuff_eng_detail_he162.htm Heinkel He 162 Volksjäger in Detail] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080904112013/http://www.ipmsstockholm.org/magazine/1997/06/stuff_eng_detail_he162.htm |date=2008-09-04 }}
* {{in lang|de}} [http://balsi.de/Weltkrieg/Waffen/Flugzeuge/he162.htm Heinkel He 162 "Volksjäger"]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20040520082917/http://users.bestweb.net/~kcoyne/he162seat.htm Heinkel 162 Ejection Seat]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JvsDHzgf_g0 He 162 "Salamander" Russian training film, 9 minutes] {{in lang|ru}}
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlRL320cCGY Video of restored He 162A retractable landing gear testing for the Musee de l'Air's example]
* [http://memorial.flight.free.fr/He162uk.html The Memorial Flight's (France) restoration of He 162A WkNr. 120 015 Page]
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xmJqjx9VVKM December 2012 Interview with Harald Bauer, a surviving He 162A test pilot]
* He 162 ''Mistel'' 5
* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/APS/2904.htm "Heinkel He 162 A-2 ("FE-504" c/n 120230) US Army Air Forces"] photo of He 162 ''120230'' with aircraft history
* [http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Fame/He162.htm "Heinkel He 162 A-2 ("T2-489" c/n 120077) US Army Air Forces "Nervenklau"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006095954/http://1000aircraftphotos.com/Fame/He162.htm |date=2014-10-06 }} photo of He 162 ''120077'' with aircraft history
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[[Category:1940s German fighter aircraft]]
[[Category:World War II jet aircraft of Germany]]
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[[Category:Single-engined jet aircraft]]
[[Category:Aircraft first flown in 1944]]
[[Category:Aircraft with retractable tricycle landing gear]]
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