With speed over 600mph, it was virtually impossible to intercept by US fighter pilots escorting its bomber formations deep inside Germany.
Designed to be a high-endurance local-defense fighter, Me-163 was officially name "Komet" (Comet) and used volatile chemical mixture for propulsion, which made it dangerous to refuel and land the aircraft.
Consuming fuel at enormous rates, it launched from close proximity German airbases to intercept incoming enemy bomber streams, but only had enough fuel for maximum 7-minute flight duration. Upon fuel exhaustion, it was compelled to land via unpowered glide mode.
Armed with MK108 30mm cannons, it could bring down 4-engine bomber with only 3 hits. But with Komet speed nearing speed of sound, German pilots had great difficultly lining up target for the 3-second cannon burst.
Komet depicted here also armed with 280mm aerial rockets, nestled next to landing skid, designed to scatter Allied "Combat Box" bomber formations to fragment its interlocking defensive fire.
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