Komet model sports nose insignia for JG400 fighter squadron, panel line surface detailing was done by combination of black paint wash and tracing with ink pen or drafting pencil. White nose propeller generated electrical power during flight. Komet combat version was Me-163B-1a requiring extensive special ground facilities to for maintenance and refueling, only 9 German airbases were equipped to handled the Komet. The First Komet - www.danzoernig.com/illustrations/galleryDetails49.asp

Since rocket fighter was a short-endurance local-defense interceptor, it operated around its home airbase. Komet's design was radical for 1940s, with no horizontal tail to reduce drag and delta wings to for high-speed flight, German Luftwaffe knowledge of aerial new technology made them sought-after recruitment after WW2. (Komet intercept) July 29, 1944: A Day to Remember - www.100thbg.com/mainpages/history/history5/fulkerson.htm

Although generally alluded to in US history, America's space program was headed by ex-German Waffen-SS officer / rocket scientist Wernher von Braun who eventually developed the Saturn-5 rocket for US moon landings. His expertise was deemed mission-critical during the Cold War, hence prior affiliations were routinely ignored.

However, in 1970s during height of left-wing/liberal political power in US body politics, many of these ex-Nazi American scientists were charged with WW2 atrocities (ex. use of slave labor, falsifying background to gain US citizenship). von Braun escaped prosecution, but other German scientist had their American citizenship stripped and deported back to West Germany. These German scientists would hold bitter memories against US after decades of scientific contribution to American space program, but then again in US body politics these ex-Nazi scientists were expediently recruited in late-1940s, by 1970s they became a expedient liability to absolve, such is politics. Wernher von Braun - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wernher_von_Braun

Inset 1 : JG400 squadron badge art, German inscription "Wie ein Floh, Aber Oho !" (Like a Flea, but Oh !), along with illustration showing flea with rocket thrust coming out its rear.Me 163 eblem/badge - http://www.the-shadows-dimension.com/me163emblemown.htm

Rollover : Me-163 side view with its 280mm aerial rocket pods. Originally thought about mounting rocket pods below mid-wing section, but given Komet's enormous speed decided to streamline layout by nestling it next to fuselage. Other modified Komet variations were in development stage before end of production in Feb 1945, such as Me-163C-1a with modified airframe to handle extended thrust duration, Me-163D with retractable tricycle landing gear (to avoid potential fracture of fuel pods during skid landings). The Me-163D was redesignated Me-263 before war's end. Komet Family - www.xs4all.nl/~tozu/Komet/Komet-fam.htm

• Dragon's 1/48 scale Messerschmitt Me 163B - www.hsgalleries.com/gallery04/me163ph_1.htm

Since Germany and Japan were Allies during WW2, technology was shared among the combatants. Due to difficulties in shipping an actual example to Japan, a reversed-engineered license-copy was built from Komet parts and operations manual, designated the J8M1 Shusui. Only a single prototype was built and tested before war's end. Japan intended to use Komet in same way as Germans, to launch it from close proximity airbases to intercept incoming US B-29 bomber formations from Mariana Islands. Mitsubishi J8M - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitsubishi_J8M

Not to be outdone, Soviets were also conducted advanced rocket research during 1930s and 1940s. End of WW2, Soviets captured German weapon technology and augment it into their development. One result was I-270 rocket-powered interceptor, which resembled WW2 German Me-263 rocket fighter. During 1950s Cold War, American consistently held view that Soviets were incapable of advanced technological research since they were nothing more than a massed peasant army. Mikoyan-Gurevich I-270 - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mikoyan-Gurevich_I-270

However, launch of Soviet artificial satellite Sputnik in 1957 completely shocked American pride and perception of Soviet Union. Realizing true mettle of Soviet nemesis in space and weapons research, US reorganized entire national educational system to concentrate on mathematics, science, and physics. One legacy of this 1950s national reorg is Independent School Districts in which property tax became major funding for local schools. Thus those living in more affluent housing areas had better funded schools. Controversy of this disparity continues today as to whether more affluent districts should be "double taxed" to fund both their own districts and other less affluent districts. Sputnik - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sputnik

Inset 2 : Map layout of major German Luftwaffe airbases in green, population centers in red. Map political division based on early 1990s since it shows national boundaries for unified Germany, also Czechoslovakia is shown as single nation instead of two separate identities today.

Rollover : Vast areas of western Poland was traditional German territory before and during WW2, such as Stargard-Klutzow in western Pomerania, Udetfled in Silesia, and Jesau in eastern Pomerania. These were strategically located to protect Reich's perimeters. Me-163 Komet model depicted was stationed at Brandis Luftwaffe airbase about 15 miles from Leipzig-Germany. Leipzig - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leipzig