World War II saw the dawn of jet-powered aviation, most famously with the German Messerschmitt Me 262 'Schwalbe' (Swallow). It was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. With a top speed of over 540 mph, it was significantly faster than any Allied propeller-driven fighter, such as the P-51 Mustang. Allied pilots initially found it almost impossible to intercept due to its speed. However, its impact was limited by technical delays, fuel shortages, and Hitler’s insistence that it be used as a bomber rather than an air-superiority fighter. The British also deployed their own jet, the Gloster Meteor, though it primarily hunted V-1 flying bombs. The Me 262's advanced aerodynamic features, including swept wings, became the blueprint for the next generation of post-war jet aircraft used in the Cold War and beyond.