Messerschmitt P.1112

Messerschmitt AG

Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founder	Willy Messerschmitt
Headquarters	Oberammergau , Germany
Key people	Woldemar Voigt (head of Project Office)
Products	Aircraft, including Messerschmitt P.1112 jet fighter project

Template:Infobox aircraft

The Messerschmitt P.1112 represented a German jet fighter project initiated by Messerschmitt AG during the final phase of World War II, intended for deployment by the Luftwaffe. Due to the rapid conclusion of the war, no prototype was completed before the collapse of Nazi Germany. Nonetheless, its design significantly influenced the development of subsequent US Navy carrier-based fighters.

Design and development

Development of the Me P.1112 commenced on 25 February 1945 after Willy Messerschmitt decided to discontinue work on the Messerschmitt P.1111, which had required features such as a pressurized cockpit and an ejection seat as standard equipment. The design was led by Woldemar Voigt (1907–1980), head of Messerschmitt’s Project Office, who worked on it from 3 to 30 March 1945 as a less radical alternative to the Me P.1111, incorporating insights gained from the earlier Messerschmitt P.1110. Voigt anticipated that flight tests could begin by mid-1946.

The aircraft was designed to be powered by a single Heinkel HeS 011 turbojet engine, with three distinct design variants developed. The final iteration, designated Me P.1112/V1, featured a V-tail configuration and lateral air intakes on the fuselage; earlier designs included the Me P.1112 S/1 with wing root intakes and the Me P.1112 S/2 with fuselage side intakes—both had a larger central fin and omitted traditional horizontal stabilizers. Each variant shared a maximum fuselage diameter of approximately 1.1 metres (3.6 ft). The wing layout resembled that of the Messerschmitt Me 163 Komet rocket fighter. The pilot's seat was arranged in a semi-reclined posture and included an ejection seat for emergency escape.

A partial mockup representing the forward fuselage section of the Me P.1112 V/1 was assembled at the "Conrad von Hötzendorf" Kaserne in Oberammergau; however, construction of a full prototype was halted when American forces occupied the Messerschmitt facilities in April 1945.

Partial mockup of the Messerschmitt Me P.1112/V1 discovered by US forces in April 1945.

• Fuselage section
  Fuselage section
• Cockpit area
  Cockpit area

Although no complete prototype was finalized, design efforts continued with proposals for derivative models, including a planned night fighter variant featuring twin engines installed in the wing roots.

After World War II, Voigt applied his expertise in tailless aircraft design at the Chance Vought company in the United States, contributing to the development of the F7U Cutlass naval fighter.

References

Citations

Bibliography

External links

• . From the Air Force Museum Collection (Jenkins 1996, p. 48)