Me 264 | |
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General information | |
Type | Trans-oceanic Strategic bomber Maritime patrol aircraft |
Manufacturer | Messerschmitt |
Designer | Wolfgang Degel, Paul Konrad and Woldemar Voigt |
Status | Retired |
Primary user | Luftwaffe |
Number built | 3 |
History | |
Manufactured | 1941 |
Introduction date | 1942 |
First flight | 23 December 1942 |
Retired | 1945 |
Developed into | Messerschmitt P.1107 |
The Messerschmitt Me 264 was a long-range strategic bomber developed during World War II for the German Luftwaffe as its main strategic bomber. The design was later selected as Messerschmitt's competitor in the Reichsluftfahrtministerium's (the German Air Ministry) Amerikabomber (America Bomber) programme, for a strategic bomber capable of attacking New York City from bases in France or the Azores.
Three prototypes were built but production was abandoned to allow Messerschmitt to concentrate on fighter production and the Junkers Ju 390 was selected in its place. Development continued as a maritime reconnaissance aircraft instead.