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The world's first jet-propelled bomber. This high performance aircraft, like several other German jet-propelled aircraft, arrived on the scene too late to have an impact on the war. The Ar 234B-1 reconnaissance version was first flown operationally over France in July 1944, it could carry various combinations of cameras. Later recon flights were flown over Britain. The Ar 234B-2 bomber version became operational in 1945 with bombs carried under the engine nacelles. The first bombing raids were made during the battle of the bulge in Dec. 1944. Limited by fuel shortages, sporadic bomber missions continued, and in early March intensive Ar 234 strikes were flown against the bridge at Remagen. Ar 234 sorties virtually ceased by the end of that month. The Arado-built bomber was developed in response to an Air Ministry requirement for a high-speed reconnaissance aircraft. It first flew on June 15, 1943, and entered production the following June. The sixth prototype (Ar 234V-6), which flew on April 8, 1944, had four turbojet engines. There were continuous problems with the jet engines, which had a normal service life of only twenty-five hours. Several night-fighter variants of the Ar 234 were developed, with two or three crewmen and air-intercept radar provided; the Ar 234C was configured to carry and launch a V-1 Buzz Bomb. In another development, Ar 234s were fitted with a Deichselschlepp (air trailer) to carry additional fuel. The basic Ar 234 was a single-place aircraft, with a streamlined fuselage and a high-mounted wing with underslung engine nacelles. The early aircraft were launched with jettisonable trollies and landed on skids (grass fields being optimum for landing); subsequently, a nosewheel tricycle landing gear was fitted. Most production aircraft were pressurized for high-altitude flight and had ejection seats for the crew; all aircraft had braking parachutes. The bomber variants had an autopilot so that the pilot could swing the control column clear to use the aircraft's bomb sight. Some variants had a pair of rear-firing 20mm cannon to "brush off" chasing fighters. The night fighters were armed with one or two 20mm forward firing cannons and some with a ventral pack containing two 30mm guns.
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