As the Allies intensified their bombing of the Third Reich and the Luftwaffe's conventional fighters seemed taxed to their very limit, the sudden appearance of rocket aircraft in May 1944 marked the advent of Germany's last hope. The first rocket planes were being tested by January 1944, and a handful of these advanced fighters would take to the sky, destined for a short but violent life in the face of Allied air superiority. This brilliant addition to the series presents extremely rare photos of Germany's rocket planes and vividly captures the wartime career of the Third Reich's secret weapons. Using images taken of aircraft under development and in the field, this comprehensive study examines the rocket planes appearance and markings and the pilots who flew and tested the aircraft. The book covers the Me 163B (Komet), Me 163BV1, Me 163AV4, as well as a number of key experimental planes.