The Luftwaffe (German Air Force) was not idle over the skies of Belgium, with fighter-bombers attacking targets of opportunity. However, it was also the debut of the world’s first operational jet fighter: the Me 262. The ground attack version, the Me 262 A2a Sturmvogel (Storm Bird), was armed with two 30mm cannons and a pair of 500kg (1100lb) bombs. Its excellent speed of 540mph (870km/h) meant that it could outrun any Allied fighter, making it near impossible to catch.