The Mistel (Mistletoe) Composite Aircraft

Fw 190 and Ju 88 – Vater und Sohn (Father and Son)

The Mistel composite aircraft was formed of a pilot in a single-seat fighter who guided an unmanned twin-engined bomber to its target. This was an effective way to deliver a large quantity of explosives to a small target.

Development began in 1943 using Messerschmitt Bf 109s but in 1944 the Focke-Wulf Fw190 replaced them. Although Mistel Composites were used with some success on the Eastern Front, there were never enough to make a difference.