The Luftwaffe was making every effort to develop new fighters and improve those already in service like the Bf109G and Fw190A and came up with the Fw190D-9 Dora version that was superior to the P-51 [lead American fighter] in both speed and high altitude performance. However, since it went into production late in the war [1944], the shortage of experienced pilots in Germany precluded its extensive use. D-9 equipped units often included elite pilots and performed special operations. One of those units were Jagdverband 44, led by Generallieutenant Adolf Galland, which flew cover for the Me262 jet fighter that became the only threat to Allied forces. The Me262 lacked acceleration at low speeds, making it vulnerable to attack during takeoff and landing. To compensate this weakness, the Luftwaffe formed special D-9 fighter equipped defence units, consisting of a core of elite pilots such as Leutnant Heinz Sachsenberg, a true “Experten” with 104 victories. These units provided cover for the Me262’s, allowing the jets to concentrate on defending German airspace.