The Heinkel He-274 started off as a stretched and modified He-177. But since Goering forbid development of a 4-engine strategic bomber, Heinkel bypassed him with subcontracts for new parts that allowed him to secure another designation from the RLM (German Air Ministry). Thus, the new designation was He-274 and was highly modified with more powerful DB 603A engines (production aircraft to receive the higher-rated DB 603G engines), heavier armament which included missiles, higher ceiling (47,000 ft), and could carry a German atomic bomb OR radiological in development. Two prototypes were under construction in France but were abandoned by July 1944 due to the D-Day invasion of the continent. The French decided to complete the work and flew the V1 in December 1945, after the war. They liked it and renamed it the AAS 01A. The bombers were used as research aircraft to test smaller-scale models of other French warplanes including the Sud-Ouest SO.4000, which was France's first jet bomber (see below)...

http://www.warbirdsresourcegroup.org/LRG/images/heinkel_he274-1.jpg http://www.luftarchiv.de/flugzeuge/heinkel/he274_1.jpg http://www.airwar.ru/image/i/bww2/he274-i.jpg As AAS 01A: http://www.ww2aircraft.net/forum/attachments/post-war/192081d1328742509t-armee-de-l-air-after-wwii-colonial-conflicts-heinkel-he-274.jpg SO.4000: http://www.oocities.org/zvika47.geo/v-france/so-4000.jpg