The Me 262 and fighter design.

After watching a program the other day on Tv, I wondered;

“if the the Me 262 really did influence jet technology? After all the allies already had there own jet designs; the Americans ha teh F – 80 (P -80) “Shooting Star”; Britain had the “Metor”. And many more where in the pipeline.

So, how important was the Me 262 in post war design, or were jet fighters like the F – 86 Sabre invitable?