Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

These screenshots come from the video "1945, March, Germany, Messerschmitt Me262 Aircraft Hidden in Woods" found at the www.pond5.com website.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1184

313. On 31 March 1945, Messerschmitt Aktiengestellschaft civilian test pilot and technical inspector, 54-year old, Hans Fay, was ordered to fly one of twenty-two airworthy Me 262s at the assembly facility at Schwabisch-Hall to the test centre at Neuburg an der Donau to keep it from falling into Allied hands. The fourth to take off, Fay instead headed north-northwest for 221 Km., landing at the American-held Rhein-Main airfield at 13:45 hours. The Me 262 was quickly taxiied to the forest area and covered with small pine trees as camouflage.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1185

314. Major John Gette and a team from the Air Technical Intelligence unit were soon making a preliminary assessment of their prize, removing the freshly cut trees.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1186

315. At first glance. the Me 262 seemed to be painted a white-silver with the addition of a simple black hakenkreuz and balkenkreuz to dissuade trigger-happy German flak gunners.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1187

316. On closer examination, the painted over rivets and unpainted skin of the aircraft is apparent. Only the last three digits of the werknummer has been applied to the tail fin.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1188

317. In this screenshot, there is a civilian in a brown leather trench coat and light hat assisting the ATI team.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1189

318. In this photograph, American technicians from the Mobile Repair Unit No. 4 of the 382nd Aur Service Squadron/ 7th Air Depot Group at Metz, France have begun to dismantle in place Fay's Me 262. Brought by rail overland to Rouen, it was shipped to the USA aboard the Liberty Ship SS Manawska Victory on 9 May 1945.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

nice collection of color photos Jim

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1190

319. Seen posing in front of his Me 262 with Col. Harold E. Watson is Oblt. Heinrich Haeffner of 2./KG 51. According to Haeffner's flugbuch he landed at 13.50 hours, see Brown etal., Messerschmitt Me 262s of KG & KG (J) Units, (JaPo, 2021), pp. 127-128 whose detailed description indicates access to the primary source). The airfield was München-Riem and the date was 8 May 1945.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1191

320. In his detailed description of this flight, Jan Horn in Das Flurschäden Geschwader, (2010), p. 320, has Haeffner taking off from Saaz/Zatec at 18.05 hours alongside his staffelkapitän, Hptm. Rudolf Abrahamczik, only to find his own undercarriage would not retract and he had to fly all the way to Riem with the gear down.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1192

321. As his own aircraft was unserviceable, Haeffner had flown Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 500232 "yellow 5" of 9./KG(J) 6 with its red and black karoband and yellow nose cap and ring. In his flugbuch, Haeffner mistakenly identified the Me 262 as "7".

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1193

322. At München-Riem, on 26 April 1945, W.Nr. 110836 was listed as having been given over to JV44 from "I./KG 51". It had been retrieved and flown first to Prag-Rusin and then to Saaz by Hptm. Rudolf Abrahamczik. Brown, etal., p. 66, have the staffelkapitän landing back at München-Riem at 14:30 hours on 8. May 1945. O'Connell, p. 114, puts it at 14.40 and Horn does not give a time.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1194

323. This photo shows that W.Nr. 110836 has the red tail tip with thin white line combined with red nose cap and thin white ring indicating that it is an aircraft of KG 51's remaining unit, 2. Staffel of I./Gruppe. The black "L" obviously covers a previous identity as the geschwader code "9K" and staffel letter and final small black "L" are clealy painted over. W.Nr. 110836 also seems to have gunshot residue at its gun ports. The rear assembly joint tape seems to have been replaced and re-camouflaged but the excess amount of oil seepage from the starboard engine has not been attended to.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Jim, none of the photos are showing.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Hi Dan,

I logged in twice and both times the photos came up for me. Is anyone else having problems seeing the photos in today's post. I am allowed only about 30 photos in my album, so each week I have to delete about 5 of them in order to post 5 more. That would be the reason that much earlier photos are missing.

best regards,

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

They all work just fine for me

Cheers
Stig

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Same for me. And thanks for the latest batch, a few of which were completely new to me.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Thanks for the info every one.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Even the posts disappeared, strange.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1195

324. This is a view of the port side of Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 500491 yellow 7 of 11./JG 7 that was flown from Saaz/Zatec to Lechfeld by Ltn. Fritz R.G. Müller on 8 May 1945. If you look carefully at the glare on the fuselage, there is a vertical streak of white below the gun access hatch where the camouflaged putty tape has blown off in flight. Also the glare makes the simple black hakenkreuz appear to be white.
To gain access to the cockpit, pilots and ground crew climbed up the port engine nacelle using the footholds seen here, and walked across the wing. Note the heavy wear and tear on top of the nacelle.


forum.12oclockhigh.net/album.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1196

325. As far as I Know, this is the only Me 262 to have displayed the victory claims of an individual pilot. On the port side of the rear fuselage, visible behind the RVT bands in #324, Ofw. Heinz Arnold of 11./JG 7 had his previous 42 victories over Soviet aircraft painted beside the seven claims he had made in March 1945 using the Me 262. This aircraft was undergoing maintenance when Arnold was killed on 14 April 1945 using another aircraft, O'Connell, p. 176.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1197

326. This starboard view of W.Nr. 500491 shows it has one of the darkest camouflages that I have seen. It appears to be a factory-applied splinter pattern of very dark greens that extend under the fuselage. At Lechfeld this aircraft was given American markings and the Mk 108 cannon ejection chute ports were taped over. Note that the leading edge of the putty tape on this side is beginning to fray.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1198

327. This view of "Dennis" at Lechfeld shows the torn tape and dark colours of the port side.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1199

328. W.Nr. 500491 was flown from Lechfeld to Melun on 10 June 1945 by Lt. James Holt of Watson's Whizzers. The putty tape on the starboard side ripped away during that flight. The wooden rack for R4M air to air missiles can be seen under the wing.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

#212 & 213 : this plane had a dark and low contrast camouflage, but it was (beautifully) restored in lighter and contrasted colors : why ?

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Hi Von Alles,

I can only guess that whoever was in charge thought it was more representative.

Jim


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1200

329. Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 113332 was probably produced at Leipheim at the end of March or the beginning of April, 1945. It was captured intact by American forces at Lechfeld.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1201

330. M Sgt. Eugene Freiburger of the 54th Air Disarmament Squadron was chosen by Col. Hal Watson to prepare fifteen intact Me 262s to be flown out of Lechfeld. Perhaps the first of these, Freiburger had W.Nr 113332's German markings painted out and replaced by American insignia. Although Wolfgang Samuel, American Raiders, (2004), pp. 262-263, contends this aircraft was the "last one to be reconditioned" and "its nose remained graffiti free" and "it was simply aircraft number 3332", these photos show that it was given the name "Julie", port, and the 54th's logo and "Roll Call" on the starboard nose.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1202

331. On 4 June 1945, Watson set off for Melun, France, but due to a faulty fuel pump landed at St. Dizier, refueled and continued to his destination. At Melun he turned "Julie" over to the French Air Force for their evaluation. Here, a French pilot is about to fly "Julie", still in American markings. Note the civilian with the cloche hat sitting in the cockpit.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1203

332. Given French markings and painting out the "graffiti", W.Nr 113332 became Me 262 "No. 2" of the French Air Force. Flight tested at Tousson, it was slightly damaged on 6 September 1945 when Commandant Housset belly landed on a transfer flight from Orange to Bretigny. It was repaired and used by the French for three more years, its last flight occurring on 1 October 1948.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Wow…I’ve been gone too long..this thread is amazing!
Question about post #324 what proof is there that Yellow 7 had a black hakenkreuz rather than a white one?

Thanks!

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Hi Jon,

Welcome back! I have no proof as that is the only photo I know of with W.Nr. 500491 in Luftwaffe markings. However, I know of no Me 262 of the 500xxx series to have a white hakenkreuz. In fact, the 500xxx series are recognizable by their simple black hakenkreuz.

best regards,

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Thank you Jim. :)

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1204

333. This is an aerial photograph that can be found on p. 183 of Alexander Kartschall's opus, Messerschmitt Me 262 Geheime Productionstätten, 2020. It pictures fourteen Me 262s among the bomb craters at Schwabisch Hall, many of them showing signs of damage. Unfortunately, no date is given in the caption.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1205

334. This close-up of the top left of the above photo shows a common hazard for Me 262s on landing. Sometimes the pilot could not avoid "rolling" into a bomb crater.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1206

335. While this is not the same aircraft, when GIs captured Schwabisch Hall on 17 April 1945, one of the derelict Me 262s was A-1a W.Nr. 110745 tipped up in a bomb crater.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1207

W.Nr 110745 was built at Kuno I and flight test at Brandenburg-Briest in mid-February 1945. In this photo the werknummer is visible on its tail.


forum.12oclockhigh.net/album.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1208

337. Perhaps one of the first from Kuno I, the splotchy camouflage almost seems experimental. The damage to the tail is notable and the cannon ejection slots can be seen on the nose assembly lying behind the starboard side, indicating a high speed on impact.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Thank you Jim ! ;)

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

And thank you, Franck!

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1211

338. Possibly the first Me 262 to be assigned to E-Stelle Rechlin, Me 262 S 13 W.Nr. 130018 was given the kennzeichen "E3+01" signifying the Stelle for testing engines. According to Dan O'Connell, Me 262 Production Log, (Classic, 2005), p. 27, Dip.-Ing. Heinz Borsdorf of Kommandos der Erprobungsstelle (K.d.E.) first flew "E1+01" at Rechlin-Lärz on 19 June 1944. As was the practice for early 130xxx Series built at Leipheim, the werknummer was placed in black on the fuselage below the horizontal stabilizer.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1212

339. Probably used for testing the early Junkers Jumo 004A turbojets, W.Nr. 130018 was given an A-1a configuration with four MK 108 cannon. Like others of this series, it lacks white gun rectangles below the cannon access hatches.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1213

340. On 28 December, Borsdorf tested the engines to a height of 11,000 m. (36,000 ft).


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1214

341. In this set of photos, note the nose colours placed in the same manner as those seen on JG 1's He 162s at Leck, connoting aircraft of commanding officers. I do not know the significance of the letter on the nosewheel door.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1215

342. According to O'Connell, p. 28: "On 25 January, Borsdorf noted it was assigned toGefechtsverband Rechlin, a defense unit for airfield protection." Note the different shade of both forward engine cowls in the manner of III./EJG 2. Last recorded at Rechlin on 31 March 1945, its fate is unknown.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Regarding the Me 262 W.Nr. 130018 (posts 338 and 339), what was the significance of the the gun ports being painted? Did it assist with training ground crew/pilots?

Some Me 262s of I. Kg 51 also had the outlines of the lower gun ports painted white, which seemed to indicate that the Me a2a machines were only equipped with the lower two cannons, while also indicating the staffel color. The Me 262 with W.N.r 170096 and the code 9k+BH is a well- known example. I also recently read in the the Me 262 of KG & KG(J) Units by Japo (pg. 70) that Black L, W.Nr. 110836, also had its gun ports painted red, its staffel color. I found this information very interesting.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Hi Jon,

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1225

I do not know the answer to your excellent questions ... and just to add to the mystery, here is a photo of a very early Me 262 with cannon ports.

best regards,

Jim

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Thank you, Jim! The photo does indeed add to the mystery..

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1221

343. Erprobungsstelle Rechlin-Lärz, south of Muritz Lake, was the Luftwaffe's main "proving grounds" for testing advanced German aircraft. This is Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 170095 "KD+EA" (not a stammkenzeichen, see O'Connell, p. 59) at Rechlin, probably in February-March 1945. It has just been towed to its preflight position to start its engines. Note that while it has no white gun rectangles, the muzzles can be seen on this photograph.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1222

344. In this photo, a portable electrical generator is being hooked into the power system of "KD+EA" to start its engines. On page 318 of Smith & Creek, Me 262 Volume Two (Clasic, 1998), is a better view of the Me 262 in the background left. It is Me 262 V8, W.Nr. 130003 that Walter Ballerstadt tested at Rechlin between 15 February and 17 March 1945.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1223

345. This picture shows the pilot wearing his helmet with headphones and a loose harness strap over his shoulder. The mechanic has removed both engine access hatches, perhaps to adjust the engines.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1224

346. This view shows how the power cord plugged into the fuselage as well as the towing cables attached to the main landing gear lying on the ground. W.Nr. 170095 "KD+EA" was listed in a document, B.Nr. 22140/45 dated 15 January 1945 as one of the aircraft at Rechlin. The final entry for the tests by this aircraft is "Nachtjagd-Einsatz erprobung", operational nightfighting trials, see Smith & Creek, Vol 2, p 319. This is possibly the aircraft that Kurt Welter, ex. 10./JG 300, used at Lärz. For the connection between 10./JG 300, II./NJG 11 and Kommando Welter, see RL 2-III/65 p.0017, RL 2-III/66 p. 0090 and RL 2-III/66 p. 0198.
In this picture note a similar stylized "L" on the nose wheel door as was seen on W.Nr 13008, perhaps standing for Lärz.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1226

347. Jochen Prien, etal., on p.148 of Die Jagdfliegerverbande ... Tiel 13/II, (2017), credits a better copy of this photo to "Creek/Petrek" and gives this caption: "Lt. Joachim Weber, Flugzeugführer im EKdo. 262, der am 8. August 1944 durch den Abschuss einer Mosquito bei Bad Aibling den ersten Erfolg mit einer Me 262 erzielte: der Blumenstrauss deutet an, dass die Aufnahme nach der Rückkehr von einem erfolgeichen Einsatz gemacht wurde, doch ist das genaue Datum der Aufnahme nicht bekannt. Note the cannon ports.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1227

348. This very poor picture was certainly taken at the same time as the above photo with the shirtless crewmate and bouquet of flowers. The white hakenkreuz identifies this aircraft as Me 262 A-1a W.Nr 170045 "white 5".

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1228

349. The white hakenkreuz of W.Nr 170045 stands out in this early line-up of the aircraft of Erprobungskommando Me 262 which is its proper designation, (RL 2-III/57 p. 0147 and RL 2-III/64 p. 0050). However, clerical entries for claims, e.g. Weber's in RL 5/1460 p.0018, give "ErprobungsKdo. or "Erpro. Kdo. 262, which have become accpted names for the unit. Note the burn marks around the cannon ports of W.Nr. 170045.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1229

350. This aircraft in the last half of August 1944 was transferred to E-Stelle Rechlin possibly for Kdo. Lärz but in October it was released to Kdo. Nowotny for operations. On 6 November, after carrying out a werkstattflug, Ofw. Helmut Baudach on landing had a strut collapse, "Landung gegen Startbahn kaste, Federbein herundge-brechen", Smith & Creek, Me 262 Volume Two, p. 412. O'Connell, on p. 47 of Me 262 Production Log, says "After repair it was used by I./KG(J) 54 in January 1945." Prien says its fate is unknown.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

The inspiration for this posting comes fromhttp://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showthread.php?t=4923

On p. 67 ofKriegstagesbuch No. 8 der III./ZG 26 [RL 10/257 p.0043] by an order of the General der Jagdflieger [sic] on 26.09.44, III./ZG 26 was to become III./JG 6 under a Major Novatny and the detachments Erpro. Kdo 262 (under III./ZG 26) at Schwäbisch-Hall, Leipheim, Erfurt-Bindesleben and Lärz were to report to Achmer on 27.09.44. As a follow-up, an order of the OKL [RL 2-III/63 p. 0089] turned III. JG 6 into a Kommando Nowotny. at the same time making I./JG 5 into a new III.JG 6 with conventional fighters.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1230

351. This is an Me 262 A-1a of 2./Kommando Nowotny. Note that the aircraft numeral is on the nose and that there is no narrow yellow band behind the cockpit as on EKdo 262 aircraft. The pilot pictured here is Staffelkapitän Oblt. Franz Schall whose Me 262 W.Nr. 170047 "white 1" suffered 25% damage due to nose wheel failure on a stop-over at Braunschweig-Waggum on his transfer of an Me 262 from the Lärz detachment to Hesepe on 4 October 1944. The Me 262 camouflage in this picture has a low demarcation line on the nose at the wing root level. In contrast to the fuselage, the camouflage on the engine nacelle has a relatively high demarcation line.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1231

352. This is also a known aircraft of Kommando Nowotny. It is W.Nr. 110389 "white 2". According to Dan O'Connell's Me 262 Production Log, "At 11.25 [sic] on 6 November 1944 this aircraft took off from Achmer but became engaged in combat with a P-51 of the U.S. 357th FG, and was also shot at by German flak. Its pilot, Lt. Herbert Spangenberg of 1. Kommando Nowotny, made an emergency landing due to a fuel shortage at Lehmwerder. The aircraft hit a shed at 11.25 and was 50% damaged." Note the addition of the dark camo splotches over its previous camouflage right down to its wing roots and covering the narrow yellow band still seen on the underside RLM 76. The starboard engine nacelle is at the extreme right mainly in RLM 76.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1232

353. This Me 262 A-1a is W.Nr. 110372 "white 3". Note the characteristics is that ofan aircraft of Kommando Nowotny. The numeral is on the nose, the dark camouflage reaches the wing roots, and it lacks both the narrow yellow band and a Kaulquappe tail of some III./EJG 2 Me 262s. This may be the aircraft in which Ltn. Alfred Schreiber on 26 November 1944 suffered a flame-out just after take-off and was killed when his plane flipped over in the resulting notlandung. As Kommando Nowotny was disbanded on 24 November 1944 becoming III./JG 7 [RL 2-III/64 p. 0011], Schreiber was then technically a member of 9./JG 7.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1233

354. This is probably an aircraft of Kommando Nowotny. Ofw. Helmut Baudach stands beside an Me 262 that appears to have on its nose a "white 6" or a "white 8". It has splotches of dark camouflage down to its wing roots as on "white 2". Note the high demarcation on the engine nacelles.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1234

355. Manfred Jurleit on p. 50 of Strahljäger Me 262 im Einsatz, (1995), identifies this photo as a frame from the cine camera of the P-51 flown by 1st Lt. James W. Kenney of the 357th FG who took pictures of an empty Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 110404 'white 7" after Oblt. Schall bailed out on 8 November 1944 over Quakenbrück due to engine flame-out during combat. To my eye there is no evidence of a fire in W.Nr 110404.
This aircraft, then, is definitely an Me 262 from Kommando Nowotny and the photo confirms the lack of a narrow yellow band and the overall dark camouflage down to the wing roots. Note the high demarcation on the engine nacelles.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1235

356. In this photo, the werknummer 110371 can be barely made out. According to Dan O'Connell, p.72, "A report by Kraus dated 16 December stated that this aircraft, while on assignment with Kdo. Nowotny had radio difficulties due to fuel overflow leaking onto the equipment. After Kdo. Nowotny was disbanded, it was assigned to III./EJG 2 at Lechfeld ..." While it has no nose numeral, it has the characteristics of a Kommando Nowotny camouflage.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1236

357. This photograph shows Me 262 A-2a "9K+YH". It is one of the earliest aircraft of 1./KG 51, mentioned on p. 162 of Jan Horn's Das Flurschaden Geschwader with Ltn. Wilhelm Batel flying a reichsweitflug on 20 August 1944 at Lechfeld. Like W.Nr. 130179 "black F", it has no white gun rectangle, suggesting that it may come from the 130xxx Series.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1237


358. Like W.Nr. 130179, "white Y" has a diagonal line on its canopy used to indicate the proper dive angle on early KG 51 Me 262s.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1238

359. A port view of the nose shows that "white Y" had two early ETC 503 bomb racks possibly numbered "85".


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1239

360. The basic Me 262 camouflage in early 1944 was RLM 74 and RLM 75 greys above undersides of RLM 76 white-blue. On "white Y", KG 51 has added a meander , on top of the greys, of dark greens for summer colour. This will become a common practice for KG 51 aircraft.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1240

361. In this head-on photo, the dark meander below the starboard gun port matches that in #360. The same wide tyres can be seen.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1241

362. This is a very early Me 262 A-2a jet bomber. It characteristically has only two MK 108 cannon with the two upper gunports faired over. This example has two ETC 503 bomb racks from FW 190s adapted with wooden bases. The nose cone almost certainly has a yellow cap with a white ring behind it, making it an aircraft of 3./KG 51. The background suggests this picture was taken in summer 1944.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1242

363. It almost seems that this aircraft has been given a replacement wing with fresh putty at the wing roots. The camouflage on the wings seem to be a splinter pattern of a dark green with a lighter brown violet, while the fuselage had original RLM 74 and 75 greys above the RLM 76 white-blue. Then the nose was given an almost solid overcoat of the dark green which turns into a mottle for the remainder of the fuselage and tail.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1243

364. In this photo, there seems to be a yellow letter outlined in white immediately behind the balkenkreuz, perhaps an "I" or an "L". Both aircraft seem to have a black werknummer on the fuselage below the port horizontal stabilizer seen in similar manner on W.Nr. 130017 and W.Nr. 130018. Curiously, both aircraft rudders are white. Note the diagonal line on the canopy similar to KG 51's "9K+YH" and "black F".

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1244

365. According to Dan O'Connell, Me 262 Production Log, p. 113: "On 9 January 1945 Oblt. Paul Birnkraut of 1./FAGr. 5 who had been assigned to Messerschmitt as an Einflieger, ferried this aircraft from Memmingen. He took off at 16:35 and arrived at Leipheim at 16:45. With bomb-racks installed it was used in bomb-dropping trials."
On the tail of this aircraft, the werknummer 110813 can be made out and beneath the horizontal stabilizer a red "S" signified that this Me 262 must not be flown faster than 800 km/h. due to structural deficiencies.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1245

366. In this picture a ground crew is using a jack to lift an SD 250 bomb up to the starboard bomb-rack.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1249

367. Here it takes a ground crew of five men to maneuver the bomb hooks into the Messerschmitt-designed Wikingerschiff bomb-rack.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1247

This photo shows that W.Nr. 110813 with its bombs attached is a Me 262 A-1a/Jabo as this aircraft carried four MK 108 cannon, made possible by improved landing gear support.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1248

369. With bombs attached, W.Nr. 110813 taxiied out to Leipheim's snow-covered runway.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1253

370. On 25 February 1945, Ofw. Hermann Wieczorek of 2./K.G. 51 belly landed Me 262 A-2a W.Nr. 110613 "9K+DK" near Münster due to "feindeinwirkung" (enemy-action). These photos show the recovery team dismantling the Me 262 and placing it aboard a flatbed trailer so that it could be taken by road to a repair depot.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1254

371. Another such photo of W.Nr. 110613 gives a good view of the camouflage in which the wellens of the fuselage match those on detached wing component. Note the single lower MK 108 cannon in the gun bay and the single, subdued white gun rectangle below. Spray from the wellen obscures parts of the balkenkreuz on the wing, but not the one on the fuselage.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1255

372. This cropping of the above photograph shows a black centered hakenkreuz similar to that of the Me 262 A-1a/U3s converted at Eger, Czechoslovakia. However, I can see no werknummer on the fin, either above or below the horizontal stabilizer. There is a subdued "K" behind the "D", but it is not in the usual stark black. Also, the
usual red tip with a thin white band is missing on the tail. Unfortunately there is no view of the nose in either picture.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

Hi Karoband, why can't I see the pictures while clicking on the link? I have a valid user account and able to post or reply... sad to see that I have no rights to open the picture links.... Any idea? Thanks!
Harry

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1256

373. The Me 262 seen here was "found disassembled in Northern Germany (Diepholz or Nordholz airfield) by Canadian troops", O'Connell, p. 83. This poor image shows a good view of the derelict flatbed trailer and its hitch used by the recovery team.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1257

374. In this case, both components of the wing remained attached together and the entire wing was loaded onto the flatbed and then held vertical by steel poles in the loops along the side of the trailer. Note how close in tone is the shade of this RLM 76 white-blue to the RLM 21 white of the balkenkreuz.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1258

375. This view shows similarities with Me 262 A-2a W.Nr. 110613. Both fuselages have the same wellen pattern of two dark colours over a base of RLM 76. However, while missing its horizontal stabilizer, upper fin and rudder, this Me 262 has its werknummer, 110506, in the same position as the wellen covered Me 262 A-1a/U3s from Eger, Czechoslovakia. The wing balkenkreuz, like that of 110613, has been in places oversprayed by the dark camo. The white "I" is too far forward to be a missing tape covering the tail joint. And there seems to be an "H", in the same shade as the "K" of 110613, behind the "I". Jan Horn, in Das Flurschaden Geschwader, makes no reference to 110506.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1260

376. In this photo, two MK 108 cannon and two white gun rectangles can be seen. The application of a different camouflage pattern to that of 110613 on the upper wing is seen to good advantage. It has a single dark wellen over a lighter base that is not RLM 76.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1259

377. On the fuselage the wellen pattern of two different dark colours over the base of RLM 76 is similar to that of W.Nr. 500251, an Me 262 A-1a/U3 converted and repainted at Eger. However, a careful study of the werknummern listed on pp. 26-30 of Brown, etal., Messerschmitt Me 262 Production & Arado Ar 234 Final Operations, (JaPo, 2012), of the log books of the test pilots at Eger, reveals no reference to either 110613 or 110506.

Re: Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s
 

This and the next two postings show Me 262s of III./K.G. 54 at Neuburg am Donau in preparation for a sortie, supposedly in March 1945. Most of these photos were first published in Siegfried Radtke's Kampfgeschwader 54 von der Ju 52 Zur Me 262 Ein Chronik ..., (Schild Verlag, 1990).

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1261

378. This is an Me 262 A-1a of III./K.G. 54. The white nose cap represents the 7th Staffel and the yellow band behind the black represents the 3rd Gruppe of the Geschwader. Note the heavy wellen white sprayed over the dark camouflage for winter conditions.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1262

379. Radtke, p.239, captions this photo as "März 1945, Neuburg/Donau. Ofw. Friedr. Gentzsch, 7. Staffel, Umschullehrer auf Me 262". Gentzsch, an instructor pilot, stands in front of an aircraft of the gruppenstab of III./K.G. (J) 54. In this case the nose cap is green with the yellow band behind the black. Note the yellow diagonal stripe on the starboard fuselage under the canopy of the cockpit. The unpainted forward cowling of the engine nacelle is also noteworthy. This is a good view of where the cord from the portable generator plugs into the fuselage electrical system.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1263

380. Gentzsch sits in the cockpit of Me 262 A-1a "B3+BC" of Stab III./K.G. (J) 54 with a green "B" painted on the nose wheel door, behind which is the unpainted cowling. The port cowling is camouflaged to match its nacelle.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1264

381. In this photo the "BC" in green can be seen behind the balkenkreuz and there is a yellow diagonal stripe below the canopy on the port side as well. Note the lack of a "Totenkopf" wappen.