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A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
According to Richard A Franks, Air Frame Album 10: The Me 163 Komet, (Valiant, 2016), pp. 18-19; Phil Butler, War Prizes, (Crecy, 2022), pp. 236, 239; and Joe Baugher in his online USAAF/USAF Serial Numbers, in 1945 five Me 163Bs were issued the "Foreign Equipment" numbers FE495, FE500, FE501, FE502 and FE503. All five were supposedly changed to T2-495, T2-500, T2-501, T2-502 and T2-503 in 1946.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1905 1. I have only found photos for two of the above three-digit numerals. This photo shows FE495 being used as a recruiting tool at an exhibition of captured German aircraft in the United States. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1906 2. With extra large lettering in the tail, FE500 is seen with its Morane radio mast behind the cockpit. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1907 3. This photo is one of a number of bogus "FE500"s, with smaller lettering, no radio mast and a spurious balkenkreuz. Note the bulbous air vent fairing on the tailpipe. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1911 4. Now "T-2-500", this Me 163B was tested in 1946 at Muroc, California. Note its Morane aerial. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1908 5. I have pictures of only three Me 163Bs in their original markings after they arrived in the USA in the summer of 1945. This aircraft I will call "White 54". Note the missing long wing root fairing among other things. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1909 6. This one I will call "White 42". Note the missing long wing root fairing. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1910 7. And this one is "191301". Note its Morane radio mast ... and the missing long wing root fairing. I intend to show photographic evidence as to where these three aircraft came from and what happened to them. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Jim,
The Me163 with the T2-500 is currently displayed on the floor at the Udvar-Hazy Museum. You can find images on the NASM site. It does not have images of the port side tail nor do I have any. I can will get them later. Tony |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
For the record, T-2 is code for Technical Intelligence at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. They operated as various divisions after the war, including the Wright Air Development Center.
During the war, captured German aircraft were sent there for evaluation. T-3 was code for their Engineering department. Captured German documents in both translated and untranslated form, became available to aircraft manufacturers. They were required to submit a formal request on letterhead to get these documents. There is no comprehensive history of activities at Wright Field that I am aware of. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Hi Tony, thank you.
Hi Ed, thank you. Much of this I was unaware of. It explains why Bell Aircraft could expect the use of FE503 as we will see. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
The former military head of Peenemünde, Walter Dornberger, became a consultant to Bell Aircraft after the war. He had a number of interesting proposals.
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1913
8. This photograph is deceptive. The He 162 is readily identified as W.Nr. 120067 "White 4" and the location as Kassel, Germany. This is where the British-captured He 162s that were allocated to the Americans were crated for shipment overland to Cherbourg to be loaded on the Liberty Ship Richard J. Gatling. In the background are the tailless fuselages of Me 163Bs in preparation for crating. All authors agree that, while one Me 163 was disassembled and flown to the USA, the other four were shipped aboard the Gatling that left Cherbourg on 12 August 1945. The logical conclusion would be that these Me 163s also came from the British. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1914 9. At Kassel, the fuselages were prepared to be crated with protective coverings of canopy and windscreen using generous amounts of tape. Franks, pp. 18-19, concluded that these Me 163s must have been captured at Rendsburg, near Hamburg. Joe Baugher thought "White 54" came from Husum. In this photo you can see, luckily for us, that each Me 163B had a unique camouflage pattern. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1915 10. However, the author of the online site, https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/me163.htm has Paul L. Tremblay, the son of a member of the 818th Engineer Aviation Battalion, identify the fource of the American Me 163Bs as the training unit, 14./EJG 2. Possibly ten Me 163s were captured by American forces at Altenburg, just 20 kilometers south of Leipzig, on 14 April 1945. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1916 11. According to Tremblay, his father was part of the 818th team that escorted seven Me 163Bs loaded on American trucks and driven by road to Merseburg, the Allied collection point for captured German technology. Ransom & Cammann, Me 163 Rocket Interceptor, Revised Edition, (Classic, 2021), p. 334, gives the date that "White 54" and "W.Nr. 191301" were at Merseburg as 2 May 1945. Rendsburg and Husum were not captured until 5 May 1945. The hangar behind the trucks identifies the location as Merseburg. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
This page from the manifest of the Richard J. Gatling shows 89(!) 'rocket planes'. I'm not 100% sure if the 'rocket planes' were in the ship's hold or just delivered to the docks at Cherbourg though, or even if this refers to the Me 163 or He 162. And 726 cubic feet is only around 9 feet long by 9 feet wide by 9 feet high, most odd.
https://i.ibb.co/WvZ5yRK5/Richard-J-Gatling-16.jpg |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
I should add this is page 16 of a 17 page report
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Odd that there are two identical entries for rocket plane.
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
As well, there are also two identical entries for "wing for Ta-154" and only 28 were built. I suspect that "32" is code for Ta-154 and "89" is code for Me-163. If so two rocket powered specimens were shipped to Cherbourg as well as one glider. Indeed, as we will see, one of the Me 163Bs at Kassel was a glider. Which leads to another question, as one was shipped by air, how did the other two get to the USA? or did they?
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
I don't think so. A report like this should have a key that identifies what entries mean. For example, what is Class?
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Quote:
Ed, see the category one list of enemy aircraft required by Freeman Field here... https://i.ibb.co/hJqsyXxP/Screenshot...t-00-34-59.png https://i.ibb.co/r28BG8bC/Screenshot...t-00-35-09.png |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Thank you. Much appreciated.
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
I hope the following is helpful.
https://robdebie.home.xs4all.nl/me163/freeman.htm https://www.indianamilitary.org/Free...20Classics.htm |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Thank you, Ed, for the links. At the bottom of the page of your first link is a link to pictures of the other Me 163s taken to the USA.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1918 12. Both Joe Baugher and Richard A. Franks in their description of FE-500 claim it as " W.Nr. 191301 'White 54'". Photos #5 and #7 show two different aircraft. This is the only photo I have found of the starboard side of "W.Nr. 191301" in its original colours at Wright Field in October 1945. It shows a later Me 163B with MK 108 cannon ports centred in the wing roots. The camouflage pattern of 191301 is unique. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1919 13. This is the only photo I have found of the starboard side of "White 54" in the hangar at Freeman Field. It also shows a later Me 163B with MK 108 cannon ports in the wing root ... and the camouflage pattern is unique. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1920 14. This is a comparison of "White 54" with the Me 163 in picture #10. In my view the pattern is identical. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1921 15. This is a comparison of "191301" with the other Me 163 in picture #10. In my view the pattern is identical. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1922 16. It is my contention that the two Me 163Bs in this picture are, left "White 54" and right "191301", and that they are two different aircraft. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1923
17. This is a poor photo of the fuselage of the Me 163B that was unloaded from its truck at Merseburg to be flown to the United states. This first attempt to load "White 54" was a disaster. The transport aircraft was a Curtiss C-46 Seriial 44-77588 "R" and the building to the right is the same as in #11. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1924 18. This photo shows it being shoehorned into the C-46. "White 54" can be easily recognized by the inverted "V" dark camo pattern on the lower part if its port nose. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1925 19. When it was reassembled at Freeman Field at Seymour, Indiana, in the United Stated, parts were missing. Along its back spine, the Morane aerial, the access hatch to the MK 108 cannon as well as that to the C-Stoff tank are missing. Below, the fairings over the wing root and base of tail are gone. But more significant is the brace under the port wing. The starboard wing is missing in every picture of "White 54" in the USA. There is also damage to the tip of the tail module. forum.12oclockhigh.net/album.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1926 20. In this photo even more parts have been stripped from "White 53" Note the "X"s in the windows of this hangar at Freeman Field. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1927 21. Finally, the entire rear of "White 54" is missing, including the tail module. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1928 22. In this photo, the damaged tail of "White 54" has been attached to the fuselage of "White 42" that will become "FE495". Note the "X"s in the windows. "White 54"'s fuselage and wing were most likely used as spares to make "FE500" flight worthy between November 1945 and March 1946. However, the damage to the tail precluded it from being used. The designation "FE501" appears never to have been painted on. The remains of "White 54" were undoubtedly scrapped at Freeman Field. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1929
23. The most visible of the Me 163B's on the trucks at Merseburg was the port side view of "White 42"'s fuselage and tail. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1930 24. This is a poor view of the starboard side of "White 42" while still on the truck that took it to Kassel. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1931 25. It is likely that, on arrival at Kassel, with their tails still attached, the six remaining Me 163Bs were unloaded and lined up along a taxiway. Because of the angle of the rudder, the white "2" cannot be made out in this picture. Note the application of white tape in the form of a square immediately beneath the canopy that was not present at Merseburg. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1932 26. A comparison of the tails confirms it is the same Komet. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1933 27. However, "White 42" has a hidden identity. The protruding barrel of the MG 151/20 cannon, and its gunport lower in the wing root than that of a MK 108/30 cannon, indicate that it is one of the first Me 163 B-0s built, each with a versach number. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1934
27. In the line-up on the taxiway at Kassel, there are two similar photos of individual Me 163Bs like that of "White 42". This photo shows what I will call "White 5x" as its rudder, too, hides the second numeral. The gunport, with a recessed barrel and centred in the wing root, indicates a MK 108/30 cannon and therefore a Komet of one of the later production series. It also lacks the wappen and nose rings of the 14. Staffel just like "191301". It also has a similar camouflage pattern but the tails do not match. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1935 29. In this photo, the "White 51" can be made out. It has the protruding gun barrel of a MG 151/20 cannon. On p. 389, Ransom & Cammann report that the flugbuch of Ltn. Werner Jung of 14./EJG 2 shows that he flew "W51" on 14 and 15 January 1945 at Sprottau. They mistakenly connect W.Nr. 191301 with "White 51" Note the good view of the tip of the tail of "White 5x" above the canopy of "White 51". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1936 30. In this comparison, the tip of the tail of "White 5x" matches that of the Me 163B fifth from the right at Merseburg. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1937 31. In this comparison, the tail of "White 51" matches that of the Me 163B seventh from the right at Merseburg. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1938 32. This is a poor photo of the three of them on the taxiway at Kassel. Now their tail modules have been removed and protective covering of the periplex has been taped on, in preparation for crating. At some point "White 51"'s nose propeller has been removed and has obvious dents in the nose... or it may be a glider. Note the protruding cannons of "White 41" and "White 42". |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1939
33. This is a poor enlargement of a cropping of picture #8. There are two tailless fuselages of Me 163Bs sitting in front of a hangar at Kassel, Germany. The far one is tipped on its nose. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1940 34. In this photograph, the "KE" of the stammkennzeichen "KE+SX" can be made out on the rear fuselage of the tipped up Me 163B. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1941 35. This photo was taken before "KE+SX" was tipped up. The unique camouflage of this aircraft can still be made out despite the extensive taping in preparation for crating. The dark wellen [meanders] over the entire fuselage are most apparent here on the undersides. The wappen [crest] of 14./EJG 2 is prominent on the side of the nose. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1942 36. This is a still from a film that shows the very first Me 163B-0 produced, the unpainted "KE+SX", W.Nr. 16310010, being flown as a glider by Heini Dittmar on 9 September 1943. On p. 373 of Ransom & Cammann, Me 163 ..., (2021), all the flights made in "KE+SX" are listed as "TG" or Towed Glider [schleppfluge in German]. This suggests that "KE+SX" had no rocket engine but rather ballast in fuel tanks used to practice the operational "dead stick" landings of the Komet". In this photo it has neither gunports nor a spinner on its pointed nose. Note the rounded tail tip. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1943 37. Seen beside a crated Me 163B, there is a rounded fairing inside the "tailpipe" of "KE+SX". No air vents are visible. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1944 38. Stripped of most of its taping and missing its tail wheel, "KE+SX" is seen in a dilapidated condition behind one of the hangars at Kassel with their distinctive lightning rods(?). It undoubtedly was scrapped there instead of being sent to the USA. A second Me 163B-0 glider, BV-4 "VD+EN" was also used for training by Erg.St./JG 400 before it became 14./EJG 2, see Ransom & Cammann, p. 374. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1945 39. I have yet to see a picture of "KE+SX" with its camouflaged tail . However, the wellen on its fuselage are so distinct that the probability is high that the tail of the third Me 163 B from the right at Merseburg is that of "KE+SX". Note the rounded tail tip. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1946
40. At some point, likely in early June 1945, it was decided to put on a display of captured German technology at Kassel, Germany for American servicemen. Included were three tailless fuselages of Me 163Bs that were being prepared to be crated for shipment to the US. To provide a better view of the MK108/30 cannon of the closest Me 163B the long upper and lower wing root fairings were removed. In this case, a part of the upper fairing is bent out of shape. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1947 41. This is another view of the three Komets. Note that in this photo the far aircraft, "KE+SX" is upright. The recessed MK108/30 can be inferred by the gunport in the middle of the wing root of the Me 163B at the left. If you look closely you can make out the tip if the muzzle of the MG151/20 of the middle aircraft and the far aircraft has no gunport in its wing root. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1948 42. This comparison confirms the left hand Komet is "191301". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1949 43. In this photo "191301" has been removed. Also, with its long wing root fairings removed, a clear view of the MG151/20 with its protruding muzzle was made. Perhaps this explains the "Armament" placard in the background. The bulbous fairing covering the air vents of the tailpipe is conspicuous. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1950 44. A comparison with the previous taxiway line-up photo confirms that the nearer aircraft is "White 42" that along with "191301" was recorded as "Rocket plane" on the June 26, 1945 manifest provided by Richdic in post # 7 of this thread. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1951 45. This is another view if the tailless "White 42" at the Kassel exhibition with its dark-looking camouflage. The top of the canopy is about six feet off the ground and the width of the fuselage is about five feet. Researching the specifications of the Me 163B, the length was 19 ft, 2 in. and the tare weight was 4200 lbs. Add 800 lbs. for the wooden crate and the total weight would indeed be "5000". With room for an upright wing on each side of the fuselage, a crate about 20 ft. long, 6.5 ft. high and 5.6 ft. wide would take up 728 Cu.ft. ... with room for one Me 163B, not 89! |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1955
46. After re-assembly at Freeman Field, "191301" was chosen as the more photogenic in its original German makings of the Me 163Bs and sent to Wright Field as part of the display of captured German aircraft at the enormous "Army Air Forces Fair", 13-21 October 1945. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1956 47. This colour photograph at the Fair gives a good idea of the original German camouflage patterns, mottling and late war German national markings on a Me 163B. Note the extra large white circle indicating the T-Stoff filler cap. Also, the replacement wing root fairing doesn't quite match. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1957 48. The diminuative Me 163B looks even smaller next to a Junkers Ju 290. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1958 49. The T-Stoff circles in this comparison suggest that at Merseburg the second Me 163B from the right was "191301". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1959 50. In November 1945, it was decided to make "191301" airworthy for flight trials in 1946 in California by using spare parts from "FE501" and "FE502". In this photo, the wings and most of the fairings and hatches have been removed for complete inspection. The "X"'s of the windows identify the same hangar that "White 54" was in. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1967
51. By 21 March 1946, "191301" was ready for flight testing and had been given a new paint job with a high demarcation including dark mottling on the upper surfaces. In large white lettering, "FE500" was painted on the tail. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1962 52. On 12 April 1946, it was airlifted by a C-82 Packet transport aircraft to the Material Command flight test centre at Rogers Dry Lake, Muroc, California, later Edwards Air Force Base. It had been recoded "T-2-500". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1963 53. As in Germany, the first test flights were to be "TG" [Towed Glider] with a B-29 towing the "T-2-500" to 35,000 feet. The first test flight was supposed to take place on 3 May 1946 at Muroc with designer Alexander Lippisch present. Unfortunately, just before lift-off, the tow rope detached and the Me 163B rolled on for several miles. A few towed glider flights were made by Gustav E. Lundquist but any further powered flights were cancelled when failure of the glue in the plywood of the wings [delamination] was detected. forum.12oclockhigh.net/album.php?albumid=73&pictureid=1964 54. "T-2-500" then went to Norton Air Force Base, California, for storage. The starboard wing is missing in this view. In 1954 it was transferred to the NASM Paul Garber Facility at Old Silver Hill, Maryland, for storage. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1965 55. From 1996 to 2008, "T-2-500" with some of the American paint removed, was on display at the Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum in Pooler, near Savannah, Georgia. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1966 56. Today, still unrestored, the original werknummer, 191301, can be seen on its tail. It is on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum at Washington's Dulles International Airport. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
As a point of interest for those unaware, T-2 was code for Technical Intelligence at Wright Field in Dayton, Ohio. Freeman Field also got some captured aircraft. FE stood for Foreign Equipment. An agreement existed with the British who painted USA numbers on aircraft they came across that were of interest to the Americans.
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Thank you, Ed!
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Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Description of the ME 163 B-0 Construction
https://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer...XX.0408_ref648 Me 163 B Airplane Manual, Part 6 - Power Plant - Description, Part 7 - Power Plant Control and Maintenance https://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer...XX.0408_ref534 M E 163, Volume II - Me 163 B Airplane Manual https://edan.si.edu/slideshow/viewer...XX.0408_ref637 These can be ordered, not on-line yet. https://sova.si.edu/record/nasm-xxxx...o=doc_position https://sova.si.edu/record/nasm-xxxx...o=doc_position If you PM me your e-mail I'll send you the photos that I have. Some may be new to you. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Hi Mike,
Thank you for the documents. I look forward to reading them in detail ... and the resolution of your photos is phenomenal. with much appreciation, Jim |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1968
57. This photo of the starboard side of "White 42" is problematic in that it does not show the dark camouflage seen in every other photo of that aircraft. It has not yet been determined where or when this picture was taken, but the Morane radio mast and wing root fairings were removed from the wingless fuselage at Kassel, Germany. The re-assembly of the wings without root fairings suggests this photo was taken after the arrival at Freeman Field, Seymour, Indiana in August 1945. Note the bulbous fairing over the air vents of the tail pipe, not seen on "White 54". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1969 58. However, the camo pattern matches that seen on the starboard side of "White 42" on the truck in my #27. I would suggest that bright sunlight is reflecting off not only the aircraft but the buildings in the picture above. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1970 59. As we have seen, for some reason the tail of "White 54" was attached to the fuselage of "White 42". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1971 60. This comparison of the forward port fuselage with that of "White 42" on the truck at Merseburg confirms the identity of the fuselage. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1972 61. This is one of two other photos showing the fuselage of "White 42" with the tail of "White 54". The distortion in this photograph is quite apparent in the hakenkreuz. The easiest way to recognize the various identities of "White 42" is the bulbous fairing over the air vents. In addition, this early Me 163B with its MG 151/20 cannon is recognizable by the size of the cannon access hatch. I believe it was David E. Brown who first noticed the smaller hatch with a fairing below compared to the full-sized hatch of the later MK 108/30 models. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1973 62. The other photo, less hakenkreuz by Kumark-Antik, gives a good view of the mismatched wingroot fairing added by the Americans. Again note the damage to the tip of of the tail of "White 54". |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
I hope the following is helpful, particularly the photos. It includes a few examples captured by the Soviets.
https://acesflyinghigh.wordpress.com...e-devils-sled/ |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
Hi Ed,
Thank you. Some of the pictures of "191301" I hadn't seen before. Also interesting was the page of "Winkle" Brown's logbook in which he records his self-authorized powered flight in a Me 163B at Husum on 10 June 1945. Jim http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1974 63. This high-resolution copy of a picture of "FE495" is courtesy of Revi16. In the U.S.A., it was soon decided that "White 42" would not be used for spare parts to make "191301" flight worthy as "White 54" was the obvious choice. Instead, there was a need for public relations in a post war world. Static display aircraft of German origin were needed at air shows, recruitment fairs and even military parades. An "Air Force Exhibit Unit" was set up at Wright Field, Ohio and they gave "FE495" a beautiful, spurious make over. However, the bulbous air vent fairing on the tailpipe, the smaller access hatch to the MG 151/20 cannon and the damage to the tail tip identifies it as the fuselage of "White 42" with the "White 54" tail. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1975 64. This is another photo courtesy of Revi16. It shows FE495 sitting beside an He 162 at USAAF recruitment fair in about 1945-46. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1976 65. After publicity of the flight trials of FE500 at Muroc in the summer of 1946 people were eager to get a look at this novelty aircraft. This photo was taken, according to the caption, at the Philadelphia Air Show on 11 November 1948. However, the real FE500 was in storage at Norton AFB in California at that time. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1977 66. This "FE500" had an overall coat of dark green paint without mottling, but with the same bulbous fairing and smaller access hatch. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1978 67. In its final years, "White 42" got numerous make overs. Some were really bad like this very fake "FE500". http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1979 68. Or with streamlining! http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1980 69. Eventually, the usefulness of "White 42" came to an end. Franks. on page 18 of his book, says, "The remains of FE-495 were scrapped at Wright Field in 1950." |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
no photograph
70. Baugher, Franks and Butler all mention Me 163Bs in the U.S.A. designated "FE502/T2-502" and "FE503/T2-503". While this is not scientific evidence, in my opinion, Americans love their cameras. The large number of photos of "White 54", "191301" and "White 42" taken in America substantiates that statement. For me, the lack of photos of the other two Komets leads me to the conclusion that they were never uncrated and reassembled. T2-502 was documented 17 May 1946 as being at Freeman Field and on 25 September 1946 to be "scrapped for spare parts", Franks, p. 19, and Butler, p.239. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1981 71. The origin and fate of "T2-503" is so far undocumented. In 1946, the Bell Aircraft Corporation of Buffalo, New York, was developing a rocket-powered aircraft, the XS-1, which was expected to surpass the speed of sound. Their chief test pilot was Jack Woolams, seen here with the second prototype. Woolams made nine glider flights in the XS-1 between 25 January and 15 March 1946 being dropped from a specially modified B-29. Bell Aircraft was very slow and meticulous in the testing and modification and the first powered flight was not scheduled until October 1946. Woolams would have wanted actual experience of powered rocket flight before then. Unfortunately, the delamination of the wings of "T2-500" at Muroc made that more difficult. Both Franks, p. 19, and Butler, p. 229, refer to documentation that on 1 August 1946, "T2-503" was to be made serviceable "pending transfer to the Bell Aircraft Corporation". In testing the souped-up Bell P-39Q on 30 August 1946 in preparation for the National Air races in Cleveland the next day, Woolams was killed when he crashed into Lake Ontario. Butler reports: "it is probable that the Bell test programme of the Me 163 was cancelled. There is no further record of this Me 163." On p. 239, Butler makes reference to a "W.Nr. 191190" being one of the Me 163s in the U.S.A. http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1982 72. Finally, this is my speculation to date of the identities of the Me 163Bs on the trucks at Merseburg. |
Re: A Photographic Examination of the Me 163Bs sent to the USA
I would be cautious with speculation even after labeling it as such. A large number of technical intelligence teams were in Germany prior to it being divided into East and West. Wright Field had issued a list of aircraft it wanted, which was shared with the British. Those aircraft were found at various dispersal points, some near the autobahn which was being used in the final days for takeoffs and landings. Also, all of these aircraft were under camouflage, whether it was tree branches or netting. Allied aerial reconnaissance missions were winding down.
I highly doubt anything was left uncrated. During the war, captured aircraft were being sent to Wright Field for evaluation. At the end of the war, captured documents and German personnel were sent there as well. I have a partial list of these documents. The authors were given as a first initial followed by a last name, such as A. Schwartz. Wright Field consisted of a number of departments of which no comprehensive published history exists. As Phil Butler pointed out in War Prizes, he had to go through a number of file cards which were unproductive along with those that were. I stumbled across photos of the Lippisch DM-1 being removed from its shipping crate. These were held by NASA. It would be wrong to assume that these aircraft were all exhibited at special events where Americans took pictures. Some were considered secret and kept from the prying eyes of the new enemy, the Soviet Union. It is also wrong to assume everything is online. That is definitely not the case when it involves highly specialized subject matter. And in some cases, things are not findable using average search words or in some convenient form. A certain amount of patience is needed when searching through NARA in the U.S. for example. As Phil Butler noted, a lot of material needs to be gone through to get to the desired item. Some material from the war is still classified. This is further complicated by documents completing declassification review but being released in batches with less than descriptive headings. Example: Documents of the U.S. Naval Attache, January to December, 1943. My example may or may not contain any desired information but that requires going over two or more linear feet of documents. The U.S. Navy is often overlooked as a place where aircraft were tested and evaluated. |
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