[David E. Brown]

Re. Post 4778 above, the tailfin is that of this machine:

Me 262 A-2a, WNr.170312. Test flown by Otto Kaiser on 1 October 1944 at Leipheim, from 11:54 until 12:19. While assigned to I./KG 51 this A-2a was 15% damaged at Rhein-Main (Frankfurt) while maneuvering for takeoff on 19 February 1945. It was found there next to the Autobahn, after an inquiry from I./KG 51 as to where it should be sent if made serviceable on 10 March, without its engines and partially disassembled on 27 March. It was then sent to Frankfurt, and is believed to have been shipped back to the USA aboard the Madawaska Victory as a source of spare parts for 111711. The W. Nr. has been confirmed in photos, but it has often been confused with 111685.

Information from Dan O'Connell's "Messerschmitt Me 252 - The Production Log: 1941-1945". Classic). Seeing this component in a junkpile would confirm that the entire machine was not shipped to the US, possible just the motors and other useable parts.

David