"176. O'Connell on page 128 states that 111617 was fitted with an experimental wooden tail. However, when it was discovered by the Ameicans, it had standard camouflage on its tail with the
werknummer under the
hakenkreuz, but a white rudder with a standard late-production tail light bulb had replaced the
kaulquappe rudder.[/quote]"
I have no idea why 111617's original wooden rudder was replaced, as it had been found to be in good shape on April 1, but as shown at the dump, it was NOT the original rudder. I am unaware of any photos of 617 with it's original rudder.
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1013
178. In thread #44720/post #17 of this forum, David E. Brown identifies this Me 262 as W.Nr. 500252. This mediocre photo shows that only the starboard engine nacelle had suffered a detonation. Note the intact cannibalized Jumo 004 on the port side with a bare metal forward cowling. This lends credence to the idea that the A-4s found at Lechfeld had been given over to III./EJG2.[/quote]
My understanding is that this is actually 500004.
[quote=Karoband;320583]
http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1012
177. In April 1945, III./EJG 2 had a reconnaissance "Conversion Detachment" at Lechfeld (see Nick Beale's latest updates on "Ghostbombers": "1./NAG 1 and the Me 262: disbandment of 1./NAGr 13 before completing its conversion"). In a table on Me 262 dispositions dated 10 April 1945, found in RL 2/III 624,
eleven jets from "NAGr 1 u 6" had already been handed over to III/EJG 2. These were likely A-4s (aka A-1a/U3s) and at least one Me 262 B-1a trainer. At Lechfeld, III./EJG 2 possibly gave these the white-surround identities "25" to "35", painted in front of their cockpits.
This photo shows how white-surround "34" was found by American forces in the Hofoldinger Forest in May 1945. At first glance, it seems that only the reconnaissance nose assembly has simply been exchanged for a dark-camouflaged standard fighter nose with four MK 108 cannon.
The A4's were converted at Eger, where after conversion, they were given their unique paint camo and numbers. After they were transfered to III./EJG 2 at Lechfeld, they RETAINED their original fuselage numbers.