[David E. Brown]

Roland and Mark,

Below is a summary of the III./EJG 2 Me 262 A-1a/U3 machines found at Lechfeld (and elsewhere) from my files that might shed a bit of light on what is currently known of their identities and fates.

Cheers,

David


White 25: Werknummer 500453? It is not 500491 as listed by Handig (1997) as this particular Werknummer belongs to the NASM aircraft, “Yellow 7” of III./JG 7 on display in Washington. It is most probably a 500000-series aircraft, but no photos are known of the tail area at the time of its capture. However, the camouflage scheme confirms that it was an Eger-Cheb converted 500000-Werknummereries aircraft. After capture at Lechfeld in April 1945, it was named “Connie, My Sharp Article” and later in June at Melun France renamed “Pick II” and Whizzer No.444. Once in the United States it was given the USAF identity FE-4012 and eventually ended up in the Planes of Fame Museum in Chino, California. At some point it lost its original U/3 nose that was replaced with a fighter nose from another aircraft. It also had the MK 108 at one time, as photos from Lechfeld reveal the patch on the nose cone. Today it is part of Paul Allen’s Flying Heritage Collection. Recent restoration by the FHC team has discovered a number of components marked “453”. WNr.500453 is listed not listed as an aircraft In Boehme’s publication, nor has it been identified in the work by Brown, Poruba and Vladar (2012), so the assignment of this werknummer to White 25 is tentative.

White 26: Werknummer 500251. This is one of the NAG 6 aircraft in the Lechfeld junkpile. Several photos are known but the last half of the Werknummer is in shadow in most images save one of it in front of the airfield’ south hanger. Colour photos of this aircraft seen in Radinger and Schick (1992), Smith and Creek (2000), Boehme (2001), and Brown, Poruba and Vladar (2012). Comparison of the camouflage and markings with black & white photos (e.g. Wadman, 1997) confirms its identity. Scrapped in 1946.

White 27: Werknummer 500098. Found at Lechfeld. US identities as “Joanne” / “Cookie VII” / 666. Crashed Pittsburgh, PA on August 9, 1945. Information from Butler (1994) and published photos from various sources.

White 29: Werknummer 500853. Found at Lechfeld, one of three in the junkpile behind the south hanger. Werknummer visible in a number of published photos from various sources. Scrapped in 1946.

White 30: Werknummer 500???. Werknummer most probably in 500000-series. Captured at Lechfeld. US identities as “Marge” / “Lady Jess IV” / 222, accepted by the USN and identified as BuAer.121443. Crashed at Patuxent, MD on July 11, 1945. Information from Butler (1994) and published photos from various sources.

White 33: Werknummer 500539. Several good photos published in various sources of this aircraft illustrating its Werknummer. Also from the Lechfeld dump behind the south hanger. Scrapped in 1946.

White 34: Werknummer 500252?. This aircraft was along the autobahn south on Munich where it transects the Holfoldinger Forest about a kilometer north of the hamlet of Brunnthal where it was dragged to the collection point there and later junked. Several photos show an indecipherable black line where the Werknummer should be in the lower position (and none in the upper position), further supporting a 500000-series Werknummer. In one image, the last digit ‘2’ is visible under the tailplane. Boehme (2000) lists 500252 as the werknummer of a U3 – there are no others ending with a ‘2’. Given the very few Me 262s converted to the U3 variant, it is probable that this is its werknummer. Scrapped in 1946.

REFERENCES:

Boehme, M., 2001
Strahlaufklärer Messerschmitt Me 262 – Die Geschichte der Nahaufklärungsgruppe 6.
VDM Heinz Nickel, Zweibrücken, 111p.

Brown, D.E., Poruba, T., and Vladař, J., 2012
Messerschmitt Me 262 Production & Arado Ar 234 Final Operations – Luftwaffe over Czech Territory 1945 - Volume IV.
JaPo, Hradec Kralove, 261p.

Butler, P., 1994
War Prizes.
Midland County Publications, Earl Shilton, 320p.

Handig, M, 1997
Die selten Jet-Späher - Me 262 A-1a/U3 Behelfsaufklärer.
Oesterreich Flugzeug Historiker Nachrichten, 2/97, p.22-27.

Radinger, W., and Schick, W., 1992
Me 262 – Entwicklung, Erprobung und Fertigung des ersten einsatzfähigen Düssenjägers der Welt.
Aviatic Verlag GmbH, Planegg, 111p.

Smith, J.R., and Creek, E.J., 2000
Me 262 – Volume 3.
Classic Publications, Crowborough, 220p.

Wadman, D, Bradley, J. and Ketley, B., 1997
Aufklärer – Luftwaffe Reconnaissance Aircraft & Units 1935-1945.
Hikoki Publications, Aldershot, 272p.