Pax River Buried aircraft...

[harrison987]

Does anyone have any info on the Pax River Ar234's, Me262's, etc. which were dumped in the river, and/or buried in 1946?

I am doing a documentary and will be working on the search and recovery.

CAn anyone help?

Thanks!

mike

[brewerjerry]

Hi
Often wondered when this would come up.
I am fairly certain I remember reading about these aircraft in a late 70's control column magazine, I think the magazine was something to do with the BAPC.
http://www.bapc.org.uk/

Perhaps someone here recalls more, I no longer have the magazines, but recall it mentioning AR 234's, at least.
Cheers
Jerry

[ArtieBob]

There have also been several references to these in US publications along with photos. IIRC, the aircraft were partially submerged in what I believe was brackish water. If there are remains still at Pax River they are probably in an advanced state of corrosion. Off the top of my head, cannot remember the publications, possibly Air Classics Air Combat, Airpower or Wings during the 1980s. BTW, there are flight test reports for these aircraft.

Best Regards,

Artie Bob

[O.Menu]

One of the two Ar 234 (ie: W.Nr.140312) was recovered. A color photo is published inside Smith & Creek's "Jet planes of the Luftwaffe" p 371.

It is now at NASM: http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com...rado/arado.htm

Cheers, Olivier

[ArtieBob]

The NASM Ar 234 is not one of the "buried" aircraft from Pax River. IIRC , those were completely stripped and already in advanced state of disintegration long before the NASN a/c was restored. I was in the Garber facility during the Ar 234 restoration and took photos. The subject aircraft was essentially complete and in reasonably good condition.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

[DaveM2]

I have the article from Control Column, so will scan when I find it. Remains of the machine stuck in the hillside were substantial, but probably before it fell into the river. I believe some parts were salvaged before that happened for the base museum?

regards
Dave

[ChrisS]

With on that one Dave: the remains were extensive. Leslie Hunt (I think) in a 1970's addition of Control Column provided some pictures of an Ar 234 fuselage and wings lying on a slope partially buried.

Scrapped or still there?

Chris

[harrison987]

Thanks guys!

If anyone has info, scans, etc. feel free to contact me via PM. Would like as much info as possible...

To confirm...this is not ON-BASE?

Mike

[Adlerhorst]

Hello Mike,

here is a scan of an article i have regarding these aircraft. I am still angry thinking about this waste of historic material ..... why they couldn't give these planes back to Germany ? O.k. , i don't know if in those days the interest was taht big like today, but did they even told anybody here in Germany what they were about to do ?

Thomas

[Paul E.]

Here's a section of text about the Arado 234 B-2 in the NASM collection that should help clarify it's source, which wasn't the Pax River scrap pile. For a full version of the text go to:
http://www.nasm.si.edu/research/aero...ft/ardrar2.htm

Paul

The National Air and Space Museum's Blitz, an Arado Ar 234 B-2 bomber carrying Werk Nummer (manufacturer's serial number) 140312, was one of nine Ar 234s surrendered to British forces at Sola airfield near Stavanger, Norway. It is the sole surviving example of an Ar 234. The aircraft had been on strength with 9./KG 76 (Ninth Squadron/ bomber Wing 76) during the final weeks of the war, having served earlier with the unit's eighth squadron. It and three other Ar 234s were collected by the famous "Watson's Whizzers" group of the USAAF (United States Army Air Forces) for shipment to the United States. After flying from Sola to Cherbourg, France on June 24, 1945, the four Ar 234s joined thirty-four other advanced German aircraft aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper for shipment to the United States. The Reaper departed from Cherbourg on July 20, arriving at Newark, New Jersey eight days later. U. S. Army Air Forces personnel reassembled and flew two Ar 234s, including 140312, to Freeman Field, Indiana, for testing and evaluation. The USAAF assigned the foreign equipment number FE-1010 to this Ar 234 for inventory and tracking purposes.