Kommando Nowotny 262 Tail pattern?

[pstrany]

Hi;

If you look at the vertical tail and rudder of most Kommando Notowny 262s, there is an almost identical pattern applied to all. Some sources claim this was actually applied with a stencil, and the absolute uniformity would seem to support this.
My problem is this. There are many photos of the right side pattern, but I have so far only been able to find one fuzzy photo of the left side pattern. I am looking for photos of the left side pattern, or (wouldn't this be great?) a pattern of both sides as applied to Kdo Nowotny 262s.

Thanks!

Paul

[robert_schulte]

In the book of Smith and Creek, Me 262 vol. 2 (German edition) there are several photos of lined up planes, showing the left side (pages 186 and following). Here the tail units from those planes which are visible, all seem to have an identical pattern. You can see at least 4 planes with this pattern: Weiße 1, Weiße 19, Weiße 4 and Weiße 3, the last one seems to be a bit weather-beaten. From "Weiße 4" there is also a photo from the right side, which shows a completely different pattern on the tail.
Hope this helps,
regards
Robert

[Don Pearson]

David E. Brown and David Wadman in their Experten Decals booklet ED-2A "Checkmate" discuss the "tadpole" camouflage found on the Me 262 tails. They conclude that the tails were most likely painted as seperate components using stencils, but that each displays subtle differences. The reference photos have also been associated with III./EJG 2 rather than Kommando Nowotny. The subject of the booklet is from I./KG(J) 54. (Great reading!).

HTH,

Don

[Dan O'Connell]

Forgive me please, but I hope this is the last time I have to say this. The unique >stenciled< tails were of experimental wooden construction, and they worked out quite well. A couple aircraft with them were with Kdo Nowotny, but only because they were available to be assigned to them. It was NOT a distinctive Kdo Nowotny signature. More info is available in (shameless plug) my book, available in a couple months. Sorry if I sound testy, it's just that this myth has been perpetuated for ever.

[edwest]

Dan,

Release date or month for your book?


Ed

[pstrany]

Title? Publisher? ISBN?

Author? (Just kidding! )


Woo-hoo!!

Paul