Heinkel He 162 upper wingcolour Mystery

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Hi !

• 120067 « white4 » is an A-1 (30mm guns) with the “diving eagle” from 1./JG1 on portside. Photos from this one could be found in near every publications about He 162, late JG1 or Luftwaffe camo.

• 120076 “yellow4” is far less known. It’s an A-2 (20mm guns) with very probably “Danzig’s lion” emblem from 3./JG1 on port-side. Only two valuable photos are known from me. One (1) & (2), was taken during surrender at Leck and clearly show no emblem on starboard. The second (3) is in color and taken at Farnborough before 4th of August 45 shows a usual camo sheme with grey unpainted jet engine air entrance and British markings over the Germans one.

This airplane was later transferred to Canada on 9th September 46. There and before it’s public exposition in 1964 it was repainted with this probably unreal splinter camo as well as with the unexpected “Wolf head” from 2./JG1! Painted on both side as it was usually done for 2./JG1 airplanes only.

Cheers, Olivier.

Sources:
(1): Luftwaffe at war 10, German jets 44-45, M.Griehl, Greenhill
(2): Luftwaffe Profiles Series No.16, He 162, M.Griehl, Schiffer
(3): War Prizes, P.Butler, Midland Counties Pub., p156