New picture of a Me262 with Karoband

[David E. Brown]

Gents,

This Me 261 A-1a Jabo is "gelbe 3" of 3./KG(J) 54 and was found at a small airfield across the river from the town of Moosberg (NE of Munich on the Isar River). Other extant photos reveal that the lighter portions of the karoband were originally white. They were lightly but deliberately oversprayed with 81 Braunviolet to mute to contrast with the dark blue cheques and not compromise the aircraft's overall camouflage that was also oversprayed with denser wellen of 81. There is also evidence of the KG 54 "Totenkopfwappen" ahead of the windscreen. It too was overpainted with 81 but in this instance with a brush.

The overpainting of unit markings may well reflect the time when the remnants of Me 262 units operating in the Protectorate (KG(J) 6, KG(J) 54 and JG 7) were combined and folded into the ad hoc unit Gefechtsverband Hogeback in late April 1945.

BTW, the location is verified by correspondence received from a US veteran who took photos of the aircraft after release from Stalag VII A.

Cheers,

David