Me262 found at Deelen

[stephen f. polyak]

While for Bf109s, these scans show the same type of main plate seen in the Me262 manual. The plate size is 37 mm by 74 mm.

The first plate, from Bf109G-5 WNr.110226 by Erla (MCU), is acid-ectehd from a zinc blank. The WNr. digits and "5" for the sub-model designation are stamped entries.

The second plate, from Bf109G-6 WNr.441006, is acid-etched from a steel blank, which is unusual, typically aluminum or zinc was used. All entries are stamped; no maker code is entered.

Originally Posted by Vince Malfara

Nice conversation here. Regarding Stephens post about data plates, I'll continue to search until I find something more definitive, until then I found a listing on eBay, I hope this is allowed, showing the smaller version of plates.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/WW2-German-Lu...item35df3291ab

[markjsheppard]

Stephen,

It seems there is an exception, the main data plate for Fw189 W.Nr2100 was on the wing tip and partly covered in yellow paint (theatre markings). The paint seems to have protected it from being taken.

regards

Mark

[Vince Malfara]

To follow up on Ed's comments in post #42 and after studying the limited photos from the dig site it would seem that the only piece of wreckage that has a very clean aluminum is the wing, which from what I can tell is the port one or left, the German translation for left being "Linke" that would be an indicator that the W.Nr. followed by the L is the identification of the left wing.

I am still trying to decipher the manufacturing stamp / logo on the metal. If anyone has any type of contact with the Deelen project now would be a good time to see if there are any main plates on any part of the aircraft.

Looking forward to following up

Vince...

[Jaap Woortman]

I have received today the following information:
The WNr. 130026.L is painted in about 3 cm. height figures on the inside of a wingpanel.
Due to deformation of the wing it is not possible to say if it is from the left or right wing now.
Further cleaning is necessary to see if there are any Werkenummer-plates visible in or on the wing.
Identified are sofar: one engine, nose section and two 30mm canons, wing incl. main spar and one leg of the main landing gear.
If new information arrives I will let you know.

Jaap

[Vince Malfara]

Thank you Jaap! That is wonderful news.

Vince...

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear Jaap,

With that new news, I now tend to agree with Vince that the "L" stands for links.

Regards,
Richard

[stephen f. polyak]

Hi Mark,

It's my belief that that wing tip plate you mentioned (WNr. 0112100 shown in the following link) was, although it carried the plane's WNr., an assembly ID plate for the (LHS/RHS) wing. This occurrence -- an airframe's WNr. on a plate other than the main plate -- was not unusual, particularly on planes produced up through the mid-war period. I have examples of such WNr.-marked plates for the Bf109, Bf110 and Ju88, among others.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/zi0pro..._tip_plate.jpg

The next two links clearly show the location of the Fw189's main plate on the left side of the fuselage near the pilot's canopy.

http://www.mediafire.com/view/j1bcia...on_Fw189#1.jpg

http://www.mediafire.com/view/bsmwhk...on_Fw189#2.jpg

Finally, here is a Fw189 plate showing the additional information a main plate carried, including the sub-model designation "A-2" and the year of construction "1943".

http://www.mediafire.com/view/g2j3t7...main_plate.jpg

Were any other airframe structure's plates found on 2100? Further thoughts are welcome; the subject of plates is rarely black and white, and I am always learning. Also, am still waiting for a "shy" Me262 main plate to reveal itself.

All the best,
Steve

Originally Posted by markjsheppard

Stephen,

It seems there is an exception, the main data plate for Fw189 W.Nr2100 was on the wing tip and partly covered in yellow paint (theatre markings). The paint seems to have protected it from being taken.

regards

Mark

[Vince Malfara]

Great information Stephen, I am also waiting patiently for a 262 data plate to make an appearance, or at least a sharp photo showing one in place. Further to the 262 at Deelen, I have found a similar duralumin manufacturing stamp at the link below to the one pictured below the W.Nr.
It seems to be the same although I can't match it to any company name yet.

http://fanaviation.free.fr/acceuil/a...kodak_165.html

Also, from the information that Jaap has obtained from Deelen as to what has been found so far it would explain something for me. I noticed that the main landing gear wheel is gone, the complete assembly, from the one found and only two guns so far, but no mention of ammunition.
It may be possible that the aircraft was stripped of parts and munitions either by the Germans or locals, more probably by the Germans after it crashed.
Or maybe there's a farmer using 262 wheels on his trailer.
Anyways, I'm enjoying the hunt, the company and learning something new.

Vince...

[Vince Malfara]

Based on the information I gathered so far it may be that the manufacturing logo on the aluminum from the Deelen Me262 is possibly from Aluminium-Werke Wutöschingen GmbH

I am including the links to some interesting sites which lead me to this conclusion. Although the company listed on the pdf is - Aluminium-Werke Steeg GmbH it was a good starting point.

http://www.archives.gov/research/microfilm/m1928.pdf

http://trade.mar.cx/aluminium-werke_...6schingen_gmbh

http://zbw.eu/beta/p20/company/about.en.html


Vince...

[Jaap Woortman]

In trying to get information about the Werknummer-plate of an Me 262 I have contacted several musea with a Me 262 in their collection.
None was able to help me with a picture of the Werknummer-plate of the aircraft.
I have contacted:
-The Deutches museum
-The RAF museum
-The Australia War Memorial
-The NASM in the US
-The National Museum USAF
The Australia War Memorial did some research on/in their Me 262 and send me some pictures of the aircraft.
I publish them here with the approval of the AWM. They are intersting because some of things they show, have been subject in our discussion.

Jaap