Hans Fay and ME 262 w.nr. 111711 ?

[David E. Brown]

Gents,

In all probability, the machine discovered by US troops near Frankfurt is this one (via Dan O’Connell’s Me 262 opus):

WNr.170312 Test flown by Otto Kaiser 1 October 1944, at Leipheim, 11:54-12:19. I./KG 51 A-2a, 15% damaged at Rhein-Main (Frankfurt) while maneuvering for takeoff on 19 February 1945. It was found there disassembled 27 March, by US troops. It may have been shipped back to the USA aboard the Madawaska Victory as a source of spare parts for 111711.

Dan’s last comments are probably correct as there are several photos of this aircraft showing it dismantled and placed in a wooden frame (Ref: Broken Eagle 4). Photos of this machine are often confused with this one (and vice-versa):

WNr.111685 Call sign VQ+TS. Me 262 A-2a. Flown on a BAL acceptance flight by Stabsflugführer Major Anton Riediger at Kitzingen on 13 March 1945, at 11:04 for 15 minutes. It was then ferried by Ofw. Albert Brück of 2./Fl.Ü.G. 1 on 15 March from Kitzingen at 17:35 hours to Hopsten, a 370 km. flight lasting 34 minutes, and delivered to 1./KG 51. It was then sent from Memmingen to Riem and transferred to JV 44 shortly before 26 April 1945. Found on the autobahn in the Hofoldinger Forest badly damaged near Neubiberg. '9K+FH', ('White F'). Found in a badly damaged parked on the edge of an autobahn in the Hofoldinger Forest south of München near Neubiberg in May 1945. Dragged into a field with other Luftwaffe aircraft and later scrapped. Published colour photo suggests an overall scheme of 81 and large spots of 82 and the Werk Nummer is clearly visible in a color photo of the aircraft.

If I recall, the evergreen branches around WNr.111711 are the result of US troops’ hasty efforts to conceal Fey’s aircraft soon after its landing, and later removing them to inspect it.

So, the 526 AIB’s is factually correct though illustrating the wrong aircraft.

Cheers,

David