Camouflaged Me 262s with white rudders

[Karoband]

Hi Philippe,

I hope your ankle and fractures heal quickly.

I now have to agree with you and Vince that the rudders were most probably replacement parts in a pale RLM76. Thanks for your help.

Jim

[Vince Malfara]

Hi Philippe
Best wishes for a speedy recovery.
I can't recall if the reference is correct but I think it was in Squadron Signal Walk Around no. 42 that a reference was made to the manufacture of the rudders with a broad chord trim tab at Obertraubling.
Don't think I can attach the photo from the book here. If either of you want a copy of the page PM me and I'll send one off to you.
The book was available for viewing on a site called Librarum but the site has since disappeared.
I did notice that some of the rudders were of a dark color at Obertraubling as well. Maybe already primed and painted?
Again all the best.

Vince...

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear All,

Those that have Wings of the Black Cross, Number Nine, see the photo at the top of page 29. The tail unit in Stauffen I believe came from Klosterle and came in pieces. The photo shows several tail units with the rudder attached in minimal shipping crates, with what looks like a horizontal stabilizer nearby. This particular photo was taken at Kassel. In the Stauffen photo, the complete tail unit has been assembled, ready for installation on the Me 262.

The rudders in the Kassel photo may be made from a different aluminum sheeting from the vertical stabilizers, but they clearly aren't painted white. A color photo from Kassel provided to me by Steve Coates shows that both components are bare aluminum.

Frankly, I think we've gotten carried away a bit trying to force fit a theory into the actual facts.

Regards,
Richard