Volkswagen S/N

[researcher111]

On that HE-162 Volkswagen ( kidding ) Volksjaeger on the port
rudder is this a US S/N ? any idea where this aircraft may have ended ?

Alex K

[edNorth]

He 162 "Spatz" (Sparrow) or Salamander, aka Volksjaeger :-) ... wagen ...

no, its genuine W.Nr. in 120001 range (one of 250) ordered from EHF Nord Marienehe

- Ed

[researcher111]

Many thanks Ed, any idea about the capture location ?

Alex K

[Karoband]

Greetings Alex,

Heinkel He 162 A-2 W.Nr. 120086 of JG 1 was captured at Leck, Germany by British forces on 6 May 1945. The photograph shows it being prepared for public exhibition in Hyde Park in the autumn of 1945. The German national markings have been repainted and are different from those seen at Leck. It was assigned the Air Ministry number AM62. It was later sent to Canada.

best regards,

Jim Geens

[researcher111]

Many thanks Jim , was it ever flight tested in Alberta and did ever RCAF try to come up with a copy ( other than Chinese ) ? Also during Luftwaffe era was it stationed in Friesland ?

BR
Alex K

[RolandF]

This He 162 had a very short operational(?) career. April 30th '45 it was transferred by Lt Alfred Dürr from the Heinkel factory at Rostock-Marienehe to II./JG 1, but had to make an emergency landing on the Autobahn close to Lübeck-Dänischburg due to low fuel. 01./02.May 1945 it was transferred to Leck via Blankensee and Husum.
Intended for use in the newly-equipped II./JG 1 there was no time to receive a tactical number and in this condition it was captured at Leck airfield, being part of the famous two rows of JG 1-He 162s. Husum and Leck are situated in (Nord-)Friesland.

Hope this helps.

Regards
RolandF

[researcher111]

Roland

Great update, is amazing on how this jet given his characteristics and restricted
flight envelope would manage to make a dead stick landing on one of Alfred
Sperr's Autobahns , this must have been the performance of an engineering
test pilot combined with luck .

Alex K

[Revi16]

Originally Posted by researcher111

Roland

Great update, is amazing on how this jet given his characteristics and restricted
flight envelope would manage to make a dead stick landing on one of Alfred
Sperr's Autobahns , this must have been the performance of an engineering
test pilot combined with luck .

Alex K

It most likely wasn't a dead stick landing. He was low on fuel and landed before he ran out.

[researcher111]

Oh OK then combination of luck and proficiency

[Karoband]

Hi Alex,

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heinkel_He_162#/media/File:Heinkel_He_162_CASM_2012_5.jpg

He 162 A-2 W.Nr. 120086 is on display in some of its original paint at the Canada Aviation and Space Museum in Ottawa. On CASM's web page under its provenance it says the a/c was shipped to Canada in September of 1946 and transferred by the RCAF to the Canadian War Museum in 1964.

Therefore, W.Nr. 120086 AM62 was likely crated by MU47 at Sealand and placed on board either:

1) SS Manchester Shipper that left Ellesmore Port, Liverpool on 26 August 1946 and arrived at Montreal on 1 September with the crated Me 262s, AM55 and AM80; or

2) SS Manchester Commerce that left Salford Docks on 28 August 1946 and arrived at Montreal on 9 September with the crated Me 163 AM204.

www.warbirdinformationexchange.org/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=33988&start=60

On the second last post of the above site we learn of the He 162's time in Manitoba and its probable cold weather engine testing. No flights are mentioned.

Sorry Alex, it didn't quite get to Alberta.

Jim