Me 262 photos on eBay - new pictures(?)

[RolandF]

Concerning this "thin white band" - this is not a marking at all, but the position, where the joint between tail unit and fuselage is covered by tape and painted over with camouflage.
Tail unit and fuselage were delivered and produced for messerschmit by different subcontractors - oftenly by unskilled personnel - so the fit of the parts was rather bad and caused gaps which had to be closed.
Same goes for the joint between fuselage and nose unit.
If this tape is torn off by an accident or by excessive wear the unpainted or primer-painted surfaces appear which seem to form a thin tailband.
That´s the way how "Yellow 3" from 3./JG 7 shot down by AAA "received" its ominous tailband or III.Gruppe bar...

Regards

Roland

[ouidjat]

Hi,

Thank you Roland for this explanation.

BR, Franck.

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear Roland,

I can't say that I buy your explanation. Note that in Franck's photo the band is rather clean cut. A sloppy tape job that begins to come off would leave a ragged appearing band. My thinking, further, is that the tape is applied first, then the body putty to make everything as smooth as possible. Putting the tape on last would, indeed, be asking for trouble.

I just checked a photo I have of Me 262, W.Nr. 111711 (T-2-711) and the putty was applied after the tape. You may recall this was a bare metal Me 262, so the seams are very visible. It is possible that putty was applied at the start, tape then applied, then a final overcoat of putty, but the point is the last layer was putty.

Regards,
Richard

[luftquest]

not ebay but New ones to me, looks like 711

http://s535.photobucket.com/user/Gei...me262.jpg.html
http://s535.photobucket.com/user/Gei...e262a.jpg.html

cheers

[ouidjat]

Hi Lufquest,

Thanks for the links! Yes, seems to be (need to register to load them bigger?). We can read a small 711 Under tail section.

Regards, Franck.

[luftquest]

Hi Franck,


And this one is a needle in the haystack http://www.flickr.com/photos/airlines470/8622992396/

cheers

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear All,

The 2 links from Photobucket provided by luftquest are rather unique. I tend to agree, from what I can see of the number under the tail, that these are of "711", i.e., W.Nr. 111711, which became T-2-711. This aircraft shipped from Europe on 9 May 1945 aboard the "Madawaska Victory" (ref. telex of 30 May 1945).

But, 1 of the 2 photos gives the photo date as 16 Apr. 1945, meaning that the photos were taken of the aircraft in a disassembled state in Europe prior to shipping to the U.S. I've not seen such photos before and would like to contact the owner on Photobucket for possible higher resolution images. Can anyone help me make contact with him? Also, does anyone have an idea where in Europe the photos were taken?

Regards,
Richard

[ouidjat]

Hi guys,

@Richard: I think just need to register to Photobucket, which I won't do. Anyway, the photo is so sharp that you can blow it up to 250% and you can read 711 under tail plane and on bomb rack, hence no doubts.

@Luftquest:
Last link is a HUUUUUUUGE GOOD surprise; at last!.. Well for me.
It does exist an article in "Le Fanatique de l'aviation" published during the 70s concerning the Me 262 tests in French Air Force.
Indeed, 113332 crash is depicted in Me 262 Squadron Signal Walk Around N°42; with a very sharp picture.
For the detail of these tests refer to Le Fana.
But, back to your link, it's good to see "Julie" on port side.

If you click on "Me 262 tag" you can get this one:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jamesme...n/photostream/

Enjoy it!

Regards, Franck.

[Richard T. Eger]

Dear Franck,

I did register with Photobucket, but found no way to contact the photo owner. Maybe I missed something. Can anyone help?

Regards,
Richard

[luftquest]

Yes Franck, I almost fell out of my chair when I saw Julie. Glad that search is over!!!!!

I came across this picture of 711 during the tear down in germany but it isn't linking correctly. Do a google web search (not images) for Jafar278/CCF04132010_00000.jpg which will be the photobucket.com choice.