Some enlarged and 'tweaked' known photos of Me 262s

[Dan O'Connell]

Now we just need to determine the WN of Hotting White 13 is.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....&pictureid=996

164. After capturing Munich at the end of April 1945, American forces pushed south along the A8 autobahn towards Salzburg, Austria. Entering the Hofoldinger Forest about 15 km. south of Munich, they found over 60 aircraft parked under the pine trees near the highway, including four Me 262s along the west side. This picture shows American forces finding Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 111685 9K+FH of 1./KG 51 (listed as with JV 44 at München-Riem on 26 April 1945 but not identified as from "I./KG 51").


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....&pictureid=999

165. The fresh coat of thick, white paint on the tail indicates that 1.Staffel markings had been applied quite recently. As well, a new nose cone had not been camouflaged. Like all the Me 262s found in the Hofoldinger Forest, the retreating Germans had sabotaged this aircraft by placing explosives in the engine nacelles. Useless to the Americans, these aircraft were towed south along A8 to the collecting area and scrapyard on the east side at Brunnthal.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....&pictureid=997

116. Photos of W.Nr. 111685 in the Brunnthal collecting area show that it had unique features. First, it had the simple black hakenkreuz of the Regensburg-administered W.Nr. 500xxx series with its lack of white gun rectangles. Its history shows that this Me 262, along with a few others of the 1116xx series, was accepted by Stabsflugführer Major Anton Riediger at Kitzingen in March 1945. This may be related to the fact that it has a unique rudder akin to the Kaulquappe (tadpole) fame. However this one has a large tail-light bulb and was camouflaged matching the rest of the tail and fuselage. Like the Regensburg aircraft, the werknummer is in black numerals forward of the lowest part of the hakenkreuz. But the numerals are larger and found on both sides of the fin, not just the port side.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....&pictureid=998

167. This view of the starboard side of W.Nr. 111685 shows a recent change of identity. First, the old markings were painted out using the minimum effort possible. The original two-character Geschwader code to the left of the balkenkreuz was as small as the "9K" that replaced it. To the right, the large individual aircraft letter was painted out to make way for the white "F" that quickly began to flake off, and the small Staffel letter was replaced by the small black "H". This suggests that another Kampfgeschwader, and not a Kampfgeschwader (Jagd), was the previous owner of this aircraft.

[Dan O'Connell]

Thanks

[Karoband]

You're most welcome, Dan.

[David E. Brown]

Jim,

With respect to No.167, there was only one ‘true’ Me 262-equipped Kampfgeschwader, that being KG 51 “9K” (and its earlier derivations, e.g. Kdo. Schenk). KG(J) 54 did use the alpha-numeric unit code and Staffel letter in small (20 cm height) characters. Thus if this machine was not previously with another KG 51 Staffeln it could theoretically have been with KG(J) 54.

Best,

David

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by David E. Brown

Jim,

With respect to No.167, there was only one ‘true’ Me 262-equipped Kampfgeschwader, that being KG 51 “9K” (and its earlier derivations, e.g. Kdo. Schenk). KG(J) 54 did use the alpha-numeric unit code and Staffel letter in small (20 cm height) characters. Thus if this machine was not previously with another KG 51 Staffeln it could theoretically have been with KG(J) 54.

Best,

David

The other Me 262 use of alphanumeric codes was with 1./Versuchsverband OKL from which Kdo. Braunegg was formed: T9+- H. Only mentioned in documents but we live in hope of a photo!

[Karoband]

Originally Posted by David E. Brown

Jim,

With respect to No.167, there was only one ‘true’ Me 262-equipped Kampfgeschwader, that being KG 51 “9K” (and its earlier derivations, e.g. Kdo. Schenk). KG(J) 54 did use the alpha-numeric unit code and Staffel letter in small (20 cm height) characters. Thus if this machine was not previously with another KG 51 Staffeln it could theoretically have been with KG(J) 54.

Best,

David

Respectfully, David, and I am open to correction on this, every photo I have seen of Me 262s with KG (J) 54 the Staffel letter has been the same size as the individual aircraft letter.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1000

168. This mediocre picture shows how Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 170071 white "2" of III/EJG 2 was found out in the open along the A8 autobahn in the Hofoldinger Forest south of Munich. Note the nacelle fairing by the road.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1001

169. Close examination of this picture shows not only the blast pattern on the fuselage of the explosive in the engine nacelle but damage from the very thin wire cable the Germans looped over the tail to drag white "2" to this spot. This suggests a hasty removal of a last minute arrival landing on the autobahn. The cut pine branches are not yet desiccated.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1002

170. In this view the extent of the damage from the explosion can be seen and the branches are now desiccated.

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1003

171. So far I have not seen any photos of white "2" in the collection yard at Brunnthal. In this picture, the nose of white "9" can be seen sticking out of the trees about 50 meters in the distance. Note the white gravel path seen in many of the photos of the Me 262s along the Hofoldinger Forest.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1006

172. Me 262 A-1a W.Nr. 111617 white "9" of III./EJG 2 was possibly one of the three aircraft at the far end of the kaulquappe line-up at Lechfeld in February or March of 1945, behind the white "10" that can be seen in the photo on page 409 of Smith & Creek, Me 262 Volume 2, (1998). On page 129 of O'Connell's Production Log, (2005), he rightly places W.Nr. 111617 at the DLH facility at München Riem on 26 April 1945. This photo shows it was found by American forces hidden along Autobahn A8 in the Hofoldinger Forest in May 1945 with its engine nacelles demolished.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1007

173. This photo shows that white "9" had been pushed into its position under the trees. There are no sign of cordory logs as seen at Scheppach. Note the rear fuel tank lying beneath the aircraft, stripped of its leather.