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

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Karoband

Thank you, Nick, for the source of Jurleit's information, but especially for the research into possible actions near Perleberg on 15 April. The dates for the photos of W.Nr. 170061 white "4" are indeed problematic "without corroboration".

Jim

May I add add a complication in the person of Ofw. Fritz Oldenstädt, an Me 262 pilot of NAG 6? According to his Flugbuch, on 14 April 1945 he ferried “4” from Perleberg to Kaltenkirchen, so there had been an Me 262 marked "4" at Perleberg the day before Rumler's recalled incident, just not the one in the photo.

[Karoband]

Thanks again, Nick. I note that in his flugbuch Oldenstädt counts this flight as his 180th operation.

Jim

[TigerTimon]

If a pilot encounters enemy aircraft during a ferry flight that try to intercept him, I think they would consider it a Feindflug (operational flight).

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by TigerTimon

If a pilot encounters enemy aircraft during a ferry flight that try to intercept him, I think they would consider it a Feindflug (operational flight).

I agree. The front lines were within about 15 km of Perleberg on 14 April.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1098

243. Not all Me 262s with intermediate rudders had plywood tails and kaulquappe patterns.
This angled photo was taken by a GI at Kitzingen probably about 10 April 1945. The Me 262 was broken in half in a crash landing and the Death's Head wappen and "B3" in front of the Balkenkreuz indicate it was from KG(J) 54.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1099

244. This view shows the tail being straightened out to show its proper configuration. The kennzeichen of "HL" identifies it as W.Nr. 110943 "B3+HL" of 3./KG(J) 54 that suffered 65% damage on 9 March 1945, (O'Connell. p. 118) and was left in a field at Kitzingen. Note the shattered upper tail and its rivetting. So far I have not seen a werknummer.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1100

245. Here the straightened out "B3+HL"'s camo pattern can be seen with its curiously uncamouflaged white RLM 21 tail fin and red (?) rudder.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1101

246. In this photo, it is unfortunate that the lower part of the rudder has been crumpled. The simple black hakenkreuz without a werknummer on either side is unusual for a 110xxx series Me 262 and probably indicates a replacement upper fin, rudder and tail plane.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1102

247. I do not know when or where this photo was taken nor the identity of the Me 262, but the similarity of the tail fin and rudder is unlikely a coincidence. The shape of the rudder is different from the earliest model, almost like the experimental plywood design. However, the dents and stresses caused by the rivets indicate that it was made from metal. The shape and shade of the rudder is akin to that of W.Nr. 111685.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1103

248. Despite the missing bomb racks, the faired-over upper gun ports and single white gun rectangle identify this Me 262 as an A-2. The extendable metal tripod with the ring on top is noteworthy as it usually served as a base for a block and tackle used for lifting heavy objects. This Me 262 was found by American troops abandoned on the south shore of Lake Starnberg near Seehaupt.
Further information is found in David E. Brown's post #259 of http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/showth...=45190&page=26


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1104

249. This photo shows severe damage at the base of the fin. Note that not only is the nosewheel missing but also the lower strut. Also the starboard Jumo 004 is missing its forward parts and engine cowl. Curiously the national markings seem to have been sprayed over but in this photo look to be a simple black hakenkreuz and a simple black balkenkreuz, perhaps from the 11095x series.

[Karoband]

http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1105

250. This photo shows that the block and tackle has been used to raise the Me 262 onto wood trestles and to lower the detached port engine onto a wooden pallet. Note the heavy wooden steps up to the starboard wing. It seems that a lot of effort went into it.


http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/album....pictureid=1106

251. This is a good view of American servicemen with the Me 262 A-2 atop its wooden base in the summer of 1945. Note the cosmetic covering of the base of the fin and the red "J" visible on the nosewheel door.

Under pure speculation: from Jan Horn's Das Flurschaden Geschwader..., page 302:
"Die Stärkemeldung der II./KG 51 vom 23. April 1945 um 08:30 Uhr gibt an:
'Flugzeuge gesamt: 1 (Werk-Nr. 110961)'".

See Dan O'Connell, Production Log, page 119, for a note on the missing bomb racks of 110961.

[David E. Brown]

Jim,

Photo 247 in Post 145 was taken behind the main hanger at Lechfeld looking east-southeast. The port wing of the aircraft that the soldier is sitting on is “9K+we.CH” of 1./KG 51, and the machine in the proximal background is “White 19”, WNr.500??? of III./EJG 2 (the image is very washed out). If you look in the top right corner you will just see that tail of “White 26” WNr.500221? of III./EJG 2.

Best,

David

[Karoband]

David,

This information is much appreciated. I'll have to go back and look at other pictures of "White 19".

Thank you,

Jim

[David E. Brown]

Hi Jim,

Pleased to assist. There is another photo in this series looking back at the cockpit and I will post later.

Regarding “White 19”, certainly it is a 500xxx series kite, but it’s Werknummer remains elusive. If Obertraubling had painted this on the starboard fin of this and most other machines from this series it would allow us to identify lots of aircraft (and also in a more opaque paint)!

Best,

David