Me 262 Aufklärer & tactical numbers (NAG 1 & 6, III/EJG 2)

[Kari Lumppio]

Hello!

I just finished reading the reconnaissance Me 262 part of the new JaPo book "Messerschmitt Me 262 Production & Arado Ar 234 Final Operations". What a great book again!

The immediate next point of stop was to reread what Nick Beale has written about Me 262 and NAG 1 and NAG 6 at his excellent site Ghostbombers ( http://www.ghostbombers.com/index.html ).

From the JaPo book I understood that in 1944 only three reconnaissance Me 262 were converted? And the series conversion production (final assembly) at Flugzeugwerke Eger was not in speed until February 1945 when 13 were produced and then 20 more in March. 33 planes in total.

It seems from Beale's text that NAG 1 and NAG never had more than handful of the recce Me 262 versions on strength.

Yet the recce Me 262 tactical numbers on the JaPo book are from "25" to "34" save the sole "white 2" from 1./NAG 1. The high numbered ones were on III/EJG 2 strength according the book.

Now my question is if the high tactical numbers could have been painted already at the factory? From "1" to "33 (34)"? 33 recce Me 262 were produced, after all. That would make sense also as such high numbers of Me 262s were in no Luftwaffe unit? Or am I wrong?

Luftwaffe (RLM) accepted (at least) 33 reconnaissance Me 262 from FWE. Reconnaissance conversion manufacturing was stopped by the Allied bombing in March 25th, 1945.

The "white 34" was found different place than the other high-number recce Me 262s and was fitted with fighter nose. Perhaps the explanation is that the plane was a nonfinalized conversion survivin the FWE factory bombing and it was just cobbled together what remained at hand?

Of course the fly in oinment of my theory is the two-seater Me 262 "35".

I guess there is no information how NAG 6 recce Me 262s looked like as the JaPo book has no such info. Is there any photos of the early (1944) conversions?


Anyway I can recommend the JaPo book wholeheartedly.


Cheers,
Kari