Info about Me 262A-2a, W.Nr.110836

[RolandF]

Can somebody give me additional info - esp. about the original markings of Me 262A-2a W.Nr.110836 "Black L", formerly from I./KG 51, captured intact belonging to JV 44. Numbered "777" of "Watson´s Whizzers", named "Doris", afterwards "Jabo Bait", ferried to the US and registrated as FE-110.

I´m particularly interested in the colour of nose and fin tip and the position of letter "L" on the port side ( + L or L +)

Any additional info about camouflage and final fate would be helpful, too.

Thanks in advance

Roland

[Peter D Evans]

Hi Roland...

To paraphrase from the excellent "Me262, The Production Log 1941-45" by Dan O'Connell [Classic, 2005]:

• Accepted 14th March 1945
• Delivered to I./KG51 as "Black L" and transferred for use by JV44 shortly before 26 April
• Attached to Gefechtsverband Hogeback on 30th April & coded 9K+LK
• Surrendered to US forces at Munchen-Riem on 8th May
• Transferred to Lechfeld & taken over by 54th ADS
• Nicknamed "Doris", "Jabo Bait" & "777"
• Arrived at Freeman Field 28th September & allocated FE-110 and later T2-110
• After evaluation scrapped at Boling Field, Washington

Colour photos of this Me262 when captured indicate that its upper surfaces were painted in late-war scheme of RLM 81 & 82...

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[RolandF]

Thanks Peter for confirming the complete code 9K + LK with "L" in black - this puts this 262 into direct relationship to 9K + XK captured at Fassberg and still in its original markings in Australia.

Having two profiles to choose from (black "L", black fin tip and black nose - red "L", red fin tip and red nose) it seems like a mixture of those two proposals should be correct with the code "L +" at the port side (like black "X"). The only photo known to me does not show the complete code with the 9K Geschwaderkennung.

As far as I can remember it has been Hauptmann Rudolf Abrahamczik who flew in "black L" from Saaz (Zatec). Or was it Leutnant Häffner who couldn´t retract the undercarriage during the flight?

It seems more probable to me that Watson used an undamaged 262 for the ferry flight to Melun - any opinions or info?

Thanks in advance

Roland

[Peter D Evans]

Hi again Roland...

Smith & Creek's "Me262, Volume 4" includes two colour profiles of WNr.110836. The first is coded black +L with a black nose, black fin tip and small black L on the nose-wheel undercarriage door. The second profile depicts it after transfer to Watson's Whizzers and shows it with a red nose, blue star'n'bar and 777 in small white lettering under the elevator...

"Me262, The Production Log 1941-45" says that 9K+LK was flown by Hptm.Rudolf Abrahamczik of 2./KG51 from Saaz to Munchen-Riem and there is no mention of undercarriage retraction difficulties. Once surrendered "777" was used by Lt.William V Haynes and I would guess that it was he who transferred her to Cherbourg. According to "War Prizes", once in the US, Col Watson was to fly her on 29th Sept 1945 during a display for the Institute of Aeronautical Sciences at Freeman Field.

Cheers

Peter D Evans
LEMB Administrator

[pstrany]

I'll throw in here that many of Watson's aircraft were given a red nose, red tip to the fin and red windscreen framing sometime after capture. I've never heard a good reason for this, except that perhaps someone thought this looked really cool......

Paul

[RolandF]

Thanks again for all your information

First now it is clear to me how "Black L" is supposed to look like and
Second I know now which books I have to set on my wishlist.

And concerning US colouring of captured axis planes I´ve seen paint schemes compared to those the Doras from JV´s Papageienstaffel look as boring as the phonebook of Vladivostok...

Cheers

Roland