Warplanes of Germany: Luftwaffe Messerschmitt Bf 109, Messerschmitt Me 163, and Messerschmitt Me 262 fighters preserved in the USA: Ohio, Dayton, National Museum of the USAF

Warplane Survivors USA: Ohio, Dayton, 3, National Museum of the USAF: Messerschmitt Bf 109, Messerschmitt Me 163, and Messerschmitt Me 262

(NMUSAF Photos)

(Goshimini Photo)

(Martin McGuire Photo)

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10/U4 Gustav (Wk Nr. 610824), 11/JG52, "Black 2".  This aircraft was captured at Neubiberg, near Munich, Germany in May 1945.  It was one of three Bf 109s taken to the US by Capt Fred McIntosh, in charge of collecting piston-engined aircraft for “Watson’s Whizzers”.  After test flying, it was found not to be airworthy and made its journey to Cherbourg by truck.  It was then shipped to the USA on HMS Reaper and landed at New York Harbor, from where it was then trucked to Newark, New Jersey, finally arriving at Freeman Field near Seymour, Indiana on 17 May 1946.  The aircraft was given a rather spurious paint scheme and coded USA FE-124, this was changed later to T2-124, when the Air Technical Service Command underwent re-organization and the Technical Data Laboratory Branch became part of T-2 Intelligence. 610824 was not used for research, but instead became a display aircraft in the early post war era touring various airbases.  In 1947, T2-124 was donated to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.  It later passed through several private owners, with Reg. No. N109MS.  The NMUSAF's Bf 109G-10 is painted to represent an aircraft from Jagdgeschwader 300, a unit that defended Germany against Allied bombers.  JG 300 was originally formed as a Wilde Sau (or Wild Boar) night fighter unit in 1943 but converted to the day fighter role as US bomber attacks intensified.  In the many pitched battles with the U.S. Army Air Forces, the Bf 109G-10s of JG 300 often provided top cover for the more heavily armed Focke Wulf Fw 190s attacking the bomber formations.  This unit also had the distinction of being the last command of the war for Maj. Gunther Rall, who with 275 victories, was the third-highest scoring ace in history.  "Black 2" has been on display at the NMUSAF since 1 Apr 1999, painted as “Blue 4” of JG 300, “Wild Sau.”  

(NMUSAF Photos)

Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Komet, (Wk. Nr. 191095), was flown by JG 400.  It was surrendered at Husum in Germany and shipped to the Royal Aircraft Establishment (RAE), in the UK, where it was designated RAF AM 211.  It was despatched from Farnborough to No. 6 MU, Brize Norton, on 25 July 1945.  AM 211 was sent to No. 47 MU, Sealand on 26 June and prepared for shipment to Canada, leaving Salford Docks on board the SS Manchester Commerce on 28 August, and arriving at Montréal on 9 September 1945.  Subsequently, it was used as a gate guardian at RCAF Station St Jean, Québec, until it was taken over by the Canadian War Museum (CWM) in Ottawa.  This aircraft passed to the Canadian National Aeronautical Collection (CNAC), now the Canada Air and Space Museum (CA&SM), at Rockcliffe, near Ottawa, Ontario, in 1964.  AM 211 was restored to display standard in the CNAC workshops and loaned to the NMUSAF from 1978-1985.  It was made a gift from the CA&SM to the NMUSAF in 1999.  During the aircraft's restoration in Canada it was discovered that the aircraft had been assembled by French “forced labourers” who had deliberately sabotaged it by placing stones between the rocket's fuel tanks and its supporting straps.  There are also indications that the wing was assembled with contaminated glue.  Patriotic French writing was found inside the fuselage.

(NMUSAF Photos)

Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a "Schwalbe" (Wk. Nr. 501232), "Yellow 5", 3./KG(J)6.  This aircraft was designated Watson's Whizzers No. 111, and was painted as "Beverly Anne", later "Screamin Meemie".  "Yellow 5" was shipped to the USA on HMS Reaper,  with inventory control No. 20.  This aircraft was sent to the USN Armament Test Division at NAS Patuxent River, Maryland in Dec 1945 where it was designated USN (BuNo. 121442) and test flown, before coming to the NMUSAF.

(NMUSAF Photo)

Messerschmitt Me 262, Junkers Jumo 004 jet engine.

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