World War II Database

1.  Bill says:
16 Oct 2010 09:26:59 PM

Photograph of Messerschmitt Me 262 named
'Vera' leads a group of 262s captured by
US Forces. Aircraft taxi for takeoff from
Lechfield, Germany in 1945.

'Circa 1945' latin for about or approximately

2.  Bill says:
25 Feb 2011 08:34:37 PM

WHAT HAPPENED TO VERA:

Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a was captured by
US troops in May 1945. She was one of
fifteen aircraft modified by Blohm & Voss into two-seat trainers, its wartime role is speculative the aircraft did serve with the Luftwaffe and when captured carried the number 35 on the fuselage.
The aircraft was named "Vera" in American hands, and shipped to the US along with other German aircraft that were tested and evaluated by the USAAF.

After World War II "Vera" along with other Axis aircraft was placed on outdoor static display at Willow Grove Naval Air Station, located in Pennsylvania for decades the aircraft was left outdoors. The aircraft has since been restored, and is now on display at the Delaware Vally Historical Aircraft Association.

All other German and Japanese aircraft, that were on display at Willow Grove have since been moved to other museums in the USA.
To learn more click on Equipment scroll down to Other and click on Arado Ar196, here at the ww2db

3.  Bill says:
28 Jun 2011 08:27:51 AM

ULTIMATE BOMBER KILLER:

The first prototype, aircraft Me 262A-1a/u4 was modified with a 50mm cannon, the weapon was so heavy, that a counter-weight was added to the tail, to balance the aircraft. Tests were carried out firing at ground and air targets.
After tests the aircraft was turned over to
JV-44 flown on two missions against USAAF
bomber formations, each time the weapon jammed.
The second prototype was captured at Lechfeld
by US forces in May 1945, turned over to the French, aircraft later crashed during tests.

RECONNAISSANCE VERSION:

Me-262 reconnaissance version was built aircraft carried two Reihenbilder RB 20/30 cameras, or one RB 20/20 and one RB 75/30 camera mounted in the nose, armament 1x30mm cannon.

MORE EXPERMENTS:

Aircraft were fitted with FuG218 airborne radar,that was mounted in the nose and wing.
Me-262C fitted with a HWK 509 rocket engine
mounted in tail. Aircaft were tested with more swept-back wing and butterfly tail test carried out with air-to-air missiles other designs on the drawing board powered by turboprops, ramjets and pulsejets.

MIGHT HAVE BEEN:

Mistel 4: Me-262A-1 mounted on top of a
Ju-287B jet bomber, that was modified for mistel missions.
Me-262 Mounted on top of a modified Me-262 to carry out Mistel missions.

MISTEL: CODE WORD BEETHOVEN

Nose section of aircraft was replaced with warhead packed with high explosives. Guided to its target by mother aircraft.

4.  Bill says:
7 Mar 2012 06:26:41 PM

NACHTJAGER:

The Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a/U1 was a two-seat night-fighter armed with 30mm cannons and carried FuG 218 Neptun long-wave search radar with its Hirschgeweih (Stag Antlers)Antenna and FuG 350 Naxos heat-sensing unit, that was able to track the heat exhaust from Allied aircraft.

Kommando Welter 10./NJG 11 was the only unit
to operate the Me 262B Model night-fighter
along with several single-seat Me 262 fighters that operated in defense of Berlin between February-March 1945, NJG/11 had on strenght about twelve Me 262s.
What does 10./NJG 11 mean in Luftwaffe operations, 10 Staffel Nachtjagdgeschwader 11

What type of camouflage was used? Most a/c
that operated at night were painted on the
upper surfaces light blue or light gray with
patches of gray/violet, under surfaces were painted black this made the aircraft harder to see from above in the dark skies over the Fathreland.

5.  Bill says:
10 Feb 2015 08:39:27 PM

ONE THAT SURVIVED:

A two-seat Me262B-1a/U1 night fighter survived WWII, Wrknr.110305, Red 8 flown by Oberleutant Kert Welter aircraft flew in defense of Berlin and assigned to 10./NJG-II surrendered to British forces.
Welters aircraft along with (Red 12) was later destroyed and (Red 10) scrapped were turned over to the British at Schleswing, Denmark.

FERRY FLIGHT FROM THE FATHERLAND TO ENGLAND:

(Red 8) was flown to RAF Farnborough in England for testing and evaluation w/RAF serial VH 519 after tests, it was shipped to South Africa.


DESTINATION CAPE TOWN:

Captain Jack Meaker, SAAF during training in England was invited to select captured German aircraft to ship to S. Africa. (Red 8) Left England on February 23, 1947, arrived Cape Town
South Africa March 17, 1947. Aircraft was put into storage at SAAF Air Force Base at Dunottar until the late 1960s, it was later donated to the Johannesburg Museum, after restoration it was put on display in 1971/72

ARMAMENT:

Me262B-1a/U1 was armed w/2 x MK108, 30mm cannons,
FuG218 Neptune tail warning radar, but for one reason or another, this equipment wasn't fitted to (Red 8) after leaving England. Lichtenstein SN-2 (Stag Antlers) air-to-air radar, FuGa Erstling IFF Identification Friend or Foe, Fug120 receiver for coded messages via a small onboard teleprinter, FuG 50 Naxos Zc radio set, two-fuel tanks under fuselage.