Me 262 armored headrest

JonCOlsen · Feb 7, 2023

Hello,

Does anyone happen to have good reference photos or diagrams of the armored headrests that a small number of Me 262s had? And does anyone know how it was attached to the canopy frame and whether there were any variations of the design?

The Me 262 in the pictures attached is equipped with an armored headrest, and it appears that the top of the headrest has an attachment that joins it to the top of the canopy.

Any information would be appreciated. Thank you.

ThomasP · Feb 7, 2023

There were at least 2 different arrangements for the pilot headrest armour.

One setup was very similar to the setup used in some of the Me109, with the plate attached to the back of the seat at a near vertical angle and had the upper ~1/3 curve forward a bit above the pilot's head. Apparently the armour plate attached to the back of the pilot's seat made it difficult to bail out.

The other had a similar plate but it was attached to the canopy at the top, and at the bottom to a cross bar that ran from one side of the lower canopy to the other. This meant that when the canopy was jettisoned the armour plate went with it - this eliminated the bail out problem. This type was also used on the Me109. I think this is the one you are referring to?

ThomasP · Feb 7, 2023

Added one more image to the above post.

JonCOlsen · Feb 8, 2023

Thomas, this is exactly what I was looking for..thank you so much!

Rodd1951 · Feb 17, 2023

We have a Me-262 in the RAF Midlands Museum @ Cosford. If you need photos of the seat please let me know.

From memory the armour plate extends upwards from behind the pilots seat on this example.

SaparotRob · Feb 17, 2023

Is The Forum amazing or what?

JonCOlsen · Feb 17, 2023

Rodd1951 said:
We have a Me-262 in the RAF Midlands Museum @ Cosford. If you need photos of the seat please let me know.

From memory the armour plate extends upwards from behind the pilots seat on this example

Hi Rod,

Thank you so much! That would be awesome.

ThomasP · Feb 18, 2023

Hey Rodd1951,

Please post a couple of them in the forum if you could. It would be much appreciated.

Snautzer01 · Feb 18, 2023

Rodd1951 · Feb 18, 2023

JonCOlsen said:
Hi Rod,

Thank you so much! That would be awesome.

Hi Jon,
I will see what I can do Tuesday when I'm next in the Museum.
In the meantime here is one I have already on file - sorry it has my mate Rob sat in the seat but you can see the armouring behind him OK.
Let me know if there is a specific detail or are you want
Cheers
Rodd

JonCOlsen · Feb 25, 2023

Snautzer01 said:
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JonCOlsen · Feb 25, 2023

Thank you Snautzer and Rod!

mjfur · Feb 26, 2023

Rodd1951 said:
Hi Jon,
I will see what I can do Tuesday when I'm next in the Museum.
In the meantime here is one I have already on file - sorry it has my mate Rob sat in the seat but you can see the armouring behind him OK.
Let me know if there is a specific detail or are you want
Cheers
Rodd

I don't believe your photo shows an original armoured headrest. Perhaps made by the museum at some point?

1971 - Me-262A-2A Schwalbe (112372) Aircraft Pictures & Photos - AirTeamImages.com
1989 - Messerschmitt Me-262A-2a (112372) Aircraft Pictures & Photos - AirTeamImages.com

RAF Me262 Colours

Hi All, I'm beginning building Airfix's new 262 in RAF colours - see the bottom profile - Red 2. I have a few questions about the colour scheme. I assume the colour of the aircraft is RLM 76 beneath with RLM 83 over the top (though it might be RLM 82 - but I'm not sure!). The other colour questio...

www.britmodeller.com

Rodd1951 · Feb 26, 2023

Hmmmm!! that canopy with the armour built in must have been hard to hinge out of the way in an emergency,

Having struggled to slide the canopy on our FW-190 with its armoured headrest I understood why it had an explosive charge to shatter it in an emergency and let the slipstream do the rest.

Rodd1951 · Feb 27, 2023

mjfur said:
I don't believe your photo shows an original armoured headrest. Perhaps made by the museum at some point?

1971 - Me-262A-2A Schwalbe (112372) Aircraft Pictures & Photos - AirTeamImages.com
1989 - Messerschmitt Me-262A-2a (112372) Aircraft Pictures & Photos - AirTeamImages.com

RAF Me262 Colours

Hi All, I'm beginning building Airfix's new 262 in RAF colours - see the bottom profile - Red 2. I have a few questions about the colour scheme. I assume the colour of the aircraft is RLM 76 beneath with RLM 83 over the top (though it might be RLM 82 - but I'm not sure!). The other colour questio...

www.britmodeller.com

View attachment 708844 View attachment 708845

Hi Mjfur,
Yes you may well be right, as you know this aircraft has been taken apart and moved around many times from RAF base to RAF base etc. and then backwards and forwards between the two museum locations, I will try get access to the AP's and see if anything is written up in there.
R

Rodd1951 · Feb 27, 2023

Rodd1951 said:
Hi Mjfur,
Yes you may well be right, as you know this aircraft has been taken apart and moved around many times from RAF base to RAF base etc. and then backwards and forwards between the two museum locations, I will try get access to the AP's and see if anything is written up in there.
R

ps - Have you got a good photo of a real 'fixed' armoured headrest so I can comapre?
Thanks
R

mjfur · Feb 27, 2023

If you mean "fixed" to the seat back, that didn't exist. The photo's in Post #2 & #9 show how it was installed. It was bolted to the canopy.
Most pilots didn't like it, thought it restricted their rear visibility and that they were faster than the enemy and had it removed.

Rodd1951 · Feb 27, 2023

mjfur said:
If you mean "fixed" to the seat back, that didn't exist. The photo's in Post #2 & #9 show how it was installed. It was bolted to the canopy.
Most pilots didn't like it, thought it restricted their rear visibility and that they were faster than the enemy and had it removed.

Yes that makes sense to remove it as nobody is going to creep up behind a 'Schwalbe' so you don't need it So yes maybe just a UK fabrication somewhere/sometime in the past.

Engineman · Feb 27, 2023

Unfortunately for them, many 262 pilots were shot from behind. Many kills on them were while trying to approach and land back at base, while slow and out of fuel.

Eng

Rodd1951 · Feb 28, 2023

Engineman said:
Unfortunately for them, many 262 pilots were shot from behind. Many kills on them were while trying to approach and land back at base, while slow and out of fuel.

Eng

Yes indeed, when slow and vulnerable the P51's attacked from behind leading to Flak Alleys being created and FW-190 Dora-9's mounting a standing patrol.

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