Messerschmitt Me 262

[Historybuff00]

Hello everyone. New to the forums and excited to be here. I have here a photo from 1959 with a gentleman standing in front of a Messerschmitt Me 262. At first the photo looks like a capture airbase as you can see by the background aircraft and how beat up the Messerschmitt looks. But with further research I guess the aircraft was sent to Wright AFB sometime in the late 40s. Then sent to planes of fame air museum in Chino,CA to be saved in 1954. Also saw online that it was bought by someone in 2000 to be restored and possibly sent to the UK? If anyone has any info or where it's at currently let me know. I'm really curious. I appreciate the feedback.

 

[SaparotRob]

Hi Historybuff00. Welcome to the Forum. There may be a few folks here who can answer your questions. I just wonder if there's any Forum members here familiar with the Planes Of Fame Museum?

 

[Historybuff00]

Hi Historybuff00. Welcome to the Forum. There may be a few folks here who can answer your questions. I just wonder if there's any Forum members here familiar with the Planes Of Fame Museum?

Thanks!

 

[FLYBOYJ]

Hi Historybuff00. Welcome to the Forum. There may be a few folks here who can answer your questions. I just wonder if there's any Forum members here familiar with the Planes Of Fame Museum?

GregP

 

[Dash119]

Welcome to the forum from Southern California.

The transfer in 2000 was to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Washington state. The restoration there was nearly complete, including static engine tests, when the museum closed during the pandemic, never to reopen.

I read now that what was left of the aircraft collection and contents of the museum have been sold to one of Sam Walton's grandsons, and are headed to a new home in Arkansas. I'm not sure if that sale included the Me262 or not. It is my understanding that it had previously been disassembled and crated. Some of the aircraft and restoration projects had already been sold off prior to this latest change of hands.

 

[Historybuff00]

Welcome to the forum from Southern California.

The transfer in 2000 was to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Washington state. The restoration there was nearly complete, including static engine tests, when the museum closed during the pandemic, never to reopen.

I read now that what was left of the aircraft collection and contents of the museum have been sold to one of Sam Walton's grandsons, and are headed to a new home in Arkansas. I'm not sure if that sale included the Me262 or not. It is my understanding that it had previously been disassembled and crated. Some of the aircraft and restoration projects had already been sold off prior to this latest change of hands.

Thanks for the great info!
I to reside in SoCal

 

[Dash119]

I'm at Planes of Fame on most weekends. Let me know if you are interested in a visit, and I'll help get you set-up with a tour.

 

[Historybuff00]

I'm at Planes of Fame on most weekends. Let me know if you are interested in a visit, and I'll help get you set-up with a tour.

That would be great! Thank you.

 

[SaparotRob]

The Planes Of Fame Museum really is a great place to visit. Ask to see the Zero. It's special.

 

[nuuumannn]

I'm at Planes of Fame on most weekends. Let me know if you are interested in a visit, and I'll help get you set-up with a tour.

Oooo, yes please!!!

 

[Historybuff00]

I appreciate the feedback. Still interested in why the aircraft in the background is the way it is. What do you y'all think?

 

[Wurger]

Do you mean the A6M Zero seen behind the Me262?

 

[Historybuff00]

Do you mean the A6M Zero seen behind the Me262?

Sure. I'm still learning.

 

[Wurger]

I see. It looks that's the A6M5 HK102 being a part of the exibition of the Air heritage Collection, Washington State, previously with the Planes of Fame, Chino.

 

[Historybuff00]

I see. It looks that's the A6M5 HK102 being a part of the exibition of the Air heritage Collection, Washington State, previously with the Planes of Fame, Chino.

Thanks!

 

[Wurger]

And here the Me 262 ... the info from the site accessed with the link below ..

"Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a/U3 (Wk. Nr. 500453), "White 25", reconnaissance version modified with bulges on the nose to accommodate film magazines for two Rb 20/30 cameras. U3 (Umrüst-Bausatz 3, Factory Modification Kit No. 3). Prior to the arrival of Watson's team, Master Sergeant Preston of the 54th Air Disarmament Squadron named this plane "Connie ...My Sharp Article" (after his wife). "White 5" became Watson's Whizzers 444, and was ferried to Melun, France by Lt Roy Brown, who renamed it "Pick II" (after a nickname derived from his wife's maiden name). Brown ferried the jet to the port of Cherbourg, where it was loaded onto the British escort carrier HMS Reaper. While on the deck of the HMS Reaper, it was allocated inventory control No. 19. After arrival at Newark, Watson ferried 444 to Freeman Field, Indiana on 19 August, 1945. There, the Army Air Force assigned "White 5" a Foreign Equipment number, FE-4012. This was later changed to T2-4012. This aircraft was selected to participate in classified tests against the Lockheed P-80, and underwent a nose section changeup with Watson's Whizzers 888, later FE-111. The machine was given an overall reconditioning for the tests. "White 5" was with the Planes of Fame Museum in California before being transferred to Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Washington State. There are plans to restore this aircraft to flying status, and it is registered as N9450, painted as "White 9"."

the pic source: Warplane Survivors USA: Washington, Everett, Paul Allen's Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum

 

[Wurger]

And some info on the HK102 s/n 4400 ...

Pacific Wrecks

World War II Allied and Japanese aircraft that served in the Pacific War.

pacificwrecks.com

 

[Wurger]

And some more ... the possible reason for the odd position of the Zero in the pic above I have underlined with the Bold font.

s/n 4400, A6M5-52 82020 "HK-102" captured Truk, shipped to US .44
sold for scrap, wings cut off.
Ed Maloney, Los Angeles CA c50
Ed Maloney/ Air Museum, Claremont CA, 58/01
(moved to Ontario CA .65/70, Chino CA 75/01:
shipped to Japan for displ. 2.80, ret. Chino 5.80
static rest. Chino, displ. as "HK-102")
N652Z Paul G. Allen/ Vulcan Warbirds Inc/
Flying Heritage Museum, Arlington WA 30.10.01/18
struck-off USCR 15.2.18

the info source: the Mitsubishi section on GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE - Warbirds Directory V6

 

[Historybuff00]

And some more ... the possible reason for the odd position of the Zero in the pic above I have underlined with the Bold font.

s/n 4400, A6M5-52 82020 "HK-102" captured Truk, shipped to US .44
sold for scrap, wings cut off.
Ed Maloney, Los Angeles CA c50
Ed Maloney/ Air Museum, Claremont CA, 58/01
(moved to Ontario CA .65/70, Chino CA 75/01:
shipped to Japan for displ. 2.80, ret. Chino 5.80
static rest. Chino, displ. as "HK-102")
N652Z Paul G. Allen/ Vulcan Warbirds Inc/
Flying Heritage Museum, Arlington WA 30.10.01/18
struck-off USCR 15.2.18

the info source: the Mitsubishi section on GEOFF GOODALL'S AVIATION HISTORY SITE - Warbirds Directory V6

Great info. This helps a ton.

 

[Daggerr]

Some nice videos of the Me 262 "White 25" Wk.Nr. 500453 as restored by the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum before that museum closed:

ME262 Taxi Test


Messerschmitt Me-262 - FHM Restoration Sneak Peek & Full Presentation

Checking Out Flying Heritage's Almost Finished Me-262 Restoration