History

The ME262 B-1a was the two seat trainer version of the ME-262, which was the first jet aircraft to see combat. Fifteen of these two seaters were built in the fall of 1944. A further number of two seat night fighter versions were built, equipped with radar.

Willow Grove's ME262 B-1a was the only trainer version to survive the war. It was captured when allied forces overran the Luftwaffe airfield at Lechfield, Germany in April 1945. Serving with the 3rd Fighter Replacement Training Group (III/EJG2), this particular aircraft had been delivered to the unit in November 1944. It had the number 35 painted in white on its fuselage sides, just forward of the cockpit.

White 35 is werk (serial) #110639. After its capture, the aircraft was turned over to the Air Technical Intelligence Unit headed by Colonel H.E. Watson. Messerschmitt test pilot Karl Baur was recruited to train and qualify eight US Army Air Force pilots. Lt. Bob Strobell was placed in charge of the endeavor by Col. Watson. A well detailed account of the mission can be found at the Stormbirds website.

"Watson's Whizzers", as they became known, eventually flew at least ten captured ME262's to Cherbourg, France in June 1945. At this French seaport, a large number of captured enemy aircraft were loaded on the British aircraft carrier, HMS Reaper, which then proceeded to the USA. Willow Grove's ME262 B-1a was one of these.

At Newark, NJ, the aircraft were offloaded. Four single seat ME262's and the ME262 B-1a were turned over to the US Navy. The ME262B-1a was given the bureau number 121441 and test flown at NAS Patuxent River, MD. Testing and evaluation continued into 1946.

In the spring of 1947, LCdr. David Ascher, Willow Grove's aircraft division maintenance officer, heard that a number of captured enemy aircraft were to be scrapped at Patuxent River. A man of incredible foresight and ingenuity, LCdr. Ascher promptly commandeered one of the station's SNB aircraft and flew to Patuxent River. A lot of former enemy aircraft had already been scrapped, some being pushed into a landfill being built to accommodate a runway extension. LCdr. Ascher picked out several aircraft, including the Me-262b-1a, and won approval for their return to NAS Willow Grove where they would be placed on static display. In the end, Ascher's selections were barged to the Philadelphia Naval Base, and then towed up the narrow main roads of the day some 25 miles to NAS Willow Grove.

The ME262B-1a became one of a terrific collection of captured Japanese, German, and US military aircraft that accumulated over the years, sitting alongside US Route 611 where passing motorists could stop and gaze at them. Nearly a half century later, the ME262B-1a was taken off display for a total restoration, financed by former DVHAA President Steven Snyder. Retired Boeing engineer Bob Hammer and his crew at Classic Fighter Industries , Paine Field, Washington, completed the restoration during the summer of 2000, and the aircraft was returned to Willow Grove during September, 2000.

Take a Virtual Tour of The ME-262

Aircraft Specific Links:

• Luftwaffe Resource Group
• Stormbirds.com