Me 262A-1a Werknummer 500071
On permanent exibit in the Deutsches Museum in Munich, Germany since 1957, is by far the most authentic aircraft of this type in the world. It was assembled at Walwerk (forest factory) "Stauffen" at Mooshof near Obertraubling on 20 January, 1945.
In April 1945 it was assigned to 9th Staffel, III Gruppe/JG7 and received its unit markings (the JG7 emblem of a running fox was never applied to the aircraft.) 500071 operated with the unit for 1 month and was flown out of the airfield while under attack from an Allied bombing raid of about 20 Martin B26 Marauders. The 262 was only half-refueled when scrambled from the airfield and the pilot (Hans-Guido Mutke) made for the Swiss border. When he landed on the airstrip he had about 80 liters of J2 brown coal fuel oil left in the tank, allowing 2 more minutes of flight. The aircraft was examined and tested by the Swiss Air Force, and then placed in a wooden hanger for 12 years.
On June 30th, 1948, the 262 was slotted for destruction by the Swiss Air Force, but escaped that scrapping order by having a request from the German Mesuem to have the aircraft returned for display. Prior to returning the aircraft to Germany, the Swiss Air Force repainted portions of the 262 which arrived originally with only a thin layer of paint (so thin that portions of the bare metal skin shown through..while other sections had no paint applied whatsoever.) The Swiss Air Force made a gift of the 262 back to the German People and it arrived in Munich in 1957.
In 1983, the Munich Mesuem completely restored the aircraft to include a new paintjob. It is still currently on display at the Munich Museum. The skin I am making reflects the original paintjob that arrived at the Swiss airfield in 1945 prior to the Swiss repaint. I am attaching the period pics of the 262 as it arrived and was marshalled on the airstrip at that time. The scans come from Squadron Signal Publications, Walkaround number 42. I will try to include the original text and any notes I made in the scans.
ReDhAwK
