Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a/U1

Photos By Max Otten

Photos were taken at the South African Military History Museum, Johannesburg (South Africa) in 2015.

The Messerschmitt Me 262 at the museum is a two-seater night-fighter. It was captured at the end of the war, transported to Farnborough, England for tests, and from there sent on to South Africa.


Photos 1 through 3 (above) are more-or-less overview shots.


Photos 4 through 7 (above) show the radar antenna in detail.


Photo 8 (above) shows the wireless antenna and the DF loop. The antenna wire obviously needs straightening out. The stencil says ‘Nicht anfassen’ (don’t touch). Photo 9 (above) shows the tail with a stencil-type swastika and the Werknummer 110305. Again ‘Nicht anfassen’ on the far rim of the rudder (vertical). Photo 10 (above) shows the hind part of the starboard fuselage with the Balkenkreuz and the first-aid access panel. The stencils say ‘Hier aufbocken’ (jack here) and ‘Vor dem Aufbocken Rumpfende mit 500 Kg. belasten’ (before jacking weigh down fuselage backside with 500 kg). Photo 11 (above) shows the bottom part of the starboard tail. The stencil says ‘Hier Feststellschere’ (literally ‘here fixing scissors’).


Photos 12 and 13 (above) are of the landing gear. Photo 12 shows the nose wheel, with the stencil ‘ACHTUNG! Nicht am Bugrad schleppen’ (Attention! Do not tow on nose gear). Photo 13 shows the port main wheel from the front.


Photos 14 through 16 (above) show the drop tanks.


Photo 17 (above) shows the starboard wing tip navigation light, a green bulb. The clear cover that would follow the wing contour is missing. Photo 18 (above) is the starboard aileron actuator. Photo 19 (above) shows the slightly extended leading edge slat.


Photo 20 (above) shows the top front of the engine, with yellow triangle stencils A3 and B4 mit 3% Schmierstoff (B4 with 3% lubricating fluid). The triangles point at the two access panels a little further back. Photo 21 and 22 (above) are from the port fuselage. The yellow triangle says ‘Flug Diesel Triebstoff’ (diesel fuel), the ‘Hydraulik’ access panel speaks for itself and the ‘Einsteigklappe’ is the foot step for the pilot. In photo 22 you see the second foot step for the radar operator.

© Max Otten 2015

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This article created on Friday, May 29 2015; Last modified on Thursday, March 31 2016