Captured German Aircraft

**big ned** · 01-07-2014, 11:06 PM

I know some of the B-17's mentioned above were used by KG200 for carrying out agent drops and supplying secret airstrips in the Middle East and North Africa, Poland, Russia, Greece, Italy, France, Belgium, The Netherlands and Ireland. They were chosen specifically for these missions as being more suitable for this role than other available German aircraft.

Some were lost during this time, including one over the Franco-Spanish border along with 10 French collaborators and the entire crew, anothe exploded on take off killing all on board, and the last one in March 1945 was shot down returning from a mission by an RAF Mosquito night fighter, the crew all escaping by parachute.

**Scout** · 01-07-2014, 11:15 PM

Assorted captured planes

**Scout** · 01-07-2014, 11:23 PM

More captured aircraft.

I especially like the pics of the Do-335, one (or both of) which looks like the Farnborough one from an above post.

Also the shot of the captured Me-262 planes en route with the 'Reaper.' Simply an amazing shot.

The blaze/'hi-viz' Focke Wulf 190 looks nifty.

Info on the Reaper here:

The USS Winjah (CVE-54) (originally AVG-54 then later ACV-54) was a Bogue-class escort aircraft carrier of the United States Navy, leased to the Royal Navy during World War II.

Winjah was laid down on 5 June 1943 at Tacoma, Washington, by Seattle-Tacoma Shipbuilding; assigned to the United Kingdom under lend-lease on 23 June; redesignated CVE-54 on 15 July; launched on 22 November; and delivered to the British on 18 February 1944.

Renamed HMS Reaper (D82), the carrier operated in the Royal Navy for the duration of World War II. After arriving at Norfolk, Virginia, on 13 May 1946, Reaper was decommissioned on 20 May and returned to the United States Government. Authorized for disposal on 14 June, Winjah was struck from the Navy Registry on 8 July and sold to the Waterman Steamship Company of Mobile, Alabama on 12 February 1947 as the South Africa Star. She was scrapped in Nikara, Japan in May 1967.

Just after World War II, the Reaper was responsible for bringing many examples of the former German Luftwaffe aircraft captured by the American military's Operation Lusty over to North America, such as the sole examples of the Arado Ar 234 jet recon-bomber, and the Heinkel He 219 night fighter, that exist in American aviation museums in the 21st century.

**big ned** · 01-07-2014, 11:26 PM

by Scout

I find these pics very very VERY interesting. Not leat because of the fascinating Dornier Do-335 'Pfeil.'

I'd like to think, its the sole survivor currently on display at the Smithsonian/Udvar-Hazy (and why wouldnt it be)

Unfortunately not old chap. The one in the Farnborough photo's is one of two 335 A-12 two seat trainers flown there and used for evaluation. Both were lost in crashes.

The one in the U.S. is one of two 335 A-0 pre production Pfeil's that were taken to the Navy's Patuxent River Test Center by the carrier 'Reaper' as part of 'Operation Seahorse' in 1945. A total of 10 A-0's were built, and the one at Udvar-Hazy museum is the sole survivor. The other one was bulldozed into the Patuxent river, where large parts have been recovered from in recent years.

**Scout** · 01-07-2014, 11:35 PM

Captured Messerschmitt Bf 110D “The Belle of Berlin” in British markings on a landing ground in North Africa. This aircraft served with II/ZG76 in Iraq and was captured after crash-landing near Mosul in May 1941. It was used as a communications aircraft and later as a unit ‘hack’ by No.267 Squadron RAF.

**Scout** · 01-07-2014, 11:37 PM

by big ned

Unfortunately not old chap. The one in the Farnborough photo's is one of two 335 A-12 two seat trainers flown there and used for evaluation. Both were lost in crashes.

The one in the U.S. is one of two 335 A-0 pre production Pfeil's that were taken to the Navy's Patuxent River Test Center by the carrier 'Reaper' as part of 'Operation Seahorse' in 1945. A total of 10 A-0's were built, and the one at Udvar-Hazy museum is the sole survivor. The other one was bulldozed into the Patuxent river, where large parts have been recovered from in recent years.

Right. I posted the pics so fast, I only now noted the two-seater cockpit layout. One of the cocpits is even open - DOH!

Still GREAT pics of a fantastic plane. Best combat plane of WWII to never see combat!!

(purely subjective comments may occour!)