The Australian War Memorial Collection. Test site
Canberra, ACT, 1955. The information board for Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter aircraft W.N.500200 (not in view) which is being disassembled prior to its removal to the Australian War Memorial where it will be installed and reassembled for exhibition in the Aeroplane Hall. The board reads: 'German Messerschmitt M.E.262 jet fighter 'plane. The Messerschmitt 262, the first jet fighter to be used in battle, revolutionalised aerial warfare. The first prototype of the 'plane was evolved as early as 1940 and flew with a Jumo 211 mounted in the nose and driving an airscrew, since the new turbo-jets were not sufficiently developed. However the Ministry was not interested and the prototype sank back into obscurity. In the end, the weight of American daylight bombing over Germany forced the German authorities to take up the question again and in November 1944, four squadrons were equipped with them. The M.E.262 had a margin of speed of more than 120 M.P.H. over the most up-to-date fighters possessed by the Allies at that time. Its armament, four 30mm cannon, was formidable. Dimensions: Wingspan...41 feet, Length...35 feet, Wing Area...234 sq feet, Weight...8 tons, Maximum speed over 560 m.p.h.' (Donor R. Clackson)
Canberra, ACT, 1955. At RAAF Base Fairbairn, a mobile crane (left) lifts the fuselage of Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter W.N.500200 which is being disassembled prior to its removal to the Australian W
Canberra, ACT, 1955. At RAAF Base Fairbairn, a group of RAAF servicemen disassembles Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter W.N.500200 preparatory to moving the aircraft to the Australian War Memorial where
Canberra, ACT, 1955. Outside a hangar at RAAF Base Fairbairn, RAAF servicemen disassemble Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter W.N.500200 preparatory to moving it to the Australian War Memorial where it wi
Canberra, ACT, 1955. Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter W.N.500200 stands in a cluttered hangar at RAAF Base Fairbairn shortly before it was disassembled and transported in sections to the Australian War
The Riedel motor is a small two cylinder, two cycle horizontally opposed gasoline engine which develops 10 hp at 6,000 rpm. An electrical junction box with a bakelite cover is fitted to the front of t
Canberra, ACT, 1955. Messerschmitt ME262 jet fighter W.N.500200 stands under the port wing of Avro Lancaster BI bomber W4783 (G for George) shortly after the two aircraft had been installed for exhibi
