page_title: Messerschmitt Me 262
section_title: Surviving aircraft
hierarchical_section_title: Messerschmitt Me 262 / Surviving aircraft
caption_attribution_description: English: Me 262A-2a (Werknummer 500200) on display at the Australian War Memorial in Canberra, Australia.
context_page_description: The Messerschmitt Me 262, nicknamed Schwalbe in fighter versions, or Sturmvogel in fighter-bomber versions, was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but problems with engines, metallurgy and top-level interference kept the aircraft from operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944. The Me 262 was faster and more heavily armed than any Allied fighter, including the British jet-powered Gloster Meteor. One of the most advanced aviation designs in operational use during World War II, the Me 262's roles included light bomber, reconnaissance and experimental night fighter versions.
  Me 262 pilots claimed a total of 542 Allied aircraft shot down, although higher claims are sometimes made. The Allies countered its effectiveness in the air by attacking the aircraft on the ground and during takeoff and landing. Strategic materials shortages and design compromises on the Junkers Jumo 004 axial-flow turbojet engines led to reliability problems. Attacks by Allied forces on fuel supplies during the deteriorating late-war situation also reduced the effectiveness of the aircraft as a fighting force.
context_section_description: Me 262 A-1a/R7, W.Nr.500071 White 3, III./JG 7
  Deutsches Museum, Munich, Germany. This aircraft, flown by Hans Guido Mutke while a pilot of 9. Staffel/JG 7, was confiscated by Swiss authorities on 25 April 1945 after Mutke made an emergency landing in Switzerland due to lack of fuel (80 litres were remaining, 35 litres were usually burnt in one minute).  Removed (2015?) from main museum for restoration and relocated to: Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim, Ferdinand-Schulz-Allee (for navigation systems), 85764 Oberschleissheim, Germany.
  Me 262 A-1a
  Reconstructed from parts of crashed and incomplete Me 262s. Luftwaffenmuseum der Bundeswehr, Germany.
  Me 262 A-1a W.Nr.501232 Yellow 5, 3./KG(J)6
  National Museum of the United States Air Force, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Dayton, Ohio, US.
  Me 262 A-1a/U3 W.Nr.500453
  Flying Heritage Collection, Everett, Washington, US, currently in US undergoing restoration to flying condition. It is intended to fly using its original Jumo 004 engines. The aircraft was bought from The Planes Of Fame, Chino, California.
  Me 262 A-1a/R7 W.Nr.500491 Yellow 7, II./JG 7
  National Air and Space Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC, US. Possesses twin original underwing racks for 24 R4M unguided rockets.
  Me 262 A-1a W.Nr.112372
  RAF Museum Cosford, Cosford, United Kingdom.
  Me 262 A-2a W.Nr.500200 Black X 9K+XK, 2 Staffel./KG 51
  Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia. Built at Regensburg in March 1945, same batch from which the Deutsches Museum White 3 was built. Flown by Fahnenjunker Oberfeldwebel Fröhlich and surrendered at Fassberg. It remains the only Me 262 left in existence wearing original (albeit worn, as seen in the picture) colours. Its markings show both the Unit signatures along with the Air Ministry colours applied at Farnborough, where it was allocated reference Air Min 81. Restoration was completed in 1985 and the aircraft was put up on display. The Australian War Memorial's website states that the aircraft "is the only Me 262 bomber variant to survive, and is the only remaining Me 262 wearing its original paint".
  Me 262 B-1a/U1, W.Nr.110305 Red 8
  South African National Museum of Military History, Johannesburg, South Africa.
  Me 262 B-1a, W.Nr.110639 White 35
  National Museum of Naval Aviation, Pensacola, Florida (previously at NAS/JRB Willow Grove, Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, US)
  Avia S-92
  Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely, Prague, Czech Republic.
  Avia CS-92
  Prague Aviation Museum, Kbely, Prague, Czech Republic.
caption: Me 262A-2a (Black X), Australia, 2012
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