Messerschmitt Bf 109G-10/U-4, WNr. 610824, "Schwarze 2"
History
Werknummer 610824 was assigned to II./JG 52, a Luftwaffe fighter wing operating in the Munich area. In May 1945, as the war in Europe neared its end, the unit retreated westward to avoid capture by advancing Soviet forces. The aircraft was surrendered at Neubiberg, near Munich, and was among the last Luftwaffe aircraft to be captured by Allied forces.
Following its capture, 610824 was transported to the United States for evaluation. It was shipped aboard the British aircraft carrier HMS Reaper and arrived in New York Harbor in July 1945. The aircraft was then trucked to Freeman Field in Seymour, Indiana, arriving in May 1946. At Freeman Field, it was assigned the U.S. Foreign Equipment number FE-124, later changed to T2-124 when the Air Technical Service Command underwent reorganization.
Initially, 610824 was used for display purposes and toured various U.S. airbases. In 1947, it was donated to the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta. By the mid-1950s, the aircraft had deteriorated due to exposure and vandalism. Its wings were lost, but the fuselage was salvaged. In the 1960s, the remains were acquired by John W. Caler of Sun Valley, California, who attempted a restoration using wings from a Czech Avia. The project was abandoned, and the airframe was sold to a private collector.
In the late 1980s, the aircraft was acquired by Doug Arnold's Warplanes of Great Britain Collection and stored at Biggin Hill. It was later sold to Evergreen Ventures and restored to static display condition by Vintage Aircraft Restorations Ltd.Since April 1, 1999, 610824 has been on display at the NMUSAF in Dayton, Ohio, painted to represent an aircraft from Jagdgeschwader 300 (JG 300), coded "Blue 4" .