Focke-Achgelis Fa 330A-1, WNr. 100503
History
Approximately 200 Fa 330 units were built during the war. They were primarily deployed in areas with less Allied air activity, such as the Indian Ocean and the Gulf of Aden. The Fa 330A-1 was tethered to the U-boat by a 150-meter cable, and the observer communicated observations back to the submarine via a telephone line running along the tow cable.
After the war, several Fa 330 units were captured by Allied forces. The Fa 330A-1 with serial number 100503 was transferred to the United Kingdom in 1945 for evaluation. It was assigned the RAF serial number 8469M in 1976 and was displayed at the Royal Air Force Museum Cosford in the 'War in the Air' hangar by 1980. The aircraft is currently on static display.