Messerschmitt Me 163B1-a, WNr. 120370, "Gelbe 6"
History
The Me 163 Komet was the world's first operational rocket-powered interceptor. Developed by the German Luftwaffe during World War II, it was designed to counter Allied bombers. The aircraft had a short flight duration due to its limited fuel capacity, but it achieved remarkable speeds, making it a formidable opponent in the skies.
Werknummer 120370, marked with the code "Yellow 6," was part of Jagdgeschwader 400 (JG 400), a Luftwaffe unit tasked with defending the Reich against Allied bombers. After the war, the aircraft was captured by the Allies and eventually transferred to the United Kingdom. It was given the RAF Air Ministry number AM210 and was displayed at various locations before being presented to the Deutsches Museum in April 1964 .
At the Deutsches Museum, the Me 163B is suspended from the ceiling, showcasing its unique design and engineering.The aircraft is displayed without unit identification but has its Werknummer restored to its normal fin location. It is accompanied by a restored example of the Me 163B's single-chamber rocket motor, as well as the only known example in the United States of the experimental twin-chamber Walter 509B rocket motor .
In recent years, the museum has undertaken detailed examinations of the aircraft. In 2021, the Me 163 was X-rayed at the Fraunhofer Development Center for X-ray Technology in Fürth using XXL-CT scanning. This non-destructive analysis aimed to gain new insights into the aircraft's construction and history .