Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a, WNr. 501232, "Gelbe 5"
History
The Messerschmitt Me 262A-1a with Werknummer (W.Nr.) 501232, known as "Yellow 5," was a late-war Luftwaffe jet fighter that played a significant role during the final days of World War II.
"Yellow 5" was assigned to 3./KG(J)6, a Luftwaffe unit tasked with homeland defense. The aircraft was among the last Me 262s completed by Germany, likely in late March 1945. On May 8, 1945, Oblt. Heinrich Haeffner, a pilot from 2./KG 51, flew the aircraft from Prague-Rusin to München-Riem. Following Germany's surrender, the aircraft was surrendered to U.S. forces. Shortly thereafter, it was photographed with Colonel Harold Watson, leader of the 54th Air Disarmament Squadron (ADS), which was responsible for collecting and transporting captured German aircraft.
After its capture, "Yellow 5" was flown by Messerschmitt test pilot Karl Baur to Lechfeld on May 15, 1945, where it was named "Beverly Ann." The aircraft was then transported to the United States aboard the HMS Reaper, arriving in the U.S. in late 1945. At the Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland, it was designated U.S. Navy Bureau Number (BuNo) 121442 and underwent flight testing by the Navy's Armament Test Division. The aircraft was renamed "Screamin' Meemie" during this period .
In January 1946, the aircraft was flown by Lt. Col. Marion E. Carl (USMC) and Lt. T.G. McClelland to evaluate its performance in carrier operations, including low-speed approaches and wave-offs. However, after experiencing multiple engine flame-outs, its test flights were discontinued, and it was stricken from service on January 31, 1946.
In 1952, the aircraft was found abandoned in a landfill at NAS Patuxent River. It was retrieved and stored at Wright Field before being transferred to Kelly Air Force Base in Texas for restoration between 1976 and 1979. The restoration aimed to represent an aircraft straight off the production line, and as such, "Yellow 5" was finished in a standard paint scheme without specific operational or unit markings .
Today, "Yellow 5" is on display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio.