Messerschmitt Me 262B-1a, WNr. 110639, "Weisse 35"
History
The Me 262B-1a variant was developed as a dual-control trainer to facilitate the training of Luftwaffe pilots on the new jet technology. WNr. 110639 was constructed at the Leipheim factory and assigned the military code "White 35" while serving with III./EGJ2. The aircraft was modified under contract by Blohm+Voss to include dual controls, making it suitable for training purposes.
In May 1945, as the war in Europe was drawing to a close, WNr. 110639 was captured intact at Lechfeld, near Augsburg, Germany. Following its capture, the aircraft was taken to the United States for evaluation and testing. It was initially named "Vera" by the 54th Air Disarmament Squadron and later renamed "Willie" in honor of Messerschmitt test pilot Ludwig "Willie" Hoffman.
After its arrival in the United States, WNr. 110639 was flown to Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River in Maryland for flight testing and evaluation. It was assigned Bureau Number (BuNo) 121448 and later transferred to NAS Willow Grove in Pennsylvania in 1946. The aircraft remained in storage and on static display at Willow Grove for several decades.
In 1993, the U.S. Navy loaned the aircraft to the Messerschmitt 262 Project in Everett, Washington, where it was used as a pattern for constructing flying replicas of the Me 262. As part of this arrangement, the aircraft was restored to its original wartime appearance. In 2007, WNr. 110639 was transferred to the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, where it is currently displayed.