Records of captured Axis aircraft at Freeman Field, Seymour, IN

[Richard T Eger]

The following is from a thread taken from 12 O'clock High!:

Richard T. Eger
Captured Axis Aircraft
Sat Jan 23 10:21:28 1999


Chuck,

As with Huib, I thank you for the information. I think I've been to the site you mentioned, but will return with the insight you have now offered. Among my multi-pronged research efforts over the last 40 years or so, the story of the captured Me 262's has always fascinated me. I've got copies of some of the original reports from Freeman Field, Wright Field, and the Navy's test program. Also, I've got copies of some of the tracking cards for the individual aircraft. I have visited Freeman Field and the library in Seymour, spending many hours reviewing the newspaper microfilms. From memory, there was a flurry of activities in the first few months, culminating in a big public open house. Thereafter, it was a slow downhill slide, as the worries were that they were losing their manpower back to civilian life so rapidly that they couldn't accomplish their mission. The interaction between Freeman and Wright Fields has not been clear. My records said the aircraft next moved to what is now O'Hare Field in Chicago and thence, apparently, to the Silver Hill storage facility in Maryland. There are a number of aircraft on display photos which are a mystery as to which aircraft was being photographed and where. It's a fascinating area of investigation.

Regards,
Richard

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 30 July 2000).]

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:

Chuck Petrie
Captured Axis Aircraft
Sun Jan 24 17:37:00 1999


Richard,

The official reports do provide a framework for much of what we know about these operations, but I found it especially insightful of you to spend time going through the local newspaper accounts in Seymour. I would also agree that the open house did serve as a sort of high-water mark for the project. Clearly, there is evidence that the "civilianization" of the personnel assigned to Freeman had an impact upon these programs, but I tend to believe that most of the AAF's objectives had already achieved at that point. Additionally, after 1946, we tend to see a waning interest in war-related material among the public at large. With evaluations complete, and airshows soon eclipsed by other priorities, the planes headed for storage -- and uncertain futures.

Even during the height of the flight test effort, participants such as Lieutenant Ken Holt tells us that the relationship between Wright and Freeman Fields was actually rather straightforward in most respects. Most early testing and evaluation activity took place at Freeman Field (where relative secrecy was assured) in accordance with specific instructions issued by Wright Field. Later on, a few high profile comparison tests did take place at Wright Field, most notably Hal Watson's comparison flights against the P-80 Shooting Star.

As for the planes sent to the old Douglas plant at Orchard Place, we know that the best examples of each captured aircraft type were ultimately transferred to Silver Hill, as you have mentioned. The majority of this collection, however, suffered a rather ignominious end as backfill for the runways at what is now O'Hare field.

The search for clues and old photos related to the tests and postwar displays, etc. goes on, and it is a fascinating research area. Despite the obstacles, steady progress is being made. To this end, anyone with vintage snapshots of captured equipment in the U.S. (especially the Me 262) is requested to contact either myself or Dave Brown of Experten Research at cpetrie@stormbirds.com or dbrown@cnsopb.ns.ca. We are currently placing renewed emphasis upon tracing the "Watson's Whizzers" jets from Bavaria to the boneyards. While the results have already proven encouraging, new material is always appreciated.

To revisit the "War Prizes" aspect of all of this, I again must defer to the expertise of Norman Malayney as the preeminent researcher in this field. He may be contacted via the www.stormbirds.com/common/resources.htm (http://www.stormbirds.com/common/resources.htm) page.

Warm Regards,
Chuck Petrie
Webmaster
www.stormbirds.com (http://www.stormbirds.com)

[This message has been edited by Richard T Eger (edited 30 July 2000).]

[Richard T Eger]

The following are key records taken from the Seymour, IN, newspaper relating to Freeman Field activities with captured aircraft at the end of WW II:

<U><CENTER>INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE SEYMOUR DAILY TRIBUNE,</CENTER><CENTER>SEYMOUR, INDIANA, REGARDING CAPTURED LUFTWAFFE AIRCRAFT</CENTER><CENTER>BROUGHT TO FREEMAN FIELD AFTER WW II</CENTER></U><CENTER>(Data obtained by Richard T. Eger, ~9/72, 11/30/74, 3/1/75, and 3/8/75)</CENTER>


8/21/45

Announcement Me 262 coming to Freeman Field. To be flown by Col. Harold E. Watson.


8/29/45

Three Me 262's flown in together to Freeman Field by Col. H. E. Watson, Lt. R. J. Anspach, and Mr. Jack Woolams - Chief test pilot of Bell Aircraft Co. Watson's plane claimed 42 Russian and 7 American planes.


9/12/45

First Ar-234 in U.S. landed at Freeman Field.


9/30/45

Me 262 flown by Col. H. E. Watson in A. M. for visiting newsmen.


10/4/45

"…several jet fighters have been sent to Wright Field for the Air Fair scheduled there October 12-13. It is expected that they will remain at Wright Field for some time undergoing flight tests and evaluation."


10/8/45

At least 1 Me 262? still at Freeman Field at hangar No. 5.


10/13/45

Me 262, BP-20, He 162, and V-1 to be displayed at air show at Tinker Field, Oklahoma, Nov. 18, 19, and 20, 1945.


12/5/45

Freeman Field - ATSC Captured Equipment Evaluation Center


3/23/46

Me 262, He 162, and Ar 234 to be displayed 4/6/46 at open house for Army Day.


4/2/46

Me 262 will have engines run up (see above).


4/6/46

Army Day Exhibit at Freeman Field. Photo on page 1 shows Me 262 in background. Appears painted, but, being behind Me 163, other details not visible for identification.


5/4/46

First indication foreign aircraft may be moved - to some other installation for protected storage.


5/22/46

Six single engine foreign combat planes left Freeman Field 5/11/46 enroute to Chicago to be placed in permanent storage in the huge assembly plant at Orchard Place airport. These are the first to be transferred out as museum pieces.

Others will transferred as facilities to handle can be made available.


5/22/46

"Slick-up" Me-262 left Freeman field late afternoon bound for Wright Field, AMC HQ, where it will be subjected to a series of tests to determine its utmost capabilities. Plane, which came from Germany via a British aircraft carrier, was completely rebuilt and brought up to safety standards demanded by AAF. A new coat of special aircraft paint was applied to plane to bring out fullest speed capabilities. Several other aircraft of the same type (assume Me 262) are still assigned to the base (Freeman Field). (I presume the above was a quote, but I failed to use quotation marks).


6/1/46

Me 262A-1 (the one "slicked-up" at Freeman Field) is shown illustrated with H. E. Watson and three others in front. An Me-262A-1, possibly this one, will be on display for the Jubilee sessions of the SAE to be held at French Lick, Ind., June 2-7, 1946. (The picture on micro-film was not easy to identify as to specific plane. Would need good print for possible identification via comparison to other prints).

A sister plane to the "slicked-up" one has been through stability tests under direction of Analysis Division in coordination with Flight Test Division, Engineering. Restoration work (assume on both?) was done at Freeman Field Evaluation Center, Seymour, Ind.


7/16/46

Me 262 left this morning to participate in National Air Show at Omaha, Neb. Pilot - Lt. Kenneth Holt. This one of planes completely rebuilt at Freeman Field. Plane will fly to Omaha, making 3 stops enroute.


10/11/46

"Officers at Freeman Field Get Transfers
"Several Others to Be Separated from Service as Field Inactivation Begins

"As inactivation activities get under way at Freeman Field, the (s)eparation of several officers and (t)he transfer of several others who

[Rich Corey]

Greetings to all,
This is my first time here so I hope I'm doing this right.
I am currently researching two Me-109 G-10 a/c. One is W.nr.610937, at the Evergreen Museum. The other is W.nr.610824, at USAFM.
One is supposed to be an ex-Yugo AF machine, s/n 9664. The other is T2-124, brought to Freeman Field in 1946. There is much conflicting information out there and I'm looking for any official documents that can confirm the werke number of T2-124. Many official sources quickly grab their copy of "War Prizes" and quote from that. I've vowed never to buy that book :-)
My search has been frustrating but amusing, I'm looking for T2-124, I find a photo of T2-123, I find a fellow in Yugoslavia and ask him about s/n 9664 and true to form he sends me a photo of s/n 9663. Seems my luck is always just one digit off :-)
I know that out there somewhere, there just has to be some official piece of paper that can confirm the identity of T2-124. Can anyone here help me find it?

Many thanks in advance,
Rich Corey

[Richard T Eger]

Dear Rich,

Actually, the USAFM library might have the information on T2-124 that you are looking for. They had some records from Freeman Field on the Me 262's there, so they might also have some on your Me 109. It is certainly worth a try.

And, welcome to the LWAG site.

Regards,
Richard

[Richard T Eger]

From 12 O'clock High!:




Frithjof Ruud
Ar 234 wrecks
Mon Aug 14 09:27:06 2000


Hello,

Have any Ar 234 remains been found in former East Germany ? Are you referring to the 2x Ar 234 remains buried at Pautuxent River - and possibly 1x at Freeman
Field ?
The Freeman Field dig has already been going on for some years and as far as I know no Ar 234 remains have been found, except section from a JUMO 003, which
also could have belonged to an Me 262.

Regards
Frithjof

[Richard T Eger]

From TOH!:


Artie Bob
Freeman Field
Mon Aug 14 18:00:15 2000


During the early 1950s I used to fly into Freeman Field fairly often. Even by 1951-2, the German and Japanese aircraft had long since disappeared (these went to what
is now O'Hare outside of Chicago and were either claimed by the Smithsonian or sold for scrap in 1950). There were still some interesting things to be seen, but all
were of US origin; a hangar with many wrecked P-51s, an ex-racer P-63, and on the flight line derelict P-51B (perhaps C), P-63 and the last surviving P-43. All long
since gone.
All of the surviving He-219 prototypes were buried by US bulldozers, probably in May of 1945 (source- USA Air Force intelligence summary).