| Accession Number | 136092 |
|---|---|
| Collection type | Photograph |
| Object type | Black & white - Film polyester negative |
| Place made | Australia: Victoria, Melbourne, Point Cook |
| Date made | C 1950 |
| Conflict |
Period 1950-1959 |
| Copyright |
Item copyright: Copyright expired - public domain
|
MESSERSCHMITT ME163B, `KOMET', `WERKE NR'(WORKS NO) 191907. THE ME163 WAS THE FASTEST OPERATIONAL ...
Description
MESSERSCHMITT ME163B, `KOMET', `WERKE NR'(WORKS NO) 191907. THE ME163 WAS THE FASTEST OPERATIONAL AIRCRAFT PRODUCED IN THE SECOND WORLD WAR AND THE ONLY FIGHTER AIRCRAFT SOLEY PROPELLED BY A LIQUID FUELED ROCKET ENGINE. IT IS THOUGHT THAT `WERKE NR' 191907 WAS BUILT IN EARLY 1945 AND ALLOCATED TO II `GRUPPE, JAGDGESCHWADER 400', AT HUSUM. AS ROCKET FUEL HAD ALL BUT RUN OUT IN EARLY 1945 `WERKE NR' 191907 PROBABLY NEVER FLEW AND WAS NOT GIVEN UNIT MARKINGS. THE AIRCRAFT WAS CAPTURED BY THE BRITISH, TAKEN TO ENGLAND FOR EVALUATION AND PRESENTED TO THE AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN 1946. THIS AIRCRAFT IS IN THE COLLECTION OF THE AUSTRALIAN WAR MEMORIAL.