The Messerschmitt ME163 Komet is a rocket powered interceptor aircraft used by the Germans in the latter stages of WW2
A German test pilot reached an incredible 700 mph in July 1944. Around 300 were made before the war ended. The allies shot down 10 ME163's while the Germans claimed between 8-16 Allied planes.
By the end of the war 48 ME 163's had been captured and 24 of these arrived in the UK where some testing was done. Towed and unpowered flights only. Others left for the USA, Canada and Australia
Most of these captured aircraft came from Jagdgeschwader 400 (JG 400) at Husum, Germany. JG 400 was formed 1 February 1944 to become the only military unit in the world to fly operational rocket power fighter aircraft in July 1944
Only 10 of those captured remain today with 3 ME163's still present in the UK.
1. RAF Museum Cosford: ME163B-1a 191614. It last flew on 22 April 1945 when it was shot down by a RAF Lancaster bomber. This plane was thought to have originally been at the Rocket Propulsion Establishment in Bucks. It was moved up to RAF Cosford in 1975 where it had a number of non authentic paint schemes
The current paint scheme, is grey mottled livery with a yellow nose cone but this is also thought to be non authentic.
2. Science Museum, London: The ME163B-1a 191316 `Yellow' 6. It is thought that this was originally used as a training aircraft for RAF apprentices and for restoration work. It was also displayed at various events. The aircraft was suspended from the ceiling but with the engine removed which can be seen separately.
3. National Museum of Flight, East Fortune, Scotland : ME163B-1a 191659, `Yellow' 15
, manufactured in 1945. Originally sent to Farnborough then Brize Norton for a short time before ending up at Cranwell and displayed in their museum from May 1947 - 1975.
It was then refurbished before being displayed in its current green livery with a sky blue underneath at the Museum of Flight. The canons have been removed but the engine is still in place.
Royal Navy test pilot Captain Eric ` Winkle' Brown flew this Komet in June 1945 at Husum. He is the only allied pilot to have ever flown a ME163 with the engine running.
On May 26th 1945 he had completed three unpowered flights at 20,000 feet that was towed by an ME110 flown by a German crew. He then flew the Komet up to 32,000 feet and said it was `fantastic' but very unstable and highly dangerous plane to fly.
Eric died in February 2016 at the age of 97 years old.
First prototype ME163 1941
Captured and repainted by the RAF in 1945
