Me-262 Schwalbe Over Dayton, Ohio

This aircraft is a Messerschmitt Me262A-1a Schwalbe (W.Nr.111711) and was surrendered at Frankfurt/Rhine-Main by defecting Messerschmitt test pilot Hans Fay on March 31, 1945. Fay, a civilian test pilot, extended his undercarriage to indicate he was surrendering. USAAF General Henry "Hap" Arnold met with Fay on April 4, 1945, and recommended that Fay be brought to the United States to fly 111711 in flight testing. It was shipped to Wright Field where it was referred to as "711" or "T2-711" and test flown a total of 12 times before suffering an engine fire and crashed on 20th August 1946 at Xenia, Ohio. Tests revealed that the Me-262 was superior in most respects to the Lockheed P-80 Shooting Star, the premiere American jet fighter. The results of the tests were surpressed by the US Army Air Force.