Steve's photos were taken "The Mighty Eighth" Museum in Savannah, Georgia,.USA.  

"FE-500" was the American designation for Messerschmitt Me 163B-1a Werknummer 191301. The aircraft was captured in Germany by "Watson's Whizzers" and apparently airfreighted by a Douglas C-54 to Freeman Field in the United States early in 1946. The aircraft was refurbished then transferred  to Muroc California for a short series of test flights in the presence of Dr. Alexander M. Lippisch, designer of the aircraft and pioneer of tail-less aircraft design.

Deterioration of the wooden wing structure led to flight testing being abandoned. The aircraft was stored at Norton Air Force Base in California before being shipped to Silver Hill in 1954, and more recently to Georgia.

It is difficult to determine the original camouflage of this aircraft due to the layers of paint applied during its several "restorations". However, some of the Komet's original scheme does seem to be peeping through in patches. The markings are not original.

"FE-500" was one of at least five Komet's to be shipped to the United States. It is probably the last remaining. An intact Me 163B-1a is also in storage at the Australian War Memorial's Treloar Technology Centre.

The Images

General port side view

Starboard nose

Starboard Wing Root

detail of port upper wing

Port Aileron

Pitot tube and main wheel detail

            Jet pipe and tailwheel

Rudder actuator and fairing (port side)

Starboard side tail and tailwheel

General starboard view

Forward fuselage. Note the fixed quarter window behind the pilot.

Close-up of the nose. Note the use of putty and tape to seal panel lines. The pilots heavy armoured-glass can just be made out behind the windscreen.

One-piece canopy

Starboard wing root. Traces of the original German colours can be seen in this view. Note the RLM 81 Brown-Violet on the trailing edge of the wing root panel.               

Undercarriage Details: