I present you a very old Request of Mine. If my memory takes it right,
I posted this Request before Anto released the 2.0 version of his Me262 Ultimate Pack.
Back in time we discussed new loadouts. Someone, I dunno who, dropped in for Single
bomb loadouts. I found a cool idea, as it was historical. My part of the job in the discussion
was to gather evidence for the Me262 A-1a Jabo variant.
This was somewhat in late 2010. It's 8 years and I present you my findings.
I didn't gave up that topic and dugged the literature, archives and web for this.
First in my upgraded Me262s Skinpacks you'll find traces of my long research for it.
I marked those that I was able to double locate via Archive and pictorial evidence.
I could trace more examples actually depicted than I was owed to find,
but surprised how many exactly must have existed.
a suspicious Jabo Variant, that was not matching A-1a or A-2a Variant as
of armament specs. Now that it goes with a row of historical photos.
What we know that the Term Me262 A1-1a/Jabo is first mentioned in the 3rd Production Block.
Very early!!! It's existence spanned from Summer 1944 until the last Days when US troops captured whole lines of completed examples. Referr to the Pictures then
Commissionen und Werknummern Me 262, Messerschmitt A.G., Augsburg
http://www.stormbirds.com/werknummer/index.htm
...
130166 to 130185 Known Production Block
170036 to 170053 Known Production Block
170054 to 170073 Known Production Block
170288 to 170312 Known Production Block
...
Yes, in the official Serial Log Reports.
Now whats interesting the Jabo popup as early as the A-2a at it's peak of production,
but since we know A-2a was built in limited numbers (only a handfull of Pics), it is interresting that
even according to Augsburg A-2a appeared in far more numbers
than allowed, as late as April 45???. If production was officially halted early on, why does it not
stop appearing in Block lists?
Later when KG(J)54 were on double duty,
not just groundpounding, but also relegated to
Bomber Interception, they even retrofitted A-2a's, as
did other units too. The A-2a was too weak with it's 2 Mk108,
and only 4xMk108 sufficent for the Interception role.
One conclusion is possible, that subsidiaries carried on to use
A-2a designation when the Fighters where to be ordered. Such Hickhack was not unusual,
simply referr to the official RLM regulations of Colours and how
it turned out to be in practise.
Lagestandsmeldungen sometimes recalled Silber, Me 262, if not specific
at the Type. Sometimes from Ultra deciphered it seems they sometimes
didn't even cared to give the Type, just a Werkenummer.
US Troops captured at least 2 Productionlines that showed Jabos in their last stages of building
in numbers I didn't knew myself.
Dan O'Connell gives insight in his Me262 Production Log 1941-1945
with Pictures showing this Subvariant.
This author misses some too, as the superp Quality photographs indicate.
Not a joke, he claims with Bombrack fitted A-1as as A-1a!!!
A Me262 Jabo is comprising of factory fitted 4 MK108 cannons and Bombracks.
Before the starting of production Trials where done testing the A-1a to fit Bombracks,
it proved to be outliving the A-2a by numbers from Photographs we had.
Most famous early A-2a by factory is 9K+YH, with modified gunpanel,
so no field Mod wooden Block Mod Type.
In the last stage of their Service these Jabos can be found in
JG7, JV44, the various Ad-hoc Units from The KG(J) Boys.
Of course pictures exist showing the gunpanels open with 4 MK108 and Racks installed.
The finest example is Fays 711 showing this installation with Serial allocation
on Bombracks, which can be seen on numerous other 262 Jabos
captured i.e. by US Troops.
Leipheim & Rechlin/Tarnewitz E-Stellen Loadouts, the WfrGranate 21 as for JG7 Stab, R4M installation,
as well as completely new the Single bomb Installation which was widely used in combat from
early to late.
The dedicated Skins have been skinned in accordance, what means that their
cannon housing showed 4 cannon labels, not 2 as of A-2a.
Faireytale Me262? Not really, look at Australian stuffed "Black X" 9K+XK 500200
at it's Fassberg stage and report about Armament...Here are early examples from the above listed Production Blocks:
Here are examples found at the end of the War in Waldwerke or abbandoned (Neuburg based and ex JV44 Brandenburg):
Here are two famous examples:
Why did they stamp such things A-2, when it was 4 Cannons and 2 Racks?
Happy Flying
Tobias
Author
Topic: Segfej's Skinpack & Template Pack (Read 7143 times)
