Dates

Event

Constructed as a Me-163B-1a.

Circa 1944

Taken on Strength/Charge with the Luftwaffe with s/n 191301.

1945

Captured in Germany by Watsons Whizzers.

Circa July 1945

Transported by air.
Flown in C-46 to Freeman Field, IN with four others.

1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n FE-0500.
Aircraft refurbished and assigned USAAF Foreign Equipment number.

From 13 October 1945 to 21 October 1945

Displayed at the Army Air Forces Fair at Wright Field, OH before returning to Freeman Field.

12 April 1946

Transported by air.
From Indiana to Muroc Dry lake in USAAF C-82.

12 April 1946

Transferred to USAAF Test Facility, Muroc Dry Lake, Muroc AAF, CA.
Operated with markings: T-2-500
Assigned Test s/n T-2-500.

3 May 1946

Testing commenced in the presence of Dr. Alexander Lippisch and involved towing the unfueled Komet behind a B-29 to an altitude of 9,000 to 10,500 m (30,000 to 35,000 ft) before it was released for a glide back to earth under the control of test pilot Major Gus Lundquist. Powered flights cancelled when delamination of the wooden wings was discovered.

From Circa 1946 to 1954

Assigned to Norton AFB, CA for storage.

1954

To National Air Museum Paul Garber Restoration Facility, Silver Hill, MD.

1966

National Air Museum renamed National Air and Space Museum.

10 June 1991

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At the Paul Garber Restoration Facility

1996

Loaned to National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force, Pooler, Savannah, GA.
View the Location Dossier

2010

Returned from loan to National Air and Space Museum.

To Smithsonian, National Air and Space Museum, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, Reston, VA.
View the Location Dossier