SECRET TORONTO::: Me. 262, WHERE Are You?

THIS WAR PRIZE (as they were called, back then) Messerschmitt Me.262A-1a Schwalde (Swallow) is shown in a hangar at RCAF Station: Downsview, in 1952.

This Leslie Corness photo appears in the incredible CANAV book by Larry Milberry entitled, "The Leslie Corness Propliner Collection".

A fantastic airplane photobook spanning almost five decades, featuring photographs taken by RCAF chaplain Rev. Leslie Corness. (of course, I own a copy!)

This photo of Me.262A-1a, Luftwaffe 500210, in the CANAV book states that this Me.262 was posing for pics in Aylmer, Ontario.

Nope.

Notice the De Havilland Vampires in the background?

There weren't any in Aylmer, but there were lots in Toronto. RCAF 400 Squadron based out of Toronto, had oodles of Vamps.

That Me.262 is sitting right where the Canadian De Havilland Mosquito manufacturing line was during WW II! Right there in Downsview, right there in Toronto. Note the Junkers Jumo 004 B-1 turbojet on the ground underneath the 262's nose. Also note the RAF tail marking, RAF serial no. VH509 and the Air Ministry no. 52.

This 262 was flight tested in Britain by the Royal Aeronautical Establishment…but was never flown in Canada. However, it was, for sure, fired up a coupla' times at Downsview.

Two Me.262s were shipped to Canada for the National Research Council and for the RCAF.

War prizes.

One went to Aylmer, Ontario (near London) RCAF Station: Aylmer…and was scrapped there in 1950!

That historical Me.262, had been flown by Oblt. Fritz Stehle who had recorded the LAST KILL of the Luftwaffe during WW II! Stehle took off from Zatec (Czechoslovakia) on May 8, 1945 and en route shot down a Soviet P-39, after which he landed in Fassberg, and immediately surrendered to the British forces there!

And yes, Stehle's historical jet fighter was scrapped, right here…in Ontario!

Right after the CO of RCAF Station: Aylmer, had downed an entire bottle of stupid pills.

Our other war prize Me.262 went to RCAF Station: Downsview…AND never left!

Well, where is it then, since it's not in CASM's collection?

IT IS BURIED somewhere on the Bombardier Aerospace airport grounds which are located at Downsview, the site of the former De Havilland Aircraft of Canada manufacturing facility, and of former CFB Downsview.

Just so you know, the Canadian Air and Space Museum (also at Downsview, and is home of the TAM Arrow) has been SECRETLY looking for that Me.262…for TWO YEARS!!

Got any idea where on the grounds it was buried, Torontonians????

All four Jumo engines from these two Me.262A aircraft are in the Canadian Aviation Museum's collection, in Rockcliffe, Ontario…so a remnant of Stehl's historical Luftwaffe jet-fighter, indeed, remains.

1,400 Me262s were produced. Only a small portion of that quantity ever saw action since fuel was scarce. One hundred Me.262s were lost in combat, while they were able to shoot down 150 Allied aircraft. So the Me.262 had little effect on the outcome of the war, but it would greatly effect the post-war period.

The Allies were absolutely mesmerized with the Me. 262.

Its design was far ahead of anything the Allies had produced, or had on their drawing boards. This German aircraft would greatly influence the early jet age.