Heinkel He 162A-1 'Volksjager' | Planes of Fame Air Museum

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Heinkel He 162A-1 'Volksjager'

HISTORY

The He 162 was designed to be flown by inexpert, quickly-trained "Hitler Youth," and to be built by slave labor. It made sparing use of scarce materials. With planned production of 1,000 to 4,000 per month, damaged aircraft would simply be replaced rather than repaired.
After only three months in development the first "pre-production" V1 was flown in December 1944. By February 1945, 100 had been completed including the 20 prototypes. The He 162 saw limited combat before the war ended in Germany.
The Museum's Heinkel He 162A-1, werke number 120077, was built in February/March of 1945 at the Heinkel Aircraft Factory at Rostock/Marienehe, Germany. The aircraft was assigned in April 1945 to II/JG-1 "Oesau" at Leck Airfield in Holstein, Germany and was assigned the code number "Red 1."
In May 1945, "Red 1" was captured at Leck Airfield and subsequently shipped to Freeman Field in Indiana, in the United States. In 1946, "Red 1" was transferred to Muroc Army Air Field (later Edwards Air Force Base).
In 1947, "Red 1" went to the University of Kansas where it stayed for a year before being acquired by Eddie Fischer of Kansas City, Kansas in 1948. In the 1950's, "Red 1" was obtained by Ed Maloney for Planes of Fame Air Museum.

While at Muroc Army Air Field in 1946, Planes of Fame Air Museum's Heinkel 162A-2 was flown by USAF test pilot Bob Hoover as shown in this black and white photo.