February 18, 1945 - The second prototype of the Horten H.IX V2 (*), or Ho-229, piloted by Leutnant Erwin Ziller during its third flight, encountered various problems 45 minutes after takeoff, the most serious of which was the failure of one of its two jet engines. The aircraft went into a spin and crashed just outside the airfield perimeter.
The pilot died from his injuries the following night.
(*) It was the only prototype to have flown under its own power; the V1 prototype was merely a glider. The V3 prototype was captured unfinished by the Allies and is currently in the collection of the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum.
The Sikorsky JRS-1 is the only aircraft in the Museum that was at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. After the JRS-1 survived the attack undamaged, Wesley Hoyt “Wes” Ruth flew the unarmed aircraft for about 250 miles searching for the Japanese fleet.
French Navy Short Sunderland MR5 (ML892) being escorted into Milford Haven by an Avro Shackleton of 201 Sqn RAF in 1963.
Donated to the town of Pembroke Dock, it was later gifted to the @RAFMUSEUM in Hendon, where it still resides today.
Early Grumman F7F Tigercat put through its paces
First flown in November 1943, the type was the first twin-engined fighter in service with the US Navy but was too late to see combat during WWII