Our 2012 trip started with a visit to the Deutsches Museum in Munich. This is really a “warbird” goldmine. During the Second World War the German air force worked hard on the development of new fighter jets and missiles. They successfully developed multiple jet engines and rockets, laying the groundwork for the current jet age. From radio controlled missiles to fighter jets and jet bombers to the very famous jet powered flying wing of the Horten brothers (Ho 229).
The museum in Munich has a unique collection of this German development. In addition to conventional aircraft such as the Messerschmitt BF 108 and Bf 109, Fieseler Storch, the Junker 52 and Bücker Bü 131 there are many jet aircraft and missiles to see in the museum. Worth mentioning is that they have the fastest plane from WWII, the Messerschmitt Me 163 on display.
The strangest jet on display is surely the Bachem Natter, a jet especially created to collide in mid air with allied aircraft. The Museum houses a treasure of high-grade German technology from WWII.
Messerschmitt Me 262
The most infamous of all, the Swallow (Schwalbe) or Messerschmitt Me 262 which was the first operational jet fighter produced until april 1945, is displayed underneath the Messerschmitt 163.
More on the Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 163
This is the fastest German plane of WWII, the Messerschmitt Me 163.
More on the Messerschmitt Me 163
Fieseler Fi 103 or V1 Flying Bomb
A Fieseler Fi 103 or V1 Flying Bomb hangs from the sealing next to the Me 163 jet.
Bachem Natter, Rheintochter, a complete V2 Rocket, Ruhrstahl X-4, a Henschel Hs 293
More on the Bachem Natter and more on the Rheinmetall-Borsig Rheintochter.
Very rare are the missiles on display in the Deutsches Museum. The collection consists a V1 Flying Bomb and a complete V2 Rocket, a Ruhrstahl X-4, a Henschel Hs 293 and a Rheintochter.
The Ruhrstahl X-4, a wire-guided Air to Air Missile missile, is fired in the air from a plane to a target in the air, another plane.
The radio-controlled Hs 293 Henchell is a gliding bomb with a camera in the nose for “in flight” control. And the huge Rheintochter missile is a land to air missile, fired from an undercarriage of one of the Flak guns and is radio controlled as well.
Luftwaffe Helicopter
It was used by the Navy as reconnaissance from a ship. It took off on mid seas with a rope attached, with this rope it was pulled back when the reconnaissance session ended.
Conventional Aircraft
Below on the lower level is a small impression of the conventional collection of the Lüftwaffe’s planes from the Second World War.
A transport Junker 52, called Iron Annie by the troops, the infamous Messerschmitt Bf 109, and less known Bf 108 together with the Fieseler Storch reconnaissance plane.
More on the Messerschmitt Bf 109
There is also a section with 1st World War aeroplanes and a replica of the Red baron.
Kriegsmarine, U-Boats and gear
A Second World War mini type submarine, the Seehund (seal) is on display here as well. A navy searchlight and a very rare tidal calculating machine are in the basement as well. The latter was unfortunately covered up during our visit, we took a picture of it anyway.
There is also a Würzburg Riese radar disk in the museum to see, this was in maintenance during our visit.
World War Two Drone
Radio controlled drones equipped with 2 cameras.
They flew above the battlefields and brought back information.The Luftwaffe produced 100 of the As 292 Argus Drones, it could fly with a speed of 100 km/h for 30 minutes.
Originally created as target practice for the anti-aircraft cannons, but soon the Lüftwaffe saw more potential in the unmanned planes and they were deployed as unmanned reconnaissance planes.
How about modern warfare!
Unfortunately on our visit the drone itself is not at the museum, so we took some photos of the stills on display.
More on the Argus As 292 Drone
Visit
The Deutsches Museum is a nationwide organization, they have museums in Berlin and Munich among others.
So take caution if you want to visit this particular museum. There are two museums, one in Munich and one near Munich.
The article above is from the museum in the Centre of Munich with photos from 2012. We learned that lots of planes and other objects are relocated to the second location, Check out both websites before your visit.
Next to the Deutsches Museum in Munich (on the Museuminsel in Munich) check out the website of the “Deutsches Museum Flugwerft Schleissheim” which can be found north of Munich.
Due to our tight schedule we had only 3 hours in the museum. So we focussed on the objects from World War One and World War Two.
If you like to see the whole museum, we advise you to take the better part of the day to see it all. There are restaurants and restrooms to make your stay comfortable.
Note that as of April 2018 this collection is NOT in the central Münich museum. Refurbishment means that a limited part has been relocated to the Deutsche air museum half an hour away. Certainly the 262, 163 and Natter are there but many of the other exhibits will not reapppear until 2025 apparently