The Airplanes the US Military Wasn’t Supposed to Have

By the time the Allies landed in Normandy on June 6, 1944, the Air Force’s Air Technical Intelligence teams were already compiling a list of valuable Luftwaffe aircraft for future inspection. These aircraft were included in the “Black Lists,” with the Me-262, the world’s first operational jet fighter, at the top.

The Race for Intelligence

Trained at Wright Field, Ohio, the teams competed to gather information from crash sites and captured airfields. Their most coveted prize remained the Me-262, a revolutionary aircraft that promised valuable insights into jet-powered aviation.

Operation Lusty

On April 22, 1945, the USAAF launched Operation Lusty (Luftwaffe Secret Technology), merging two intelligence teams: one led by Col. Harold E. Watson, focused on capturing aircraft, and another by Col. Howard McCoy, tasked with acquiring documents and scientists.

Luftwaffe Recruits

To help his team operate and maintain captured aircraft, Watson enlisted Luftwaffe pilots like Robert Strobell. After Germany’s surrender in May 1945, Strobell flew to Lechfeld, where several Me-262s had been captured. The team also procured other significant aircraft, including the Bf-109, Fw-190, and Ar-234.

Repairs and Airshows

Once repaired and repainted, the Me-262s were tested for their capabilities. The results confirmed the aircraft’s power and speed. On June 10, 1945, Watson’s team flew the jets to Melun, where General Carl Spaatz, Chief of the Army Air Forces in Europe, watched as the pilots demonstrated the Me-262’s prowess.

Strobell’s vertical barrel roll during the final pass impressed Spaatz, who remarked, “That’s a wicked airplane! I’m sure glad the Germans screwed up the tactical use.”

A Successful Operation

Operation Lusty proved highly successful. Watson’s team captured over 16,300 items, or 6,200 tons, which were carefully inspected by the Army Air Forces Intelligence, providing invaluable knowledge for future aircraft development.