Last verified 2026-08-09 against the gazetteer Compendium. Airframes move — confirm on museum pages before travel.
Where to see the Messerschmitt Me 262 in the UK
The gazetteer records 2 Messerschmitt Me 262 airframes (including cockpit sections and replicas where noted) across 1 UK collection, in one region: Midlands & Lincolnshire.
| Museum | City | Region | Airframes recorded |
|---|---|---|---|
| Royal Air Force Museum Midlands | Shifnal | Midlands & Lincolnshire | Messerschmitt Me 262A-2A VK893 Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U2 420430 |
The short story
The first operational jet fighter: twin Jumo 004s under swept wings, 541 mph, and a hundred mph clear of every piston opponent. Hitler insisted it bomb; the Luftwaffe needed it as a fighter; both arguments arrived too late to matter. Cosford’s A-2a — Yellow 4 of JG 7 — surrendered at Fassberg in May 1945, flew evaluation sorties as VK893, and now sits in the Midlands as the gazetteer’s only Schwalbe.
The Messerschmitt Me 262 in brief
| Type | Messerschmitt Me 262 (A-2a) |
|---|---|
| First flight | 1942 |
| Era | Second World War |
| Number built | 1,430 |
| Top speed | 541 mph |
| UK museums holding one | 1 |
| Airframes recorded in this survey | 2 |
Serials are the gazetteer's survey snapshot of what each collection records on charge — restorations move between workshops and reserve hangars, so check the museum page for opening times and current display status before travelling. Every type across all 118 museums is indexed in the Compendium.