BILL PIPPIN COLLECTION
No. 12514. Heinkel He 177 A-5/R6 Greif (TS439 c/n 412951) Royal Air Force "Prise de Guerre"
Photograph from Airbooks

Heinkel He 177 A-5/R6 Greif

08/31/2014. Remarks by Johan Visschedijk: "This aircraft, formerly coded "F8+AP", was captured at Blagnac airfield on the outskirts of Toulouse, France on September 2, 1944, in a combined operation of members of the Maquis (French resistance), and British and US troops. On September 10, it was flown to the Royal Aircraft Establishment at Farnborough, UK, by Wing Commander Roland J. Falk, Chief Test Pilot and Administrator at the RAE. It is pictured here after its arrival, sporting the French roundels and the legend "Prise de Guerre" (War Prize) applied by the members of the Maquis. Serialed TS439 the Greif (Griffin) was frequently flown at Farnborough until February 20, 1945, when it was delivered to RAE Boscombe Down. Subsequently it was transferred to the USA under the Foreign Equipment number "FE-2100", later it received the Allied Technical Intelligence Unit number "T2-2100". Its ultimate fate is unknown."


Created August 31, 2014