This Recruit was originally destined to be a float plane trainer in the Netherlands East Indies. However, the sale fell through after the territory surrendered to Japanese forces in May 1942. It was then used as an USAAF trainer as 42-57481 until declared surplus late in WWII. After many private owners it is now on display in the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.

This P-38 never saw combat, rather was allocated to be an experimental airframe at Wright Field, OH and then at the end of WWII it was placed into storage. It is now on display with this unrestored finish at the super NASM Udvar-Hazy center.

The Horten Ho-229 (often called Gotha Go-229 due to the identity of the chosen manufacturer) was a German prototype fighter/bomber design approved by Göring late in WWII and is recognised as the first pure flying wing powered by jet engines. This is the only surviving Ho 229 airframe, the V3, and is now awaiting restoration at the Mary Baker Engen Restoration Hangar at the Udvar-Hazy Center. Note the that T2-490 code was attributed by the Office of Air Force Intelligence after arrival in the US.

The sixth and final Aerobile development was intended as a automobile/aeroplane hybrid. Unfortunately no market materialised and it is now on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.

This Type XII, on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center, is a very significant early airplane, being a prime example of pre-WWI aeronautical technology. Most American aircraft produced during this period were direct copies of Wright, Curtiss or European machines. Benoist was one of the very few US firms building and selling original designs during this pioneer era. This aircraft was built by the Korn brothers in St. Louis in 1912 and donated to the NASM in 1949.

This Caudron, on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center, is among the oldest surviving bomber aircraft and one of the very few remaining multi-engine aircraft extant from WWI. The term 'Blindage 16K' is marked on the rudders, probably indicating that the aircraft was an innovative G.4IB armoured Caudron. The armour consisted of a heavy metal plate (now missing) inserted behind the seat of the rear cockpit, protruding upward so as to cover the back and head of the pilot.

The 28C-1 was the first fighter aircraft to serve with an American fighter unit under American command and in support of US troops. It was also first type to score an aerial victory with an American unit. This example on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center is actually a composite of parts from five different aircraft. It was formerly civil registered as N4123A but that was cancelled in Jul-2012.

In 1969 this F8F broke the 30-year-old speed record for a piston-engined aircraft by reaching 777 kilometers (483 miles) per hour. Now on display at the wonderful NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.

This is the only Do 335 extant and the second A-0 built, finally becoming a quite stunning exhibit at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the Smithsonian NASM. I was completely taken aback by the huge dimensions of this aircraft, apparent when comparing the relative size of the Pfeil with the Arado Ar-234 behind.

No Seiran (Clear sky Storm) ever saw combat but was intended to fulfill the requirement for a bomber that could operate from a submarine to strike directly at the US and strategic targets such as the Panama Canal. This is the last built as well as the only surviving airframe and is now on display at the NASM Udvar-Hazy Center.

This F4U was delivered to the USN in April, 1944 and went on to serve with VF-10 and VF-89 before being withdrawn from active service in February 1945. Ii is now on display at the Udvar-Hazy Center in the markings of a Corsair named 'Sun Setter', a fighter assigned to VMF-114 serving aboard the USS Essex in July 1944.