In April 1945, Carl Andrew Spaatz ordered Wright Field United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) personnel to gather and evaluate Luftwaffe (German Air Force) aircraft technology by the United States shortly after the Second World War.[1] Operation LUSTY (LUftwaffe Secret TechnologY) began with the aim of exploiting captured German scientific documents, research facilities, and aircraft. The Operation had two teams. One collected enemy aircraft and weapons for further examination in the US, and the other recruited scientists, collected documents, and investigated facilities. The teams traveled far and wide over Europe to find German technology. Once found, they were shipped to the US. Technology shipped to the US, including the dreaded Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter, axial-flow compressor turbojet engines, and 30 mm cannons – along with other technological secrets, were divided between the Navy and the Army Air Forces. 1st Lt Robert C. Strobell[2] was the first USAAF pilot qualified to fly the ME 262.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b The End of World War II. (television show, Original Air Date: 2-17-05). A&E. Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
- ^ Young, Robert L. Operation Lusty. Journal of the Air Force Association (January 2005, Vol. 88, No. 1). Retrieved on 2007-06-04.
