In January 1945, Uffz. Herbert Maxis was flying 784993 in IV/JG53 as part of Operation Bodenplatte when he attacked an American convoy near Ober-Felsberg in the Saarland but was shot-down by ground fire. Maxis belly landed the plane successfully but was shot by an American soldier as he exited the plane. The wreck was later buried but re-discovered in 1987 and used, along with from parts of many different authentic 109s, for the restoration of two different 784993s, one of which is now on display at Aviaticum, Wiener Neustadt - Ost (LOAN) and this one at Múzeum Letectva Košice.