[David E. Brown]

Hi Jim,

We will never know exactly how the list was created – transferred from existing paperwork, visual inspection, verbal reporting, a combination of these? Regardless, a number of obvious errors can be identified and as such I concede the possibility for transcription errors for legitimate Werknummern. However, I find it most interesting that 10 of the 12 were errors in the Werknummerserien (first three digits) and only two in the remainder. Indeed, for the former nine of the ten were with the third digit. Something was going on. But what? Given the times it was sort of like re-arranging deck chairs on the RMS “Titanic”.

So, on the balance of probabilities and the information available, I lean more towards my original interpretation of 113369 and what is observed in the photo. Until such time a new photo is discovered of course!

Regarding Smith and Creek’s original source for information on 113368 and 113369 at Innsbruck, it is a mystery. We know one of them was there via the photograph, and possibly both. Perhaps Dan can enlighten us if a document was referenced in the correspondence.

With respect to the Me 262 seen under its tail, I agree that the number is a “13” and believe this was the replacement aircraft for Steinhoff’s “White 13” in which he crashed on 18 April. Though at a distance, the placement of the “13” on this machine is a bit haphazard and does not match the position of numbers observed on known JV 44 machines applied in late March – early April.

Best,

David