[Jerry Crandall]

Hello all;
I am convinced that the Dora 9 in question is not 210251, with all due respect to my dear friend Marc. This is most difficult at this time as we are all still mourning the loss of Eric Larger.
1. This cannot be a 210 series aircraft for the following reasons:
The basic camouflage is not the typical early Focke-Wulf Sorau pattern. 210251 was manufactured and delivered in November/December 1944; however, it does match the 211 series camouflage pattern.
This D-9 has the late three-piece gun cowl with the small round bulge on the rear of the cowling in the low position, No. 2. If this a/c was 210251 it would have had the early five-piece gun cowl with the small round bulge in the high position to allow for the additional panel line that is known to have been installed in a/c up until about 210300.
It has a blown canopy, although the rear metal portion is unpainted typical of D-9s found at Marienburg.
2. It has all the characteristics of 211 a/c, such as the heavy mottling on the tail, the partially painted landing gear doors, and typical 211 series prepainted upper camouflage on the engine cowling which does not match up with the fuselage camouflage.

This D-9 in question matches very well with a known Dora 9 found at Marienburg at the same time, W. Nr. 211133. Yes it is hard to explain how it could be 211251 as the accepted Werknummer block ends at 211200. We know for sure from the photos that the Werknummer starts with a '2' and appears to end with a '1'. Recently I contacted the authors of the Modeler's Eye monograph asking them for the source of this Werknummer 210251. They were unable to supply any physical proof of this number they published. Interesting also that none of these Focke-Wulf Dora 9s and A-8s found at Marienburg have spiral spinners.
Now, after having said all that, it is possible, I suppose, that this Dora 9 could have been completely rebuilt at the Marienburg facility, although I believe this is very unlikely. These Fw 190s found at this facility after the war do appear to be unissued but have seen moderate use, noted by the exhaust staining on the side of the fuselage.
It could be in the range of 211133 and not 210251 or 211251.
Cheers,
Jerry