[stephen f. polyak]

Great photo! I suspect it's a plate. Both position (for a 109) and size are appropriate. As for the standout lighter color, some later-war 109 G series plates (I've two) were simply pieces of rough-cut aluminum sheet with rather crude hand-stamped entries. Those plates were not etched to begin with or painted after stamping/installation. Think of shiny aluminum. Maybe that's what's seen on this K. Hopefully, in time, more photos will surface and the debate will be resolved. Of course, my dream is that one of those GIs pulled the "plate" and that it will surface again.