[Marc-André Haldimann]

Hi D. B.,

Both thanks for bringing back to my memory the origin of the uploaded pic, much lighter the the Footnote one, and sorry if this caused any annoyance to you. I'm also thankful for having the Erla K-4's peculiarities brought back to my memory. I just wonder how many other pics showing elements or half finished Erla K-4's do exist in the US Army files. Would love to have some research time in front of me, but alas... gallo-roman archaeology and Museum life are a relentless issue...

Carl,

I can only concur with Roland about your masterful answer! Thanks fro sharing your knowledge wich gives us the global dimension and organization of the Wertheim assembly area, especially as discovered by the US troops on 2 April 1945. I do also appreciate very much the insight you give us about the breaking down of W.Nr blocks by production places, and the known fly-in activities.

Roland,

Thanks for settling Matthias's question; all is then very logical, and it will certainly help for pinpointing the photographed location of the Bodenwöhr snake-pattern K-4 fuselages heaps (posts #9 and #11).
As for the engineless Wertheim airframes confronted to the Flossenbürg pictures showing only airframes complete with DB 605 engines and cowlings, this is not a unique occurrence. Think of those two pictures (Noro 2009, 103 #138, and the one posted by Carl, post #27) showing a line of six+ engineless fuselages with Flossenbürg - camouflage pattern neatly stacked in-line along a "location unknown Holzrückerweg". The sunny atmosphere does contrast with the Wertheim serie of pictures, this Holzrückerweg being much closer to open space then the Wertheim one. So you have at least a second location with the same issue: engineless K-4's fuselages completely camouflaged... What might be the cause of this discrepancy? I would suggest a breakdown of the DB 605 D supply chain to some of the Flossebürg affiliated Waldwerke, leaving no option but to send the airframes to locations where waiting engines could be mated (like in Wertheim?). Let's hope that further photographic evidence remains to be discovered either at the NARA or at the PRO, giving us more factual information illustrating those fascinating issues.

Cheers
Marc