[Graham Boak]

I agree that the V-11 and V-12 do not seem to have been built, and that there appears to be more than one version of the build list. Aircraft '015 however does create specific problems.

As I understand it, there were initially six prototypes, V-1 to V-6, although some sources quote an order for 10. These six carried the identities 240-00-001 to 240-00-006. The next aircraft to appear were another six and here is where confusion reigns. I have Ar240A-01 and A-02 as 240-01-011 and 012: these are aircraft built to the same standard as the final two prototypes V-5 and V-6 with DB601 engines. Then comes Ar240A-03 and A-04 (204-01-013 and 014) which were long-wing versions with DB603 - to become known as Ar440s but there were no separate construction numbers. Then came aircraft A-05 and A-06, and the existence of these is disputed. However, as the intention was to try three different development lines and the remaining one was with the DB605, these aircraft can be identified as the V-7 and V-8. They can also be identified as 240-01-015 and 016.

This suggests that the identities 240-00-007 to 010 were never applied to any airframes - whether this adds credence to the version that initially has an order for ten examples, I can't say. However, I understand that one pilot's log book does include a reference to 009 - at a time when this could not be the V-9.

Finally there came the V-9 (240-01-0017) and V10 (240-01-018), with the V10 also being referred to as the Ar440V1.

This version of the history is based on a production list from an unidentified source passed to me by Manfred Griehl, and also depends heavily on the work of Heinz Mankau.

PS. There is a reference to A-05 being passed to Daimler Benz for trials, which could be consistent with it being the first example with DB605s (and hence V-7). However, I wrote to DB about this and they replied stating that they knew of no such trials.