Do 335 A-1 Air Ministry AM225 --> W.Nr. 240161?

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

I am trying to identify one of the two Do 335s that were given to the British. The first one is Do 335 A-10 W.Nr. 240112, but there are some conflicting information regarding the identity of the 2nd one.

Classic Publication states that it was W.Nr. 240161. I was unable to find a photo of that aircraft in its original German markings that would confirm its identity.

Does anybody know why Classic stated it is 240161? Are there any photos that show it in German markings?

Regards,

Roger

[GrafWolf]

Hello Roger!

240121 should be the correct Werksnummer of second Do 335.
Crashed on 13.12.1945.
Wrong thought?

Herzliche Grüsse aus Oberschwaben,

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello GrafWolf,

It cannot have been 240121 since that was a two-seater. The first British one was the two seater 240112, the second one was a single-seater.

Cheers,

Roger

[edNorth]

From what I see it had no Luftwaffe camo or W.Nr., if that is the unpainted one (with painted fins and cowling), USAAF Star and Bar marking overpainted with RAF roundel.

My notes only have two, second may never have had W.Nr.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-a...olors-1200.jpg

[Revi16]

Do 335 A-10 W.Nr. 240112 (Same aircraft?)
http://silverhawkauthor.com/images/s...35-A12-103.jpg
https://acesflyinghigh.files.wordpre.../do335-raf.jpg

[Roger Gaemperle]

Ed,

that is the aircraft I am referring to. Before US and later British markings were applied it may have had German markings incl the last 3 digits of its serial number m. But even if not, I could not find a photo that shows it without Allied markings.

Revi16, 240112 was the two-seater that was also given to the British. Its identity is confirmed, but the singleseater is unclear.

Roger

[Broncazonk]

According to Smith and Creek (Pg. 117-122 with many photos and profiles,) the two-seat variant was 240112.

The single-seat variant was an A-1, and in the verbatim was: "W.Nr. 24016?". (They provide seven photos of it, none of which show it in German livery.) The British registration was AM 225.

The Regnat text states that the aircraft was captured in an "unpainted" state: "except for areas of the cowling and the tail." (Pg. 171)

Photographs in the Smith, Creek and Hitchcock text suggests that the aircraft was not W.Nr. 240162. That aircraft was missing it's rear engine, and painted in German livery.

Best guess is: W.Nr. 240161.

Bronc

[RolandF]

Again we´re victim of uncertainty which Werknummern are allocated to Do335s like 2/1, 1/3, 14/18, 16/20 etc.etc. Candidates concerning the camouflage imho are 14/18 and 16/20. Afaik 14/18 broke apart when being moved due to the missing rear engine.
The missing rear engine is not the problem imo, because there were enough airframes and engines in Oberpfaffenhoffen to assemble a complete Do 335. And remember, the British were 2nd in line for the distribution of airworthy Do 335s. The best Do 335 airframes were shipped to the US excluding white 112 which was completed by the US, but ceded to the British. Hitchcock has 16/20 as WNr 240120, I have it as 240163, but this is a guess. I´m afraid we´ll never know.

Regards
RolandF

[Broncazonk]

The Heinz Nowarra text, Dornier DO 335 "Pfeil" (Schiffer, 48 pages, 1989) states:

"When the first American troops reached the Dornier works in Oberpfaffenhofen at the end of April, they found several A-1, four A-4 and several A-10 and A-12 planes there. Among them was the Do 335 A-12, factory number 240112. On September 7, 1945 it was flown to Rheims by Flight Lt. Taylor, [...] A second plane, factory number 240121, was flown repeatedly by both English and American pilots, and then likewise sent to England. [...] Factory number 240121 was destroyed on December 13, 1945." (Pg 26)

The Regnat text states that this aircraft (AM 225) was damaged (and later written off) after a nose wheel up landing at Merville (France.) (On the 12th or 13th.)

If 240121 has been confirmed as a 2-seater then perhaps Nowarra meant to write 240161? Is there a typo involved in this mystery?

(Note: If the Smith, Creek and Hitchcock text is indeed correct, then we have a clue as to what the W.Nr's of the 2/1, 1/3, 14/18, 16/20 aircraft were. The first digits are the last numbers of W.Nr. and the large digits are a model number, i.e: M18 and M20 in the B series.)

Bronc

[edNorth]

Originally Posted by Broncazonk

(Note: If the Smith, Creek and Hitchcock text is indeed correct, then we know what the W.Nr's of the 2/1, 1/3, 14/18, 16/20 aircraft were. The first digits are the last numbers of W.Nr. and the large digits are a model number, i.e: M18 and M20 in the B series.)
Bronc

No, these are Building Block Numbers, not connected to W.Nr.