Me 410 B-2/U4 WNr 710408

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello,

Is anything known about Me 410 B-2/U4 WNr 710408? I got the data plate of this Me 410 and was wondering if its history is known.

Regards
Roger Gaemperle

[George Hopp]

Steve Polyak also asked about the same aircraft on the LEMB site. No info on 710 408 was gleaned because it seems to fall outside the accepted range of Me 410 W.Nrs. The highest number below 710 408 ending at 710 406.

Possibly the thought that W.Nr. 710 406 was the highest number in the series of B-2/U4s was caused by the following: on 17 July 1944, Dornier sent out a message giving the numbers of ca. 50 B-2/U4s from 710 309 to 710 406 and stating that while it had harmonized the cannon of these aircraft to 900 or 1000 meters, they should now be harmonized to 800 meters. But, as more than 100 B-2/U4s were built or modified by Dornier, and the company was still churning them out in August, there was obviously at least one more Dornier production series that has not yet been unearthed. And it sounds like 710 408 is in that missing series.

Would it be possible for you to scan that data plate so we can see the actual W.Nr. and perhaps other info on this aircraft? It would really be appreciated.

All the best,
George

[Andy Saunders]

Here is a scan of the plate Roger mentioned.

[Peter Kassak]

could it be fake?
I did not see such a specific version description on a plane...but I did not see a lot of things does it originate from excavation???

[Andy Saunders]

Certainly not a fake, I can assure you! And not from excavation, either.

The plate originated from the collection of a former RAF Officer, presumably Intelligence, who kept this plate along with hundreds of others as his own war souvenirs.

[Peter Kassak]

sorry did not wanna interfere....
So the source is clear...and now, maybe it was just pre-prepared item...to wait for next a/c to go down from manufacturing line? Not even ordered a/c blocks, but already printed plates???
could this happen?

[Roger Gaemperle]

Hello George,

Thanks a lot for the information! I have checked LEMB. Very interesting. So, it seems at least to proof that there is a production series that is not documented yet.

Is there no accident report with a Me 410 B-2/U4 above 710406?

Regards
Roger Gaemperle

[ArtieBob]

IIRC, I have seen the detailed subtype information on other Messeschmitt plates. Yes, there is loss reporting of Me 410 above "408" in the 710xxx series.

Best regards,

Artie Bob

[George Hopp]

Thank you, Andy, for that scan of the 710 408 maker's plate. Can you read the 3 letters at the bottom of the plate, that ID the maker?

Roger, I'm not certain what Artie has in the way of crash reports on W.Nrs. beyond 710 408, but I have two incident reports:
710 473 - 18 Jul 44, test of new locking unit for the landing gear. (From Mankau/Petrick).
710 464 - Also 18 Jul 44, test of newly produced Me 410B with MK 103 installation by Tarnewitz. (From series of reports on development of the MK 103 installation for the Me 410). Hope this helps.

Incidently, Jerry Crandall has asked me to write a book on the Me 210/410 series, and I would really appreciate any notes on the use of the Me 410 in its anti-bomber role. Thanks.

All the best,
George

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi

I have incident reports for Me 410's with 7104xx series well above 710408

Regards,
Andreas B