At least 11 Focke Wolf FW 190s exist in museums worldwide.
Four of these are Fw 190 Ds, and all are in the United States, including one at the U.S. Air Force museum at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH., and one here at NASM.
The Focke-Wulf D, nicknamed “Dora.” It has a long nose due to its inline engine.
This aircraft is extremely rare. To my knowledge, I am not aware of any that are still flying.
The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 D-13/R11 “Yellow 10” (Serial Number 836017) has had a rather remarkable history: it is now the only authentic surviving Fw 190 D-13 in the world.
Its post-war history
Delivered to the Luftwaffe in March 1945.
Assigned to the commander of JG 26, Major Franz Götz.
Captured by the Allies at the end of the war and transferred to the United States for evaluation under the number FE-118.
Later donated to the Georgia Institute of Technology, where it ended up being stored and then neglected for several years.
Purchased in 1972 by collector Doug Champlin, who sent it to Germany for a major restoration carried out with the help of Art Williams’ team and even the Fw 190’s designer, Kurt Tank.
Subsequent restorations
After its return to the United States:
Displayed at the Champlin Fighter Museum (Arizona), which has since closed;
completely rebuilt in the early 2000s by Gosshawk Aviation;
subsequently displayed at the Museum of Flight;
finally transferred to Paul Allen’s collection, now known as the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum in Everett (Washington State).
Where is it today?
The aircraft is still housed in Everett, near Seattle, at the Flying Heritage & Combat Armor Museum. It has long been maintained in near-flight condition, but due to its extreme rarity, it is generally not flown.
Why is it so important?
The D-13 was a very rare variant of the Jumo 213-powered “Dora.” Few were built, and 836017 is the only known complete survivor. For aviation historians, it is one of the most valuable German World War II aircraft still in existence.
Interesting fact: the famous yellow “10” painted on the fuselage was Franz Götz’s lucky number, which explains the aircraft’s distinctive livery.
🎬Jerry Crandall Studios