FW-190D “Dora”

The Focke‑Wulf FW-190D “Dora” was one of the Luftwaffe’s most formidable late‑war fighters. Developed as the inline‑engine evolution of the successful radial‑engined FW 190A, the Dora incorporated a liquid‑cooled Junkers Jumo 213A V‑12 engine—capable of up to 2,240 hp with MW‑50 boost—an elongated nose and refined aerodynamics that earned it the popular nickname “Long‑Nose Dora.” The D‑series improved high‑altitude performance and forward visibility, making it a potent opponent over the Western Front in 1944–45.

These TransportTags are made from metal recovered from an original FW-190D upper flap. The flap most closely matches an early D‑9 production pattern rather than later D‑11/D‑12 variants: construction details such as the all‑metal upper skin and internal fittings align with early D‑9 manufacture. The flap was sourced from an avid WWII aviation historian and European collector who recovered it near a German/Dutch border town, where it had been repurposed for decades as a shed roof. While coated in roofing tar when found, that covering paradoxically sealed and protected the outer skin, preserving original green camouflage and markings beneath in exceptionally good condition. It was a painstaking process to remove the tar in a way that did not damage the paint beneath.

The flap’s all‑green finish and the recovery location strongly suggest an association with Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG‑26), which operated FW 190s over the Channel and Western Front in late 1944–45; artifacts recovered in that border region frequently trace back to air combat, forced landings or crash sites from that period. Each tag contains genuine material from the conserved FW-190D flap and retains visible traces of original paint and mounting details, offering a direct, tangible link to the Dora and to WWII aeronautical history.