RAF Museum to raise Nazi bomber from the Channel

[Webb]

Digging history: RAF Museum set to raise Nazi bomber from English Channel

A British museum is about to haul 8 tons of history out of the English Channel -- the only remaining Nazi Dornier bomber from the World War II Blitz on London.

The plane, one of a formation of German Dornier Do-17 that Hitler sent to the southeast coast of England in his efforts to blast the country out of World War II, has sat in a shallow grave 60 feet under water since 1940.

It was lost for decades, buried beneath the time, the tides and the seafloor of Goodwin Sands, a large sandbank off the coast of Kent County, the last bit of rolling English countryside before Britain gives way to the straits of Dover, 20 or so miles of cold sea, and ultimately, France.

And conservationists battling the weather had hoped to lift the plane out as early as today. It's an historic restoration effort years in the making, said project manager Ian Thirsk, head of collections at the RAF Museum in England.

“We’re pretty much on tenterhooks. It’s very exciting,” Thirsk told foxnews.com. Unseasonable weather has delayed the actual lift, which will take a few hours and may occur as early as Sunday or Monday, with a decision due Saturday night.

“It’s been three years to plan this project, so the last stages are obviously critical,” he said.

Sidescan sonar images revealed the silhouette of the craft in 2008, as the shifting sands exposed the perfectly preserved plane for the first time. The Dornier’s very existence is remarkable: It’s a-one-of-a-kind piece of history, he said.

“There are no other Dornier 17s left that we’re aware of,” Thirsk told foxnews.com. “I really can’t stress enough how important this is.”

The Dornier’s rarity is an odd fact of the era: The hundreds of fighters that England shot down were smelted during the war and reused, ironically turned into British aircraft to continue the battle against the Germans ...

[ozzy72]

I've been closely following this, it'll be happening in the next couple of days. It'd be amazing if they can recover and put her on display (following a LOT of work) with the only remaining complete Stuka!

[Webb]

It never occurred to me that they would be dredged up and melted. There are so many shipwrecks off the eastern US coast it isn't worth the trouble to explore them unless they have treasure.

Now I wonder what happened to all of the Allied planes shot down over Europe. And what happened to the German planes shot down over Russia?

[Hagar]

It never occurred to me that they would be dredged up and melted. There are so many shipwrecks off the eastern US coast it isn't worth the trouble to explore them unless they have treasure.

The article is referring to enemy aircraft (not all fighters) shot down over mainland Britain. These would have been comparatively easy to salvage. Most of the aircraft shot down over the sea are still there. They didn't have the resources to locate & recover them.

Here's a photo of an aircraft graveyard "somewhere in England". At least one Do 17 type is visible.

Now I wonder what happened to all of the Allied planes shot down over Europe. And what happened to the German planes shot down over Russia?

I expect much the same goes for them due to the shortage of raw materials. Aircraft lost over the more remote areas of the former Soviet Union are still being recovered. An old friend of mine specialised in this work for many years. http://www.warbirdfinders.co.uk/

[Fozzer]

...latest...>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22721897

Paul.

[ozzy72]

Word has it they're raising her tonight!

[Hagar]

Just announced on Radio 2 News that the salvage attempt has been delayed for at least a week due to bad weather.

[expat]

Just announced on Radio 2 News that the salvage attempt has been delayed for at least a week due to bad weather.

In that case I would think that it is going to stay at the bottom. It was reported that unless someone comes along with quite a bit of cash the project is dead in the water. The drivers and barges are booked for other work as of tomorrow and the Hendon is out of cash. I really hope that a savoir is found

Matt

[C]

Therein lies a tough call: leave her at the bottom to disintegrate and be lost forever, or maybe accept it cannot be salvaged intact. It isn't a war grave, so better a wreck on land, than lost forever beneath the sea. You can do something with a wreck. The other, you can't.

[ozzy72]

A quick update!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22791545

[MASABI TROOPER]

OOPS;........That´s going to be a very rusty thing...................i am shure that there are more and better alternatives for the museum outside the channel.....

Trooper

[Fozzer]

..talking about under-water "stuff", have a peek at this slide show...>>>

http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/photo ... 434187.htm

Paul.... ...!

[expat]

That was a cracking website. One or two skulls too many, but very interesting.

Matt

[C]

They've done it!

[Fozzer]

I could be fooled, but there doesn't seem to be much left of it!.... ...>>>>

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22846645

Paul.