Warbird Information Exchange

The aircraft looks remarkably complete!

I sure hope she comes up.

Cheers,
Richard

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Richard Mallory Allnutt - Photography - http://www.rmallnutt.com

Ok, this prompts a whole lot of WOW... I think the biggest piece of a Dornier 17 currently extant is just a nose glazing frame. This would be an absolutely MASSIVE coup if they can bring it up and get her restored.

What's the depth and water quality around that area- is it fresh, brackish, etc?

Please, PLEASE let this one be intact when they bring her up!

Lynn

I sure hope they can bring it up intact. To me it appears inverted, and with the sand bar aft of the tail, it would also indicate a hard sand bottom with a serious current.

I would think this would add to corrosion and the much greater challenge in salvage.

Pirate Lex
http://www.BrewsterCorsair.com

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An ego is no match for gravity.

looks flipped over to me also. this could be extra good news as to submerged preservation. i'm anxious to hear of it's depth as well. how was it found??

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tom d. friedman - hey!!! those fokkers were messerschmitts!! * without ammunition, the usaf would be just another flying club!!! * better to have piece of mind than piece of tail!!

I would imagine this could be quite a tricky recovery. It looks intact on the sonar, but, iI would think there would be a lot of corrosion there - the Goodwin Sands are not known for their placidness......

I sure hope they're able to bring that up without it falling apart on them during the uplift. We need at least one example of the "flying pencil" to preserve for posterity. It might already be too late to make anything other than a replica from the mass of gooey cardboard that lies there.

It's inverted. That's the bomb bay you can see.

Regarding other remnants, there are a couple of rudders, IIRC, and as was pointed out to me in a previous thread, there's a large piece of rear fuselage of another Dornier in store at the Italian Air Force Museum.

The Goodwins have salt water on sand, high tides, major water movements.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodwin_Sands

About the only good bit of the project is that a coffer dam may be possible (my guess only) and the wreck will be shallow.

But great news, fingers crossed for the project.

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

This shows the importance of an area that is not fished (or more correctly cannot be fished). There would have been hundreds like this in the channel and North Sea but beam trawling across the sea bed for 50 odd years would have wrecked anything else.

http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h ... 29,r:1,s:0

One question though - two crew were killed in the ditching so would it not be classed as a war grave?
Suppose they might find the families and get permission?

Besides that, a very important German aircraft of which there are no complete examples. always hoped one would be found in Russia.

Mark

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

Mark

Haven't studied the crash closely as yet, but I assume the killed crew were washed ashore and were recovered soon after, so no remains in the wreck now?
Supposedly one has been found in Russia in a 'dead lake', (a known ditching apart from exact location) however last I heard those that 'discovered' it were awaiting official permission to recover-haven't heard anything further for some time though, via an Estonian friend of a Russian friend etc, etc...

If the UK example is anything like the Anzio P-40 it will be a great effort and well worth it.

Dave

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Dave

Totally agree Dave - it was just the two fatalities that was my issue.

As for the Russian one, that would be nice. Does Boris know about it?

Helldiver is looking a lot better than everyone expected. Still corrsion but still restorable.

regards

Mark

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'Coups De Foudre'
(511FS, 405FG watering hole), St Dizier, France 1944/45

I'd wonder about an ordnance that might be on it. I would assume by the condition that it ditched an I'd assume the crew or some of the crew was able to get out. But it is very cool to see there is 1 (and maybe 2) that can be recovered and put on display.

Tim

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www.tailhookstudio.com

Fox news is reporting that a DO-17 has been discovered off of the English coast, and is in pretty good shape.

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Chris Henry
EAA Aviation Museum Manager

Funny this morning the headline on Fox news was "Nazi jet" found I see they changed it now to "Nazi bomber" Didn't realize they were jet powered. http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2010/09/ ... n-england/

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There are only two types of aircraft -- fighters and targets

Ha ha ha.

Meanwhile over on Channel WIX: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=37545

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James K

"Switch on the underwater landing lights"
Emilio Largo, Thunderball.

www.VintageAeroWriter.com

I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed regarding her condition -- I too fear that she may just be pile of rust that resembles a Dornier 17 and that she'll crumble when touched, but then I remember the Hellenic Air Force Museum Ju-52 and Italian P-40 sea water recoveries. My toes are starting to cramp.