Warbird Information Exchange

It went to Germany for display for a while I believe, Cees has more details as I remember he posted the answer to the same question on the old forum.

Dave

Yes the wreckage went to a German Museum, believe it or not...swapped for some uniforms if I'm correct.....
But Cees should be able to tell more !
As for years after 1995 Frank''s name was still on the Margraten Wall of the Missing. I wrote a letter to the ABMC asking why it had to take so long to change it. Never got any reply but in the meantime an 'asterix' is put with his name now indicating he has been found !

Paul

Ohoh, painful subject.


When the P-47 remains were advertised for sale in Aeroplane Monthly, and I contacted the man in charge he threw the phone down twice in as many weeks when I told him it needed to be put on display in Holland and serving as a memorial. He had a different opinion ($$$$$$$).

When with the Dutch Navy in early 2003 during the recovery of the Polish Lancaster, the vessel we were on had also carried out the recovery of the Jug and in the canteen a video of the recovery was lying around, within a few minutes we were watching it and saw it emerging from the lake in one piece and then the fuselage broke in two, heartbreaking.....

Cees

So where is it now and what is the condition ?

Dave

In the early '70s Air Classics had an article called "Harvesting the Zuyder Zee" which had pictures of an amazingly intact B-17 (named "Dinah Might") that came to light after one of the draining operations. I assume it was scrapped , but was anything from it saved?

_________________

All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

It's a myth that this B17 was recovered in perfect condition during the sixties/seventies. This B17 did exist but was found shortly after the war in complete condition after it had bellylanded in a high grass area where it had been hidden from view. AFAIK it was scrapped very soon after discovery. The olive drab paint had weathered down to almost an orange colour. During 1975 a very complete B24 was recovered but after recovery it was pulled to pieces and the wings destroyed using explosives. Only relative small parts of this aircraft are on show at Soesterberg. If only these aircraft had been saved.

Dave, the Jug is still in Germany and after what I have seen on photographs it is all piled on top of each other and not nearly resembling a complete P47 but more like a scrap heap.

Cees