Ju-87 Stuka found ...

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7817

Saw this over on the Hyperscale website this morning.

"After more than 70 years, you can still find something nice and rare...
In the Adriatic sea, near the Croatian coast, an Italian Ju-87R-2 Stuka, shot down in April 1941 was found.
Ju-87 is at a depth of 25m, while engine is at a depth of 11m. Plans are to raise her."

Sorry if this is old news? Photos below are from the link below.
http://vojnapovijest.vecernji.hr/u-moru ... ata-963200

Pat Carry · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2014 8:58 am

very kool! :drink3:

lmritger · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2014 10:12 am

The more I look at this, the more excited I get about the possibility of an airworthy Stuka rebuild at some point in the future. There is a LOT of really good material here- it will take a long time to desalinate this of course, but it's far more complete than the one at the Luftwaffe museum, and with care, could be used as a pattern for one (or more!) rebuilds.

Lynn

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 672

lmritger wrote:

The more I look at this, the more excited I get about the possibility of an airworthy Stuka rebuild at some point in the future. There is a LOT of really good material here- it will take a long time to desalinate this of course, but it's far more complete than the one at the Luftwaffe museum, and with care, could be used as a pattern for one (or more!) rebuilds.

Lynn

I guess it depends on who recovers it. The Italians or the Albanians?

It would be a good candidate to pattern for a new-build flying example. But I'm afraid it's going to end up like this P-40 in Italy.

Warbird Kid · **Posted:** Fri Sep 26, 2014 11:21 am

Or this JU-87 recovered and now on display in Greece. Is she inside yet at least?!?!

Dave Hadfield · **Joined:** Sun Sep 17, 2006 10:31 pm **Posts:** 1672

I disagree. After that long an immersion in warm salt water, I don't imagine any of the metal could be reused.

The aircraft would be useful as a pattern, and for historical purposes, but that's it.

However I would be very surprised if an intact Luftwaffe aircraft isn't in good condition in the anerobic layers of the Black Sea. That's the best preservation site in the world I think, other than perhaps a cave in a desert. The only unknown is the corrosion from dissolved hydrogen sulphide in that water.

But they have found Byzantine boats there with masts still standing, and they haven't even tapped the deep waters.

Dave

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2014 7:37 am

The Stuka is such a neat airplane. It's a shame a few reproductions couldn't have been commissioned when they were building those Yak-3s, and almost new build Zeros in Russia.

DoraNineFan · **Joined:** Fri Aug 12, 2005 3:37 pm **Posts:** 672

marine air wrote:

The Stuka is such a neat airplane. It's a shame a few reproductions couldn't have been commissioned when they were building those Yak-3s, and almost new build Zeros in Russia.

I believe the issue is the lack of complete factory drawings for any Ju-87 variant for an accurate reconstruction, which is why this relatively intact example would be IDEAL for a reverse-engineering effort. But I won't hold out hopes that Italy will let it go unless they get a good trade in return.

What could happen is an organization offers to fully restore the example for the museum in exchange for making a copy, similar to what was accomplished by the Me262 Stormbirds project.

hang the expense · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2014 2:46 pm

Warbird Kid wrote:

Or this JU-87 recovered and now on display in Greece. Is she inside yet at least?!?!

Now that bird would be the one to pattern of off.I never even knew that one existed. Very cool.

marine air · **Posted:** Sun Sep 28, 2014 8:33 pm

Since the Spanish continued construction of the JU-52 as the CASA 352, any chance the CASA folks have all the Junkers blueprints including the JU-87?

maxum96 · **Posted:** Mon Sep 29, 2014 12:17 pm

Dave Hadfield wrote:

I disagree. After that long an immersion in warm salt water, I don't imagine any of the metal could be reused.
The aircraft would be useful as a pattern, and for historical purposes, but that's it.

Exactly. Couldn't agree more.

bdk · **Joined:** Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am **Posts:** 11324

A little WD-40 or ACF-50 and she'll be as good as new!

You can't ever have too many of these recovered and preserved. They'll be unrecognizable soon.

VintageAviationNews · **Posted:** Fri Oct 03, 2014 7:17 am

We added the video.

Junkers Ju-87 Stuka Discovered Off Croatian Coast.

http://www.warbirdsnews.com/warbirds-ne ... coast.html

Scooby · **Joined:** Sun Apr 13, 2014 2:45 pm **Posts:** 142

Dave Hadfield wrote:

I disagree. After that long an immersion in warm salt water, I don't imagine any of the metal could be reused.

The aircraft would be useful as a pattern, and for historical purposes, but that's it.

However I would be very surprised if an intact Luftwaffe aircraft isn't in good condition in the anerobic layers of the Black Sea. That's the best preservation site in the world I think, other than perhaps a cave in a desert. The only unknown is the corrosion from dissolved hydrogen sulphide in that water.

But they have found Byzantine boats there with masts still standing, and they haven't even tapped the deep waters.

Dave

It would be great to see it used as a pattern though.

I am sure there is a useable Stuka that hasn't been discovered somewhere. Look at Paul Allen's Sturmovik? That was quite the find.

Chappie · **Joined:** Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:40 am **Posts:** 987

DoraNineFan wrote:

marine air wrote:

The Stuka is such a neat airplane. It's a shame a few reproductions couldn't have been commissioned when they were building those Yak-3s, and almost new build Zeros in Russia.

I believe the issue is the lack of complete factory drawings for any Ju-87 variant for an accurate reconstruction, which is why this relatively intact example would be IDEAL for a reverse-engineering effort. But I won't hold out hopes that Italy will let it go unless they get a good trade in return.

What could happen is an organization offers to fully restore the example for the museum in exchange for making a copy, similar to what was accomplished by the Me262 Stormbirds project.

I agree. I would love to see a few new build Stukas. I've had an affinity for that aircraft ever since I built the 1/48th scale Revell kit as a kid.

Chappie

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