WWII German bomber to be recovered from Goodwin Sands

Steyr

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-11174324

3 September 2010

WWII German bomber to be recovered from Goodwin Sands

A rare German WWII bomber which has been buried in a sandbank off the Kent coast for the past 70 years is to be raised, it has been announced.

The twin-engined Dornier 17 was shot down over Goodwin Sands, near Deal, during the Battle of Britain.

The Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum said it had worked with Wessex Archaeology to survey the site since the bomber emerged from the sands two years ago.

It will go on display at the museum in London once it has been recovered.

A spokeswoman for the RAF said the aircraft was part of an enemy formation which was attempting to attack airfields in Essex when it was intercepted on 26 August 1940.

'Unprecedented survivor'

The bomber's pilot, Willi Effmert, carried out a successful wheels-up landing on Goodwin Sands but the plane sank.

Mr Effmert and another crew member were captured but two other men died.

The aircraft, nicknamed the flying pencil, is said to be largely intact with its main undercarriage tyres inflated and its propellers showing crash damage.

Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, director general of the RAF Museum, said: "The discovery of the Dornier is of national and international importance.

"The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from the Battle of Britain.

"It is particularly significant because, as a bomber, it formed the heart of the Luftwaffe assault and the subsequent Blitz."

He added: "The Dornier will provide an evocative and moving exhibit that will allow the museum to present the wider story of the Battle of Britain and highlight the sacrifices made by the young men of both air forces and from many nations."

Work to prepare the Dornier for display at the Battle of Britain Beacon project will be carried out at the RAF Museum's conservation centre in Cosford, Shropshire.

The museum, with the support of English Heritage and the Ministry of Defence, is drawing up a plan to recover the aircraft.

tac foley

Well, that will be VERY interesting to see when it eventually gets raised and stuffed and mounted.

I'm not too sure about the comment 'He added: "The Dornier will provide an evocative and moving exhibit that will allow the museum to present the wider story of the Battle of Britain and highlight the sacrifices made by the young men of both air forces and from many nations."

As far as I'm concerned the nazi aggressors, intent on the destruction of this nation's military forces, its way of life and the enslavement of its entire population [with you guys next] got what was coming to them.

Sacrifices WERE made by the 'Few', in spite of all the efforts of the opposition 'Many'.

My $0.02

tac

cyrusdvirus

tac foley wrote: »

Well, that will be VERY interesting to see when it eventually gets raised and stuffed and mounted.

I'm not too sure about the comment 'He added: "The Dornier will provide an evocative and moving exhibit that will allow the museum to present the wider story of the Battle of Britain and highlight the sacrifices made by the young men of both air forces and from many nations."

As far as I'm concerned the nazi aggressors, intent on the destruction of this nation's military forces, its way of life and the enslavement of its entire population [with you guys next] got what was coming to them.

Sacrifices WERE made by the 'Few', in spite of all the efforts of the opposition 'Many'.

My $0.02

tac

Tac, fair enough, but the majority of those killed on both sides in ANY legal conflict are just following orders. Not all Luftwaffe pilots were Nazi's, and i think that that's the distinction the commentator is making

BlaasForRafa

tac foley wrote: »

Well, that will be VERY interesting to see when it eventually gets raised and stuffed and mounted.

I'm not too sure about the comment 'He added: "The Dornier will provide an evocative and moving exhibit that will allow the museum to present the wider story of the Battle of Britain and highlight the sacrifices made by the young men of both air forces and from many nations."

As far as I'm concerned the nazi aggressors, intent on the destruction of this nation's military forces, its way of life and the enslavement of its entire population [with you guys next] got what was coming to them.

Sacrifices WERE made by the 'Few', in spite of all the efforts of the opposition 'Many'.

My $0.02

tac

Not all germans were nazis, in fact evidence of nazism amongst pilots is pretty low. Most airmen were just doing their duty for their country just like on the british side. They fought hard and deserve the same recognition as any RAF airman.

cyrusdvirus

BlaasForRafa wrote: »

Not all germans were nazis, in fact evidence of nazism amongst pilots is pretty low. Most airmen were just doing their duty for their country just like on the british side. They fought hard and deserve the same recognition as any RAF airman.

OI!!! Quit nicking my argument!!!

tac foley

Gentlemen, I'm afraid that I will have to disagree with your sentiments.

nazis or staunch catholics, they were the aggressors in an unprovoked war of annihilation, intent on invading this country, after having already achieved that aim in much of Europe, and having invaded, enslaving the population and destroying some of it in the process. You were going to be next, and your armed forces would have been made into mincemeat.

As a Jew, none of my family would have survived their death camps, and I would not be here today.

In my book, defenders make sacrifices, attackers in an unprovoked war of annihilation do not.

I'm out of this thread.

tac

axer

tac foley wrote: »

Gentlemen, I'm afraid that I will have to disagree with your sentiments.

nazis or staunch catholics, they were the aggressors in an unprovoked war of annihilation, intent on invading this country, after having already achieved that aim in much of Europe, and having invaded, enslaving the population and destroying some of it in the process. You were going to be next, and your armed forces would have been made into mincemeat.

As a Jew, none of my family would have survived their death camps, and I would not be here today.

In my book, defenders make sacrifices, attackers in an unprovoked war of annihilation do not.

I'm out of this thread.

tac

Talk about simplifying the whole war with a narrow black and white viewpoint. I think you need to take a closer look at what happened. Ironically it was a spread black and white generalised viewpoint of the jews that made the holocaust possible in the first place.

All jews = evil
All german soldiers = evil

Same generalisations. Same ignorance of reality.

cyrusdvirus

axer wrote: »

Talk about simplifying the whole war with a narrow black and white viewpoint. I think you need to take a closer look at what happened. Ironically it was a spread black and white generalised viewpoint of the jews that made the holocaust possible in the first place.

All jews = evil
All german soldiers = evil

Same generalisations. Same ignorance of reality.

The man is entitled to his opinion, you may disagree with it, i may disagree with it, but considering he served under the British flag (Tac, that's not meant as a dig, i just don't think you mentioned what branch you served in) his opinion may be somewhat more indicative of the feeling across the water. Calling it ignorance of reality isn't all that helpful in fairness

enda1

axer wrote: »

Talk about simplifying the whole war with a narrow black and white viewpoint. I think you need to take a closer look at what happened. Ironically it was a spread black and white generalised viewpoint of the jews that made the holocaust possible in the first place.

All jews = evil
All german soldiers = evil

Same generalisations. Same ignorance of reality.

This thread was already Go(o)dwinned from the beginning, no need to compound the effort!!

axer

gatecrash wrote: »

The man is entitled to his opinion, you may disagree with it, i may disagree with it, but considering he served under the British flag (Tac, that's not meant as a dig, i just don't think you mentioned what branch you served in) his opinion may be somewhat more indicative of the feeling across the water. Calling it ignorance of reality isn't all that helpful in fairness

I am not denying the man his opinion. I am just strongly disagreeing with with. Black and white generalisations of german soldiers as all being evil is ignorance of reality since every soldier had their story to tell as to why they were in the war. German soldiers died bravely too and made ultimate sacrifices for their fellow soldiers.

BlaasForRafa

axer wrote: »

I am not denying the man his opinion. I am just strongly disagreeing with with. Black and white generalisations of german soldiers as all being evil is ignorance of reality since every soldier had their story to tell as to why they were in the war. German soldiers died bravely too and made ultimate sacrifices for their fellow soldiers.

Indeed. Added to that the fact that the British army conducted more aggressive wars of conquest than you could shake a stick at.