London - In the skies over Britain in the summer of 1940, the German Dornier 17 was an all too familiar sight.
But few examples of the Battle of Britain bomber survived the fall of Nazi Germany and some 70 years later military historians say there is only one left.
That unique aircraft has finally been raised from the bottom of the English Channel in the biggest salvage operation of its kind in British waters.
It will eventually be restored and go on display as an “evocative and moving” reminder of the young men of both sides who lost their lives in the battle for air supremacy in 1940. The wreck was salvaged from 50ft of water on Goodwin Sands, off the Deal coast in Kent, after a three week delay because of strong winds. Despite being shot down and spending more than 70 years under the sea, it is said to be in remarkable condition.
It crashed after being attacked by RAF Hurricane fighters on August 26, 1940, at the height of the Battle of Britain. Two of its four-man crew were killed and the other two became prisoners of war.
The Do 17 – nicknamed the “flying pencil” because of its narrow fuselage – was one of the principal bombers used by the Luftwaffe in the early years of the war, including during the Blitz.
The recovery of the aircraft from the seabed is a £600 000 project by the RAF museum in North London. Its team were able to raise the aircraft by placing metal cables around the strongest part of the frame and lifting it whole.
Peter Dye of the RAF Museum, said: “The discovery and recovery of the Dornier is of national and international importance. The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.
“It 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. It is a project that has reconciliation and remembrance at its heart.”
Experts say that apart from being covered with barnacles and teeming with marine life, the Dornier is largely intact. The undercarriage tyres remain inflated although the propellers were damaged when the aircraft crashed.
Chris Goss, a writer on the Luftwaffe, said the discovery of the planes was a “fantastic find”.
He said: “This aircraft is going to be the only one of its type in existence. This aircraft is complete and therefore its price from a historical viewpoint is invaluable.” The aircraft was found at Goodwin Sands by divers in 2008.
Sonar scans by the RAF Museum, Wessex Archaeology and the Port of London Authority confirmed its identity.
The recovery was backed by a National Heritage Memorial Fund grant of £345 000.
A two-year restoration will take place at the RAF Museum’s site in Cosford, Shropshire, and it will later go on display at the RAF Museum in Hendon, North London.
The aircraft was called the ‘flying pencil’ because of its slim fuselage.
It was meant to be a light bomber – fast enough to outrun enemy fighters – but that didn’t stop the RAF destroying more than 200 of them during the Battle of Britain and the Blitz.
Two Dorniers flew with the RAF after fleeing the kingdom of Yugoslavia in 1941. They had been part of a flight ordered from Germany in 1936.
The Do 17 carried 2,200lbs of bombs and had a top speed of 250mph.
It had self-sealing fuel tanks. They reduced the risk of fire, and often enabled the aircraft to get back to base despite being badly shot up.
Around 1 700 were built. - Daily Mail