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German second world war Dornier 17 bomber lifted from the Channel German second world war Dornier 17 bomber lifted from the Channel
(4 months later)
A German second world war bomber which was shot down off the coast of Kent more than 70 years ago was lifted on Monday from its watery grave in what is believed to be the biggest recovery of its kind in British seas.A German second world war bomber which was shot down off the coast of Kent more than 70 years ago was lifted on Monday from its watery grave in what is believed to be the biggest recovery of its kind in British seas.
Strong winds have been hampering plans to lift the Dornier 17 plane, one of the three types of German bomber that pounded England during the summer of 1940.Strong winds have been hampering plans to lift the Dornier 17 plane, one of the three types of German bomber that pounded England during the summer of 1940.
The wreckage is believed to be the most significant surviving artefact from the Battle of Britain.The wreckage is believed to be the most significant surviving artefact from the Battle of Britain.
When conditions at sea improved on Monday experts working for the RAF Museum were able to hoist the aircraft's remains from the Channel, where it lay in an area known as Goodwin Sands.When conditions at sea improved on Monday experts working for the RAF Museum were able to hoist the aircraft's remains from the Channel, where it lay in an area known as Goodwin Sands.
Pieces which fell from the relic as it was lifted on to a recovery vessel will be retrieved by divers in coming days.Pieces which fell from the relic as it was lifted on to a recovery vessel will be retrieved by divers in coming days.
The plane crash-landed in the sandbank, off Deal in Kent, and was swallowed by the seabed – only to be exposed again five years ago. Its existence became known when divers spotted it on a chalk bed at a depth of around 15 metres (50 ft).The plane crash-landed in the sandbank, off Deal in Kent, and was swallowed by the seabed – only to be exposed again five years ago. Its existence became known when divers spotted it on a chalk bed at a depth of around 15 metres (50 ft).
It will be sent to the museum's base at Cosford, Shropshire, for two years of work to "conserve and stabilise" the remains.It will be sent to the museum's base at Cosford, Shropshire, for two years of work to "conserve and stabilise" the remains.
The team last attempted to lift the aircraft on 2 June but bad weather thwarted the attempt when a sudden increase in winds made the sea too choppy.The team last attempted to lift the aircraft on 2 June but bad weather thwarted the attempt when a sudden increase in winds made the sea too choppy.
Peter Dye, director general of the museum, said before the lift: "We have adapted the lifting frame design to minimise the loads on the airframe during the lift while allowing the recovery to occur within the limited time remaining.Peter Dye, director general of the museum, said before the lift: "We have adapted the lifting frame design to minimise the loads on the airframe during the lift while allowing the recovery to occur within the limited time remaining.
"The RAF Museum has worked extremely closely with SeaTech [the dive company] throughout this process and both organisations remain determined to complete this challenging task and see the Dornier safely recovered as planned and delivered to the museum's conservation centre for preservation and public exhibition.""The RAF Museum has worked extremely closely with SeaTech [the dive company] throughout this process and both organisations remain determined to complete this challenging task and see the Dornier safely recovered as planned and delivered to the museum's conservation centre for preservation and public exhibition."
The Dornier 17 – nicknamed the Luftwaffe's "flying pencil" because of its narrow fuselage – was part of a group of German bombers targeting airfields in Kent on 26 August 1940.The Dornier 17 – nicknamed the Luftwaffe's "flying pencil" because of its narrow fuselage – was part of a group of German bombers targeting airfields in Kent on 26 August 1940.
The plane became separated from its formation and was damaged by gunfire, possibly from RAF fighters but potentially from German escort planes.The plane became separated from its formation and was damaged by gunfire, possibly from RAF fighters but potentially from German escort planes.
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