HISTORY

with the sonar aid and confirmed it was almost complete. Missing parts were the

fuselage tail cone with tail wheel, complete right side of the tail surfaces assembly

and left vertical tail surface, landing flaps, engine covers, fuselage nose glazing,

bomb bay and landing gear doors. Landing gear itself was still in wheel wells with

tyres still inflated. Despite keeping the wreck location secret „sport divers“ got to it

and removed two of its six machine guns. The preparations for the wreck recovery

started with the participation of RAF Museum, Wessex Archeology company and

London Port Authority. The proposed budget was 600,000 GBP, National Heritage

Memorial Fund contributed more than half of it.The first recovery attempt in May

2013 was spoilt by the weather but on June 10, 2013 first time after 73 years, Dornier

surfaced. It was hanging on the crane in the air for a while-it was its last flight.

Then in was loaded on the barge. Next day the divers scanned the sea bottom

and still recovered several pieces that had been separated from the airframe, for

instance a propeller, wing and engine parts. The wreck was then transported to

the RAF Museum in Cosford where they separated the fuselage from the wings.

After that, in order to stop corrosion, all parts were stored in the large bathtubs

were they were sprayed with citric acid and other compounds on the regular basis.

This lasted for two years followed by the lengthy process of the wreck restoration

which continues until these days. Initial plans to exhibit Dornier in the RAF Museum in London were abandoned. During the restoration it turned out that several

parts of the airframe are too fragile and the aircraft might not survive the transportation. Therefore it will remain in Cosford after the restoration is completed.

Sources:

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/documents/Cosford/Dornier17/Dornier-Do17Z-Wnr-1160.pdf

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-22846645

https://museumcrush.org/how-the-raf-museum-is-conserving-the-worlds-last-remaining-world-war-two-dornier-bomber/

https://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/cosford/things-to-see-and-do/dornier-17-conservation/dornier-17-conservation.aspx

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/8438608/Luftwaffe-Dornier-DO-17-The-Flying-Pencil-that-became-a-weapon-of-war.html

https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/attractions/2019/05/01/rare-german-dornier-bomber-staying-put-at-raf-cosford/

http://falkeeins.blogspot.com/2010/09/dornier-do-17-wreck-recovery.html

https://www.battleofbritain1940.net/0030.html

Do 17Z from KG2 after an emergency landing. Judging by the yellow band in front of the tail surfaces the aircraft belongs to an Eastern Front unit in 1941.

After 73 years Dornier Do 17Z-2 W.Nr. 1160 is emerging from the sea.

INFO Eduard - March 2021

eduard

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