Dornier 17 found

s_morrison57 · 04-08-2011, 01:25 PM

sorry can't post a link but they found this converted German bomber from the Battle of Britan, intact and the only one left, The pilot and one other crew member survived, I wonder if they are still alive, that would be a good story to hear. Its in 50 ft. of water and they are going to raise and restore it.

imcarthur · imcarthur's Garage

BBC Link

and Another

It was on the BBC site this morning but got bumped by the sub shooting.

Ian

john70t · 04-08-2011, 03:24 PM

More "found" stories here: Abandoned Plane Wrecks of the North

There is a sad documentary about one dedicated guy who worked like heck for two years in Greenland to get the B-29"Kee Bird" back in the air, only to have a disaster upon takeoff.

Joe Bob · Joe Bob's Garage

The Finns flew them as airliners into the 50s......if they were so valuable they shoulda saved one then.....

john70t · 04-08-2011, 03:43 PM

There were 3,400 B-17s produced, but I think there are only 13 flyable left in the world.
Once it's gone, it's gone.

RPKESQ · 04-08-2011, 03:55 PM

It was never really "lost". It was a known crash and was just covered with sand many years ago. It was just recently (last September) uncovered by winter storms.

The Dornier Do 17 was publicly designed as a fast mail plane capable of carrying a few passengers. But secretly it was designed as a high speed bomber for the still embryonic Lufwaffe.

Joeaksa · 04-08-2011, 04:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by john70t

More "found" stories here: Abandoned Plane Wrecks of the North

There is a sad documentary about one dedicated guy who worked like heck for two years in Greenland to get the B-29"Kee Bird" back in the air, only to have a disaster upon takeoff.

It was their stupidity that cost them the airplane. In a rush to get going they had the ground power unit in the back of the aircraft catch fire, which then set the entire airplane on fire and everything was lost. They then lost (simply left behind) a trove of other spares and equipment, not to mention the remains of the airplane that was still restoreable from the tail forwards.

I know a couple of people who were on the expedition and they were ready to strangle the idiot in charge. In the end a lot of us wish they had as it cost the world a flyable B-29.

Rednine11 · 04-08-2011, 07:45 PM

Joe
PLEASE tell us more about the B29
I might be wrong but wasnt that a ditch found in a glacier and they got it running to fly off, but she caught fired and was lost...........so sad
B29 is a work of art

john70t · 04-08-2011, 08:02 PM

O.k. Joe. The movie was worth watching, but themed around one man's time and money and dedication and struggle against time and the elements.
It apparently omitted the ego and bad decisions parts.

Mrmerlin · 04-08-2011, 08:32 PM

what happened was the fuel tank on the GPU was a rigged bottle while the plane was taixing the bottle came loose and spilled gas into the floor this then lit and the rest is history

Joeaksa · 10:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrmerlin

what happened was the fuel tank on the GPU was a rigged bottle while the plane was taixing the bottle came loose and spilled gas into the floor this then lit and the rest is history

Bingo! They were in such a rush to get things going that they jury rigged the fuel supply to the ground power unit in the back of the airplane. It caught fire and took the tail of the airplane with it.

Guy in charge walked away and left the rest of the airplane sitting there instead of protecting it for salvage or recovery. Sad to see...

Edit, for more info see: http://wikimapia.org/10027185/B-29-Kee-Bird-Wreckage