An attempt is being made to raise the only known complete Dornier Do17 WW2 bomber from the bed of the English Channel, where it has laid since being shot down in 1940.
Work begins on Friday to raise a unique World War II aircraft from the floor of the English Channel just off the Kent coast. The Dornier 17 aircraft is the last of its kind, and lies in 50ft of water on the Goodwin Sands. The salvage is just the start of a two-year restoration project by the RAF Museum in Hendon.
more than 70 years on from the great air battles that saved Britain, not a single Dornier 17 was thought to have survived.
Then five years ago, a diver discovered the wreck of a plane, lying on its back in 50ft of water on the Goodwin Sands. Subsequent surveys confirmed it was a Dornier 17, and almost complete.
The RAF Museum resolved to salvage it and put it on display at its Hendon base. To do so its raised half a million pounds, including £345,000 from the National Heritage Memorial Fund.
Chris Goss, a military aircraft historian, says the find is "fantastic historically".
"This aircraft is going to be the only one of its type in existence in the world. There are little bits and pieces - the RAF Museum have a tail section, for one. But this aircraft is complete and therefore its price from a historical viewpoint is invaluable."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22380915
