Dornier 17-Z, Goodwin Sands, 26 August 1940

[Chris Goss]

Just back from Ramsgate and for those interested:

- They have not run out of money
- They have managed to suck out sand from the main body and around the engines but not the wing tips.
- There is no evidence of human remains
- There is no evidence of unexploded ordnance.
- There are no guns (strange?)
- They have recovered a number of items including bomb racks, armour plated seat, drift calculator and ammo drums which are already at Cosford.
- The plane appears to have hit the sea tail first as the tailwheel is rammed up into the fuselage.
- German Press have tracked down Effmert's family so he did not stay in Wales. Apparently his first wife died during the war, he remarried in the 70s/80s but died a number of years ago. Step daughter knows nothing about his wartime career. All attempts to trace relatives of the other 3 have failed.

Finally, 2 attempts to lift it (yesterday and today) failed to start due to the sea state; no news for certain when the next attempt will be