Ju-87 salvaged off Rhodes Island

[georgeGR]

Ju-87 STUKA salvaged in Rhodes Island
A JU-87 (possibly - but not yet verified- S7+GM, werk number 100375) was salvaged today off Rhodes Island by the Hellenic Air Force Underwater Operations Team.

The aircraft is in fairly good condition, but the tail and engine are missing. Currently, specialised technicians of the HAF Museum are undergoing the urgently required restoration works before transporting it to Dhekeleia Air Base.

Please visit the (Greek section) of the HAF official site:
www.haf.gr for further details and some first pictures!!

[VtwinVince]

Thanks for posting this. I lived on Rhodes, and heard that a JU 52 is located off the south end of the island, and dates from the 1943 encounters between German and Italian forces.

[georgeGR]

Attached more pics from the salvaged Stuka.

The full story will appear soon in English in the HAF official site:

www.haf.gr

[steve sheridan]

Great pictures GeorgeGr ,
Just out of interest, and not being able to read Greek, does anybody have the usual loss details of this a/c?
Rgs,
Steve.

[DaveM2]

Steve

Ju 87D-3/Trop WNr.100375, coded S7+GM (white G), Lt. Rolf Metzger & Uffz. Hans Sopnemann, both MIA 9.Oct. 43 after being shot down by enemy fighters.
That is of course if the wreck turns out to be what it is thought!
Anyone have anything further...what was the nature of the mission that day and so on?

Dave

[georgeGR]

Attached some pics from the salvage

Please visit the HAF official site on Monday for further details (in English)

www.haf.gr

[RT]

Just a question, the ballons we see in the pictures seems not so big, how could they lift the plane ?? is there some other devices ??

remi

[steve sheridan]

Hi DaveM2,
Many thanks for posting the loss details on Ju87 W.Nr 100375 S7+GM.
Ive looked but haven't found any details surrounding the loss of this a/c,
or the exact circumstances surrounding its fate, hopefully somebody with the RLM loss files, could maybe fill us in with the remainder?
Best Regs,
Steve.

[georgeGR]

If you only think that the a/c weights (empty) less than 3 tons, the lifting bags that the HAF Underwater Ops Team used to lift her were more than adequate to generate the lifting power required, in spite the fact that one wing was semi-burried onto the sand.

[Jan Bobek]

I feel sorry for the crew, but the fact that Stuka was found is exciting.

Just reading John Stanaway´s Osprey P-38 ETO/MTO aces. On October 9, 1943 two flights of 37th FS/14th FG attacked large formation of Stuka off Rhodes. Americans claimed 16 Ju 87s and 1 Ju 88 (pathfinder?) including Maj. Bill Leverette who claimed 7-0-2 of Ju 87: best ace in a day (in a mission?) in USAF WW II.

It seems that there was no fighter escort on German side. It should be JG 27, but apparently did not take a part in this mission.

Stanaway says that Germans lost 8 Ju 87s. Can someone add details + the Ju 88?