Dornier 17-Z, Goodwin Sands, 26 August 1940

[Chris Goss]

Latest update: Most of the dismantling is complete and it will be moved to Cosford soon. Still no positive proof but they are still hunting for the evidence that this was 5K+AR so whatever you read in the Press in the coming days:
1. It is still not definitely 5K+AR
2. It was not definitely shot down by Desmond Hughes of 264 Sqn
3. It was not attacking Debden but Manston.
4. There is no evidence that they got lost in cloud as if you stand in the harbour at Ramsgate, the target is behind you and you could see where the planed ended up! The captured crew probably spun a yarn to their interrogators (who wouldn't!)
5. Any photo showing 3 crewmen (one has an eye patch) in front of a Do 17's nose does not show Effmert on the left but Willi Lüder who transferred to KG 28 and then 4/LG 1 and was taken POW 15 Aug 40 (one of the perils of illegally lifting photos from one of my books!)
6. There is no evidence that any of the crew baled out but what we can say is the pilot was still on board when it landed on the sea.
7. Correct me if I am wrong but Ste Trond was not changed to Ste Truiden after the war-it has always had the French and Flemmish names?

More to come!

[ClinA-78]

Sint-Truiden (the official name now) or Saint-Trond is still the same in Belgium, depending if you are in the Flemish-speaking part or in the French-speaking part.

All the best with the "after recovery"

ClinA-78

[Joe Potter]

One very small piece of info, the body Gefr Heinz Huhn was recovered from the sea off Whitstable, where he was originally buried on 29.08.1940
Joe

[Peter Cornwell]

Quite so Joe, and that of the Bordfunker Uffz Helmut REINHARDT came ashore in The Netherlands and was buried at Den Burg on 27 Sep 1940. But, until the question of the Dornier's identity is finally resolved, we are still getting ahead of ourselves

[Andy Saunders]

News just recently that Wargaming.net, no doubt frustrated and exasperated by their Burmese Spitfire hunt, have now stepped up to the plate and tipped in some significant funding. The Dornier is now surrounded by Wargaming.net banners as "Proud sponsors of Dornier 17 project".

Nothing wrong with commercial sponsorship, per se, but I am not sure why I feel slightly uncomfortable in seeing rather garish Wargaming banners and logos associated with an important heritage object for a national museum, and a national museum that carries with it the prestige of the Royal Air Force. But it might just be me! And at least Wargaming may have saved the day.

[AndreasB]

True. Beggars can't be choosers I guess.

What are the plans for restoration? Full restoration or more like the Halifax at RAF Hendon?

All the best

Andreas

[Chris Goss]

Like the Halifax and Hurricane

[KrisJG3]

http://falkeeins.blogspot.de/2013/06...ier-do-17.html

[Bf 110]

Hello,

I've found some photographs of the restoration here: http://forums.airshows.co.uk/viewtopic.php?f=10&t=52618.

Regards,
Bf 110

[Phil Lloyd]

Regarding the landing of 5K+AR, there is a fascinating description of a landing made by a ditching Dornier 17Z crew in Alfred Price's book 'The Hardest Day'. The crew had been part of the 9th Staffel's low level attack on Kenley on 18th August and after being attacked over Surrey on the return leg by a Hurricane (and similarly to 5K+AR had lost an engine in the action) was forced to ditch in mid-Channel as they returned to Beauvais.

I have quoted the passage below, 'Battle of Britain - The Hardest Day' Alfred Price , 1979.

Pilot Guenther Unger, 9/KG76 - 18/8/1940

"The water pressure smashed in the glass nose and I received a blow in the face that shook me. I held my breath and opend my eyes, but could not see anything because of the air bubbles in the swirling water. Now I had to release myself quickly, because I was already submerged. I felt for the buckle to release my straps but I could not get to it: the control column was jammed hard against my stomach and I was unable to push it forwards"
The pilot strained against it with every muscle, but the control column refused to budge. Slowly the tail of the Dornier rose and the machine slid under the waves, taking the struggling Unger with it. A sudden numbing fear of death swept over him. Then it passed and he found he was able to think with great clarity and calmness.
"I was still holding my breath, I had not swallowed a single drop of water. I kept thinking to myself "Open your mouth and swallow the water, and it will soon be over." But before I could act on these thoughts, the control column suddenly became free and moved forwards by itself.'
At last Unger was able to reach the harness buckle and release his straps. By now the Dornier was sinking fast, in water so dark that he could make out only a vague outline of the cabin around him. He groped his way to the escape hatch, pushed himself out, and inflated his life jacket. In a flurry of bubbles he rose rapidy towards the lighter water above, like a cork out of a champagne bottle.