Do-17 wreck found intact

[Schroeder]

Great find.

After the war the German people didn't want to remember, so aircraft like that were destroyed," he says.

Ah yes, because we we were allowed to keep all our stuff after the war and decide ourselves what to do with it....right......

[Oberon]

Originally Posted by Schroeder

Great find.
Ah yes, because we we were allowed to keep all our stuff after the war and decide ourselves what to do with it....right......

Of course you were allowed to keep your stuff....

So long as it was in a hundred pieces and strewn across the landscape...

[Schroeder]

BTW wouldn't that thing belong to us if/when they raise it?

Besides, how can they raise it at all when it's a war grave?

[Oberon]

That is a good point. Under the Protection of Military Remains Act 1986, all sunken aircraft in British waters are designated as war graves. The fact that two of the crew of the Dornier were killed on landing only underlines that.

Could be a bit of a problem for salvaging it there.

I imagine that it would belong to Germany, however I imagine that unless it wanted to be really picky, the German government wouldn't kick up a fuss over it.

That's if they can move her. It'll be ages yet before they even try, one wrong move and she'll be scattered over Goodwin sands.

[Oberon]

Ah, found the answers now.

Firstly, the aircraft has no bodies on board. The two dead crewmembers were washed up not long after the aircraft crashed.

Secondly, by British law:

All crashed enemy aircraft and their equipment, lying within the United Kingdom, are regarded as captured enemy property which has been surrendered to the Crown. Ownership belongs to the Ministry of Defence (RAF).

Which explains why the RAF Museum has the go-ahead to get her up.

[Herr-Berbunch]

If anyone's interested here's a link to the video of a dive to the site.

http://www.youtube.com/rafmuseum#p/u/10/DlBKYXHSuhc