The Royal Air Force Museum in Hendon has been working with Wessex Archeology; and English Heritage; on a German Dornier bomber that was shot down in the Battle of Britain in 1940. It will go on display at the museum once it has been recovered and restoration work is carried out..
The Dornier 17 was found by archaeologists from Wessex Archaeology at Goodwin Sands, off the Kent coast, two years ago. Sidescan geophysical sonar survey showed that the Dornier 17, known as ‘The Flying Pencil’, is very well preserved.
Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, Director General of the RAF Museum said the discovery as being “of national and international importance”.
“The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from The Battle of Britain,” he said. “It is particularly significant because, as a bomber, it formed the heart of the Luftwaffe assault and the subsequent Blitz.”
Work to prepare the Dornier for display at the Battle of Britain Beacon project will be carried out at the RAF Museum’s conservation centre in Cosford, Shropshire.
Further details of the project will be announced during the RAF Museum’s Battle of Britain weekend, September 10 – 11, when visitors will be ale to watch a film about the discovery and learn more about the recovery plan.
Image: Dornier 17 Sidescan geophysical sonar survey, Wessex Archaeology
www.wessexarch.co.uk
www.rafmuseum.org.uk