The British recovered a German bomber

On Monday, 10 June 2013, the wreckage of a German bomber from World War II – the Dornier DO 17 – was lifted from the bottom of the English Channel. It would probably not be a big sensation, if not for the fact that the machine is in good condition and… is the only surviving example in the world!

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The wreck of the machine shot down during the famous Battle of Britain, rested for nearly 70 years in the waters surrounding the coast of Great Britain, on a shoal known as Goodwin Sands. The bomber rested at a shallow depth of 15m, but conducting any operations on the wreck was extremely difficult. All because of the shifting bottom, which alternately covered and uncovered the aircraft popularly known as the “flying pencil”.

Ever since the Dornier was found in 2008, Britain’s Royal Air Force museum had been trying to excavate this unique craft. After a lot of trouble and in spite of the weather, they succeeded. Now the bomber will undergo thorough cleaning and preservation works. After the work is done, the reconstruction process will begin, which will restore this distinctive craft to its former appearance and splendour.

The Dornier DO 17 fished out is the only known example of the 1700 produced by the Third Reich. The production lasted until 1942. Most of them were destroyed during the war or scrapped.

Source: bbc.co.uk