June 14, 2013 at 6:04 pm
http://www.nrk.no/nordnytt/her-filmes-sjeldent-fly-i-finnmark-1.11080888
The article states that there has been rumours of a rare German plane in the sea. The Blohm & Voss 138 was found by NGU (Norwegian Geographic Survey) while mapping the sea bottom of
Porsangerfjorden, Norway. The wreck rest at a Depth of 35 meters.
The Germans had a sea plane base in Indre Billefjord during the the occupation. The plane was strafed and sunk by British aeroplanes whilst moored, the date of the attack was 24. August 1944.
Roger Rasmussen
By: Supermarine305 - 15th June 2013 at 12:06
There is a video about 2/3rds down the website. Annoyingly it has very little actual footage of the wreck -and is in Viking. What it does show I usually have no idea what part of the aircraft it is. Not an expert on this at all. However I think that the wing has seperated from the fuselage…
All that follows is pure supposition on my part from looking at grainy images:
At 1:49 you can see one the outboard engines (still attached to the wing?) and that looks like its resting on the sea floor upsidedown. I do not think this is the middle engine. The wooden prop is still there however, which is a good thing.
At 1:51 it shows the nose of the Bv 138. Its resting on its side, but looks to be in far better conditon than the Danish example.
At 2:16 a long tubular structure. Is that the wing spare/fuel tank? If that’s the case the wing has big holes in it. Strafing/fire/corrosion/trawler damage?
By: Vacca - 15th June 2013 at 02:07
The Blohm & Voss 138 was found by NGU (Norwegian Geographic Survey) while mapping the sea bottom of
Porsangerfjorden,e Billefjord during the the occupation. The plane was strafed and sunk by British aeroplanes whilst moored, the date of the attack was 24. August 1944.
Does it say what sort of state it is in?
By: Denis - 15th June 2013 at 00:15
Thanks Creaking Door,
So the tube section is the main spar?…..a clever design and I should imaging quite strong.
By: Creaking Door - 14th June 2013 at 19:23
One preserved at the National Museum of Science and Technology in Elsinore, Denmark:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Blohm_%26_Voss_BV_138_-_left_side_view.jpg
I wonder if this is how the RAF Museum Do17 may look when preserved?
One really interesting thing about this aircraft (apart from the three Jumo 205 opposed-piston engines) is the combination wing-spar / (diesel) fuel tank; the fact that this one is in ‘in found’ condition shows this to very good effect.
By: Denis - 14th June 2013 at 18:22
Was there another one found in the late 90’s in that area? I seem to remember reading about one sunk by the RAF after the war…