New BF-109E Dig

Propblade!!!

Well that may indicate most wreckage removed then…..

Prop blade removed at the time on display at the Lashenden Air Warfare Museum, Headcorn Aerodrome Kent

Andy

Thanks for your input.. I think it is a case of we will have to ‘wait and see’

Paul

Paul

The final sentence states “The machine was dug out and site left tidy”. From that, one can only conclude that the salvage gang recovered the wreck.

These reports were from a civilian contractor, A V Nicholls & Co, who were contracted to the Air Ministry in 1940 to assist in the recovery of wrecks for 49 MU. Sometimes, they went to extraordinary lengths to recover these wrecks and often dug things out from quite deep. (They were not involved in recovering crew members – just salvaging wrecks.)

I am sure they were sometimes a little economical with the facts and not always very conscientious in their work and there is ample evidence of this. There is also ample evidence that, sometimes, they went to huge efforts to recover things. In the case of this Me 109 we will have to see what Geoff finds, although the evidence (to me) points to a fairly comprehensive recovery of the wreck.

I have already shared this primary-source information (which is not available in the public domain) with Geoff Nutkins for his own use and interpretation.

I don’t know what they will find, but this original report in my collection seems to indicate most was recovered – although I wish Geoff Nutkins well in his endeavours!

I did not read the report like that.. Why dig it dwon 15 feet when no body to recover ? They say tail and and tail wheel being ‘the only parts recovered’ which of course would be near top!

seems to me contractor may have just cut corners and box ticked…

BTW according to Messerschmitt Bf 109B C D E in Luftwaffe & Foreign Service this was first E-8 lost in Battle of Britain

I don’t know what they will find, but this original report in my collection seems to indicate most was recovered – although I wish Geoff Nutkins well in his endeavours!