Aircraft Recoveries Info Needed

Ali – replies below (been aviation archaeology-ing since I was 13!)

HOPE THAT HELPS

TT

Thanks a lot. It really does help as what really miffed me was a team from the US coming over and setting up a business pulling aircraft from Lochs and Lakes for personal gain. I think that if British museums were to benifit then that would be the only acceptable operation. I do hope it’s true that only UK Subjects can apply for licences. Didn’t see that on the booklet though but I may have missed it. Will have another read.

Thanks very much TT

Ali 😀

Ali – replies below (been aviation archaeology-ing since I was 13!)

Hi all,

I have read the booklet that the RAF have on aircraft crash site recoveries and it’s fairly clear on the procedures but it has left me with a couple of questions in my mind. Once a recovery is completed and the “returns” part of the form is filled in does that artifact (or aircraft) still belong to the crown?

YES – THEN THE CROWN DECIDES WHETHER THEY WANT IT – IF NOT, OWNERSHIP IS TRANSFERRED TO THE LICENCE HOLDER ABSOLUTELY.

If it still belongs to the crown then is it still possible that the RAF can claim the artifact/relic/debris for the national collection?

YES. PRIOR TO OWNERSHIP BEING TRANSFERRED.

If the recovery team has expenditure as a result of the recovery can they claim that expenditure back from the RAF?

I DOUBT IT – READ THE TERMS OF THE LICENCE FROM INNSWORTH!

If the national collection doesn’t make any claim on the artifact/relic/debris and the recovery team is from overseas, will that team be able to remove the artifact/relic/debris from the country dispite the artifact/relic/debris being of historical importance?

BELEIVE ONLY UK CITIZENS CAN APPLY FOR SAID LICENCE.

The reason I am asking this is because I know of a team that will be working in the UK to search all the bodies of fresh water looking for ditched or crashed aircraft remains. Their intention is to remove them to the US for restoration so that they can be sold for the personal gain of the US based investor.

WOULD NEED MOD LICENCE. WOULD BE A LOT OF HASSLE.

IN ANY EVENT, IF OFFSHORE, THIS IS DEALT WITH BY THE RECEIVER OF WRECK.
Some of these aircraft (of which I know there are a few) may have been from Operation Training Units but in the early years of the war they had Battle of Britain history and I feel should stay in the country.

If the national collection isn’t going to make any claim on the artifact/relic/debris then there are plenty of museums in the UK that would love to have an aircraft with such a pedigree.

Ali :confused:

HOPE THAT HELPS

TT

I don’t think they still belong to the Crown. Only one I know who still claims all rights to crashed aircraft is the US navy.

I have spoken to the RAF and they confirmed that they are still property of the crown. If they weren’t then surely a simple salvage operation could be mounted and the reciever of wrecks informed.

Ali

I don’t think they still belong to the Crown. Only one I know who still claims all rights to crashed aircraft is the US navy.