Thanks chaps,

By the way, it’s not my project but the museum I work for as a volunteer. Several people (with our chairman bearing the brunt of the work at the moment) are spending their spare time doing the job that the paid jobs should do.
By a one in a million chance the aircraft was identified after the second diving expedition when a panel was brought up, which after clearing was identified as the skinpanel to the right of the entry door and carrying the full serialnumber. To say we were extatic is an understatement.:rolleyes:
The previous investigation on the lake, the 300 sqn Lanc took us five years to fully identify.
Cees

martin,

All items that have been brought up were recovered by archeological divers we are cooperating with. The water is shallow at only two metres but everything is in a metre of soft mud with no visibility. The only way to see what is found is by bringing it up. We are also keeping the Recovery Officer of the RNetAF informed on regular basis and by every legal means to continue this preliminary investigation. It takes time but it’s worth it.
Cees

Previous experiences have shown that the power of the press was decisive to have a wreck recovered, but the problem is that there is no national/european/global script that can be used in any case with the exeption of the U.S.. It’s about time and steps are being undertaken to see if such a situation can be (and should be) created for any future recoveries. It’s now 2010 and this particular crash took place in 1943 and the feelings are still very strong. If Gouvernments think that time will solve this “problem” (for them it is) then they should think again.
The Geneva Convention still stands, it’s about time countries should act accordingly.

Cees

Elliott,

The usual, the British Authorities refuse to play their part in a recovery and claim it as a wargrave. This aircraft is reported to have come down in the North Sea, but we found it in the IJsselmeer. So how can you designate this to be a wargrave when the precise position isn’t known? We are working on a scheme to have the six missing crewmembers recovered so that they can have the proper burial they deserve. The six families are outraged by the lack of intrest shown by the authorities and will do anything they can to have this case solved in the only way possible.

Watch this space.

Cees

p.s. Andy,
Don’t know if there is such a thing as a list for sailors.