Dave
sure I do have photos, mainly of the B-17, which was scrapped in the early 70’s after no one was willing to pay approx US$ 5’000.00 plus removal….. a shame indeed.
The Lanc recovery was mere bits and pieces, especially the Merlins.
I do have quite some information on the interned aircraft (incl. crashes) and there has been a series in AP about 15 years ago under the title “No Shots please – we’re British” dealing with the RAF losses over Switzerland.
I also am in contact with some of the Swiss recovery folks and will check what is still around – because there is (seen it myself).
Schaffner was an entrepreneur who specialized in recovery of material from lakes – among them many aircraft (besides crashed bombers he also raised Swiss Air Force jets after crashes…..)
There are still parts of a Lancaster in an artificial lake – the problem there is that the mud is very deep on the ground, making a recovery of the sunken/buried parts impossible. There also are rumours of a Halifax in Lake Constance, and it was believed that parts had been found – but again the thick mud on the ground made any recovery impossible.
In another lake, about 10 years ago substantial parts of another B-17 were raised and are now on display.
There also was much material from crashed B-17 brought down from the higher mountains.
From Lake Constance, a number of FW-190 canopies were raised – they had been dumped after VE-Day. Some are in great condition, i.e. the parts that stuck in the mud.
I will dig out my stuff and post some here.
Greetings from Switzerland
Martin
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