I’m a little concerned by the attitude of “we’ve come too far to stop now.” There’s an alternative piece of advice which ought to be considered, at least: when you’re in a hole stop digging. Something requiring careful interpretation for an archeologist, I grant you.

Totally agree Graham…..the time has come for literally, ‘damage limitation’. The answer surely now, is to remove the wings as best as possible to enable an easier lift on the fuselage. Once that part is on the barge, the separated engine will be relatively easy to recover, and eventually the wings should prove manageable, with or without the second engine, which if necessary, can be recovered separately as well.
It is a great shame that plan A went wrong, but I can still envisage some healthy Dornier parts, which have to be separated at some time anyhow, being on show eventually.
Good luck you guys , you have the honour of doing your best for the only Do 17 we shall ever have sight of.:o

That particular Hurricane was never 50ft below the surface of the English Channel. It was more on land than in the sea, it was on a tidal beach very near protective high ground. What the sea and the tide could get at, was washed away and destroyed. The amazing part we see today, was dug from the sand and has always been one of the most spectacular exhibits in the RAFM.

Here is R Robert found on the beach at Dunkirk
[ATTACH=CONFIG]217178[/ATTACH]

Well…well..well

Information currently circulating now says that RAFM Hendon were expertly warned by a qualified salvage company, that the aircraft was positioned on a chalk based area of light sand and mud, and that the fitting of a prepared cage would be almost, if not totally, impossible. That information was offered over a year ago, and seemingly ignored.
The local coastgaurds also informed them, that the underwater visibility (algea growth) and short seas, in that area, were at their worst in the month of May. The reply from RAFM Hendon was that they were happy to lift in May because after all, Dunkirk was carried out in May, in mill pond conditions in the channel. Again, a half a million pound project, jeopardised by those who know better !!!
You couldn’t make it up, could you ??

This evening BBC Newsroom South East were reporting and I paraphrase, that the recent bad weather meant that they would need to employ a less satisfactory method of lifting the Dornier than they had originally planned. Anyone have the details on what that might mean?

I think those that know will have to tell us exactly what ‘less satisfactory methods’ means. It sounds as if the lifting cradle, or part thereof, is not going according to plan……lets hope whatever is happening still leaves us with something ‘Dornier’ :apologetic:

Could someone please interpret the two words, ‘ everyone’ and ‘crap’. Perhaps ‘powerandpassion’ first would be polite.

Bloody disgracefull…..United Kingdom Impotent Place:apologetic:…anyone else add to it ?

Don’t the two posts above, if true, make you want to weep ?

I’m going to get shot up from all angles for saying this, but lets get real here…the film shows the remains of an aluminium aircraft that has been undersea for 73 years, and lying on its back in what is really known to divers as ‘shallow water’. The sunlight and saline content of the water, increase the metal deterioration factor enormously, and that can be seen by the lace like appearance of the airframe. Flaps and ailerons are almost non existent and the chances of lifting the whole airframe in one piece is almost nil.
The engines weights, will have to be cleverly buoyed for lifting, to prevent them from breaking what’s left of wing spar integrity. After all the silt is removed from the fuselage and tailplane assembly to reduce weight, it may just be possible to bring that much ashore without too much damage, but more than probably without wings and engines attached.
What is left will certainly have to be submerged in fresh water as soon as possible, and then treated with whatever the boffins have come up with, to prevent defoliation of the remaining metal.
A really huge operation being undertaken, but don’t expect too much. I’ve seen two such salt water recoveries, and the results were disappointing to say the least.
Now faced with the possibilty of a bomb on board…well…….RN bomb disposal ?…….’we’ll have to blow it up in situ Sir !!’…..end of story??
Good luck all…the only Do 17 we have a chance of….