Updating information, the site is now being re-landscaped. For historical reasons the main impact site, the ‘dent’ in the dyke will be put back as a lasting memorial to the aircraft’s crew. Recently surfaced documents on a 1947 attempt by authorities to identify the unknown crew member buried at Wapenveld cemetery since 1943, seem to indicate that the grave is actually the last resting place of two crew members. These historical documents combined with the remains found last week should be a good starting point for an attempt at formally identifying the last four crew members who have been missing since 1943, although the process knows many uncertainties, and could take years. Fingers crossed.

Aircraftwise, a surprising amount of wreckage has come to light. A heap of partially molten aircraft structure, mostly from the mid fuselage and wings it would seem. Large chunks of wing main spar, a prop hub, oxygen canisters, lots of wiring looms, a main wheel tyre and the tail wheel. Various engine components including a generator and casing fragments, half an undercarriage leg in bits, and so on. An earlier recovery form the site was the pilot’s seat, which is displayed at the current exhibition on the crew and their last flight.

Today’s fantastic news from the site is that remains of two crew members have been found and recovered by the army identification unit. Of the crew of seven, only three crew members are officially accounted for, and are buried near Amersfoort. The other four are officially still missing in action, and remembered on the Runnymede memorial. However, a nameless Commonwealth war grave at the local cemetery at Wapenveld contains the remains of crew members that were recovered from the wreck in the weeks after the 1943 crash when the main wreckage was lifted from the canal.

Aircraft-wise, the recovered bits are very fragmented as this was a high-energy impact that saw a lot of larger sections removed by German forces in the weeks after the crash. Recognizable parts include a complete prop hub with the blades sheared off, oxygen canisters, a large section of wing spar, and an aerial. Also, small ammunition has been found.

Excavation will last another couple of days to finish the last areas to be searched.

More bits going into and onto the starboard wing. The spar and D-box have been boroscoped and things just never are easy are they? Found some damaged D-ribs about halfway and the wing has been opened up for some surgery there to reconstruct them.

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Also, near the root there was a loose glue joint on rib 2. It was opened up and a new bit of ply scarfed in. As a bonus this allowed for extra preventive corrosion treatment of the main wing attachment (which looks very clean considering what the aircraft has been through).

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