Plan to raise German warplane

A World War 2 bomber submerged off the Kent coast is in remarkable condition and could be raised.

The Dornier 17 of the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) is thought to be the last remaining one left – of around 1,700 built.

It currently lies buried under silt at Goodwin Sands, just off the Kent coastline.

The plane was shot down on August 26th 1940, forced into an emergency landing that killed two crew members and left the other two as POWs.

Although the aircraft sank in about 15 metres of water, shifting sands in the region quickly covered the wreck.

This could in part explain why the remains now appear to be so well preserved.

A team from the Port of London Authority have recently surveyed the site with sonar and produced remarkable 3D images.

Due to the unique status of this Dornier 17, the Royal Air Force Museum plans to raise the wreck for display in its Hendon collection.