AX 365 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Saw an article in today's newspaper but am using this online link. http://politiken.dk/newsinenglish/ECE1605691/heinkel-he-219-found-in-denmark/ Quote Link to post Share on other sites
B-17 guy Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Cool , thanks for sharing! God to see more warbirds being found. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skyraider Maniac Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 I wonder how well they'll be able to restore it after all these years under water - was it fresh or saltwater? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom726 Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 I seriously doubt they'll be able to restore it as it was submerged in saltwater (the North Sea) and subjected to very strong tides. It was actually first discovered some years ago a few hundred meters off the coast by divers and multiple items have been removed over the years. Oddly enough, despite a very comprehensive research into WWII crashes over Danish territory, this airframe has still not been identified. There're a few pics from the salvage operation on this Danish forum: http://www.danskemodelbyggere.dk/forum/index.php?topic=2508.0 Bjarne Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skyraider Maniac Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 I seriously doubt they'll be able to restore it as it was submerged in saltwater (the North Sea) and subjected to very strong tides. It was actually first discovered some years ago a few hundred meters off the coast by divers and multiple items have been removed over the years. Oddly enough, despite a very comprehensive research into WWII crashes over Danish territory, this airframe has still not been identified. There're a few pics from the salvage operation on this Danish forum: http://www.danskemodelbyggere.dk/forum/index.php?topic=2508.0 Bjarne Thanks for sharing I figured it'd be highly improbable if it was in saltwater; I wonder why they're so optimistic about restoration in the article? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
pookie Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Restore...what? Very optimistic report. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Scooby Posted April 26, 2012 Share Posted April 26, 2012 Restore...what? Very optimistic report. Yes it is, but don't forget a Zero was re-built with only a tail elevator as a starting point. I no longer say "never say never." Most of the aircraft will have to be rebuilt (if it ever occurs) but you never know these days. I like how the report where it says there may be a second one in the States that US intelliegnece is said to have brought over to the US. A simple google search by that author would have told him where it is. Even my dog knows where it is. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom726 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 A few more pics. This time from a Finnish media http://www.iltasanomat.fi/ulkomaat/harvinainen-havittaja-nostettiin-merenpohjasta---katso-kuvagalleria/art-1288464961345.html Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Devilleader501 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 It's interesting how the people who found this said they were disappointed that there were wires cut. It seems to me as it was intentional so someone couldn't raise it just after it was put under. To me there doesn't look like theres any crash damage to it and would suggest it was maybe shoved off the deck of a carrier, or some sort of transport ship to be hidden. If there is no instrumentation you cannot fly very well but if those were the only wires cut I would almost bet money that it was to prevent it from being raised and reused. It just doesn't make sense to me for someone to find something like this and vandalize it. So I think that is out of the equation. I am very interested in finding out exactly why this aircraft was under water though. It will take tons of money to restore but I am pretty sure its possible. If you look at one of the pics with the landing gear its almost all the way retracted but its not. It almost looks more to me like it was all the way extended and from being in the salt water for so long Hydraulic pressure bled off and probably leaked fluid out and started to collapse. Just a thought. Im no Historian and really have no clue about aircraft from this era. It will be cool to find out the details though. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom726 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 It's not mentioned in the article above but it's widely reported in Danish media that the missing/cut out items were removed by divers over the years as trophies. It has also surfaced that an eyewittness, who actually saw the crash in 1945, has come forward. So it's widely believed that the aircraft crashed or was deliberately ditched. Yet, the ejection seats were not fired which adds some questions as to what really happened. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Skyraider Maniac Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 So it's widely believed that the aircraft crashed or was deliberately ditched. Yet, the ejection seats were not fired which adds some questions as to what really happened. Well - it being the first aircraft equipped with ejection seats, and being over the water and all, maybe they didn't want to take chances whereas a water landing was a sure bet? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Phantom726 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Your guess is as good as mine, Skyraider Maniac. Shall be interesting to see what details will surface. Here are two links to a comprehensive photo coverage of the whole salvage operation: http://www.danas-have.dk/He219.htm http://www.danas-have.dk/He219.2.htm Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gonzalo Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 (edited) Wouldn't it be cool if they put it together and it turned out t be a Mustang? Darn, we thought it was an Uhu. Edited April 27, 2012 by gonzalo Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mz826 Posted April 27, 2012 Share Posted April 27, 2012 Nice!It has been quite the year WW2 aircraft finds. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.