Shropshire Star

Part of rare WWII aircraft found in the sea after 70 years to go on display at RAF Museum soon

Plans are underway at the Cosford Royal Air Force Museum for the wing section of an iconic Second World War Dornier Do 17 to go on public display at the start of next year.

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After more than 70 years submerged beneath the waters of the Goodwin Sands in the North Sea, the rare artefact was salvaged and will offer a 'unique glimpse into the past'. 

Nicknamed the ‘Flying Pencil’ due to its slim fuselage, the Do 17 played a pivotal role in the early stages of the Second World War and is best remembered for its involvement in the Battle of Britain.

The Dornier Do 17 being recovered in 2017.
The Dornier Do 17 being recovered in 2017.

Of more than 1,500 Do 17 bombers produced, over 400 were deployed by the Luftwaffe - the German air force - during the battle. Today, only one remains complete.

The wing section set to be displayed comes from this sole surviving Do 17, recovered in a landmark operation led by the RAF Museum in 2013. 

RAF Museum volunteers with the Dornier wing section.
RAF Museum volunteers with the Dornier wing section.

Photos from the dramatic moment when the aircraft was lifted from the seabed can be seen in the video above. 

RAF Museum volunteer with the wing section
RAF Museum volunteer with the wing section

Dr Harry Raffal, head of collections and research at the RAF Museum, said: "This is a remarkable moment for aviation history in Britain. After more than tens of years of intensive conservation, treatment and stabilisation, the Do 17 will go on public display. It represents not only the culmination of an extraordinary salvage operation but a unique way of understanding the Battle of Britain.

"The new year will see the Do 17 wing section, propellers, and engines situated alongside a Boulton-Paul Defiant, the very type that delivered the final blows to this Do 17. Our audience will see first-hand the thin edge of technology which enabled the RAF and Luftwaffe to fight out the most important battle of a generation."

RAF Museum apprentices with engine and propeller
RAF Museum apprentices with engine and propeller

The Do 17 wing section will be available for public viewing from early 2025, subject to suitable weather conditions for the move. 

The museum is inviting all aviation enthusiasts and families alike to explore the unique addition to the collection. 

For more details and to plan your visit, go to rafmuseum.org/midlands.