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By: 13th September 2012 at 17:28 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Me323
Would be nice to see some photos.
Will have to have a google.
Mark
By: 13th September 2012 at 17:31 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Although no complete examples survive there is a complete wing spar - and massive it is - on display at Gatow. See link to the picture on the preserved axis a/c site: http://www.preservedaxisaircraft.com/Luftwaffe/relics/images/Me323_mainspar.jpg
Tim
By: 13th September 2012 at 17:34 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-What an amazing discovery to 'stumble' across. Really hoping this one is in a condition good enough to be recovered relatively intact too. Can't wait to see some pictures.
Out of interest who would now be the legal owner?
Rob
By: 13th September 2012 at 18:16 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-OK, call me a wally, but I just can't help wondering how big a crane you'd need to lift one of those out of the Med!
Adrian
By: 13th September 2012 at 19:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Is there not an awful lot of wood in the original structure from its origins as a glider ? it would be very interesting to see whats left.:cool:
By: 13th September 2012 at 19:41 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
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Don't tell Dr North! :eek:
Ah.. It's that 'narrative' again
Needs a thorough debunking in my opinion
Moggy
By: 13th September 2012 at 19:52 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-232 wreck
It's a very fragile aircraft - even when it was in use - as it is basically a glider with engines fitted to make it into a transport plane.
It must have been forced down, perhaps by the engines being disabled by gunfire or crew killed, and forced-landed on the sea. Any other kind of arrival would have seen its total destruction.
I wouldn't be surprised if there isn't either a vehicle or a load of troops inside the fuselage. It will probably be a war grave as such a thin-skinned aircraft would have almost certainly had crew casualties under gunfire from a Beaufighter.
It will be very interesting to see pics of its recovery. I wonder how the structure has fared? Of course, it may just fall to bits when they touch it. Let's hope not.
Anon.
By: 13th September 2012 at 20:03 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-One Me 323 unit was entirely wiped out and shot into the Med, a massacre really.
''On April 22, the Germans sent in 21 of the huge Me-323s, each carrying 10 tons of fuel to Tunisia. Although the clumsy transports were strongly escorted, this move marked the passage of the Axis daylight transport effort, already irresponsible after April 5, to the stage of insanity. The South Africans sent out 38 P-40s, covered by a South African Spitfire squadron and additional flights of British- and Polish-manned Spitfires. They downed 16 (or possibly 17) Me-323s, an Mc 202, and an Re-2001, and perhaps three or more German fighters. Curiously, Allied losses also are uncertain; at most they lost four P-40s and a Spitfire, which had to belly-land''
By: 13th September 2012 at 21:18 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I couldn't find the thread previously where i'd wished for this scenario however i'm pleased to see it has come to fruition! Sadly however there is not too much to the construction of a 323, it's tubular lattice construction with a fabric covering, the armoured cockpit and undercarriage being the only really resilient pieces, I will be interested to see what they have discovered!
Gives you an idea of whats left after you remove the fabric!!!!
By: 13th September 2012 at 21:49 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-One Me 323 unit was entirely wiped out and shot into the Med, a massacre really.''On April 22, the Germans sent in 21 of the huge Me-323s, each carrying 10 tons of fuel to Tunisia. Although the clumsy transports were strongly escorted, this move marked the passage of the Axis daylight transport effort, already irresponsible after April 5, to the stage of insanity. The South Africans sent out 38 P-40s, covered by a South African Spitfire squadron and additional flights of British- and Polish-manned Spitfires. They downed 16 (or possibly 17) Me-323s, an Mc 202, and an Re-2001, and perhaps three or more German fighters. Curiously,
http://stonebooks.com/archives/020407.shtml
I think it is also a fact that many allied POW's from the North African campaign were transported and subsequently killed when these huge transporters were easily shot down, mostly over the sea, by allied fighters, whilst returning to Axis occupied airfields.
By: 13th September 2012 at 23:26 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Oooohhh that looks messy...
By: 14th September 2012 at 10:17 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Oooohhh that looks messy...
True, but think how easy it'll be to hide under all those acres of fabric!
Adrian
By: 14th September 2012 at 10:22 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-re;
Sorry if im being thick is the picture of the semi complete a/c above the same a/c that has its wings on show at Speyer?
By: 14th September 2012 at 13:08 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-If there was a competition for the aircraft least likely to be the subject of a successful recovery from the sea ...
By: 14th September 2012 at 14:59 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-More pictures.... (and possibly the longest link title ever)
By: 14th September 2012 at 15:05 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-Rumour has it... It was carrying several new 109's still in their sealed packing crates.......:p
I'll get my coat.
By: 14th September 2012 at 18:24 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
-I can't help thinking this aircraft should be left precisely where it is.
Sure, it's a fascinating and unique discovery; but as mentioned the site is likely to be a war grave. Add this to the cost and technical difficulty of raising from 200 feet, the likelihood that little more will surface than a heap of corroded tube sections, and the huge cost of restoring and displaying indoors what little usable material remained; then any recovery effort seems to be a waste of time. Better to leave it in situ for divers to marvel at from a respectful distance.
Just my tuppence...
Posts: 151
By: SimonDav - 13th September 2012 at 17:22
Apologies if this has already been posted. In todays Torygraph. Looks exciting, 200 feet down.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/world-war-two/9541566/Massive-Luftwaffe-plane-wreck-found-off-Sardinian-coast.html