The Dornier 17 — thought to be world’s last known example — was hit as it took part in the Battle of Britain. It ditched in the sea just off the Kent coast, southeast England, in an area known as the Goodwin Sands. The plane came to rest upside-down in 50 feet of water and has become partially visible from time to time as the sands retreated before being buried again.
Now a high-tech sonar survey undertaken by the Port of London Authority has revealed the aircraft to be in a startling state of preservation. Ian Thirsk, from the RAF Museum at Hendon in London, told the BBC he was “incredulous” when he first heard of its existence and potential preservation.
“This aircraft is a unique plane and it’s linked to an iconic event in British history, so its importance cannot be over-emphasized, nationally and internationally,” he said. Striking high-resolution images appear to show that the Goodwin Sands plane suffered only minor damage, to its forward cockpit and observation windows, on impact. Two of the crew members died on impact, while two others, including the pilot, were taken prisoner and survived the war.
