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That B-24

Posted by Cees on Thu Jul 04, 2002 09:21:55 AM

In reply top Re: Upcoming investigations posted by Dave Sutton on Thu Jul 04, 2002 08:41:02 AM

Dave,

This was a major recovery way back in the seventies. When parts of the IJsselmeer were drained and the water level dimishished, aircraftwrecks of WWII were found. Many of these were recovered by the Dutch AF. This particular B-24 was found at the end of the sixties I believe by a pilot who spotted the wing sticking out of the water.

The identity was soon established by walking towards the wreck at low tide, opening the dinghy hatches and the serial was stencilled on the dinghy's(we never had such luck). It took some years before the wreck was to be recovered.

Five members of the crew were still listed as missing and their remains were indeed found still in their battle stations. The feet of the pilot were still on the rudder pedals. The only survivor Charlie Taylor was located and he was present during the recovery.

The entire aicraft was there in two pieces, but they almost completely destroyed it because they weren't interested in the wreck as they still aren't interested.

The wing was blown up using explosives and scrapped. Only the instrumentpanel, an engine with propellor and an undercarriage leg is on display at Soesterberg, but I have seen the complete cockpitsection lying in a barn behind the museumsite some years ago, but I don't know if they still have it. If they have why not putting it on display but then again it is useless trying to work something out with this organisation, remember the P-47 wreck found in 1995?

Cees

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