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Lancaster HK574

Posted by Harm Jan Strating on Thu Aug 15, 2002 12:22:23 PM

I posted this question before but was rather disappointed that none of the experts lurking at this site responded so here I try again.

In his book Luck and a lancaster Harry Yates DFC relates the rather amusing story of the ditching of 75 squadron Lancaster HK574 in the River Orwell on the night of december 6th 1944.All the crew survived unharmed and the aircraft supposedly floated for a considerable time before finally sinking to the bottom of the river. Apparently only some small equipment was salvaged. Otherwise the aircraft was left as it was.

In the epilogue the author states that about fifty years later aviation historians organised a dig, exposed the hulk and recovered a number of artefacts. Tereafter the aircraft was again left as it was and so should still be in the river.

Does anyne on the forum have any information on the dig and/or the current condition of this airframe. Is a salvage possible?

Harm-Jan Strating

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