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Re: IJsselmeer ?

Posted by Cees Broere on Mon Dec 15, 2003 06:22:12 AM

In reply top Re: IJsselmeer ? posted by Harold Mulder on Sun Dec 14, 2003 01:23:02 PM

Harold,

It is true that in the early years after the war ended, a sort of project was started by Rijkswaterstaat (the authority responsible for Holland's vast water areas) to recover aircraft wrecks that were posing a threat for shipping. This meant that mostly wrecks lying in or near shipping lanes were recovered or stamped into the bottom using large concrete blocks. Also fishermen kept snagging their nets at wrecks when the nets were dragged over the bottom of the lake. Due to costs the authorities ceased their active policy in recovering wrecks and the fishing method just described was declared illegal in the early sixties.

I am sure that most wrecks are known among the fishermen but kept quiet because that is where the fish are. In fact if we are informed about a new find we have to find out if the fishermen involved agrees that we start our investigation into the identity of the wreck. The majority do not like us recovering "their" valuable fishing grounds.

The past decades only a few aircraft were recovered due to various reasons but these were accidentally found during by workers. The costs are deemed too high to effect a recovery as well as the well known policy of the Dutch authorities and the murkyness of the water has kept most aircraf wrecks from being found. When the polders were made in the sixties people were amazed when dozens of aircraft wrecks were found including a Gotha bomber from WWII as well as a Mosquito with German ammo.

This is just the tip of the iceberg, and we have only just started to scratch the surface.

Watch this space.

Cheers

Cees

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