Marijn
Active member
Today, as part of the Dutch national program to salvage aircraft wrecks of WWII which started last year, the salvage of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 has started. It's the third excavation of a wreck which most likely has remains of the pilot still present. Not only British and American aircraft wrecks are salvaged, also German ones. About 30-50 of such wrecks are still scattered around the country.
Decades after the end of the war, relatives finally receive information about the place where their loved ones died and bring closure to the heavy war history in their families.
In 1944 there were fierce air battles between the Allies and Germans above the eastern border of the Netherlands. On January 30, the German Messerschmitt of the type BF 109 G6 crashed close to the little village Hoonhorst. Investigations indicate that this must be one of the two Messerschmitts that took off from Volkel in the afternoon on a mission to prevend American bombers from reaching the German border. It is not known to date who exactly was the pilot who piloted the warplane. It's either Greorg Graf zu Ortenburg or pilot Otto Tillack. Both are still reported missing after all these years.
Some eye witnesses of the crash are still alive. What they have always suspected, has since yesterday been confirmed. Salvage specialists have found remains of the pilot. Now it is certain: the German pilot was unable to escape to safety and was indeed killed in his singleseat fighter.
During the salvage work that started on Monday, the salvage companies found quite a few remnants of the plane in a 5 meter deep hole, such as parts of an engine block, two propeller blades and kilos of twisted steel. They are surprised. “I did not expect the tail wheel to be there. That is virtually intact, "said Major Bart Aalberts, who is a salvage officer for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. "You can even see the inner tube."
A lot of ammunition was also found, such as a considerable number of small grenades. Two machine guns and a cannon were also taken out of the ground. Even the handgun that the pilot had in his pocket has been found. "The material is hardly affected by corrosion" said a specialist from the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD). As a result, all data and even the eagle, the symbol of the Nazis, can still be recognized in the steel. The EOD will detonate the explosive material on the spot in a controlled manner on Friday.
The search for the identity of the pilot has now started. The registration number of the aircraft is required for this. Examination of the bone remains may also lead to more information. It will be weeks if not months before the identity of the pilot - after consultation with the German authorities and next of kin - is released. The remains will most likely be reburied at the German military cemetery Ysselsteyn in Limburg.
Decades after the end of the war, relatives finally receive information about the place where their loved ones died and bring closure to the heavy war history in their families.
In 1944 there were fierce air battles between the Allies and Germans above the eastern border of the Netherlands. On January 30, the German Messerschmitt of the type BF 109 G6 crashed close to the little village Hoonhorst. Investigations indicate that this must be one of the two Messerschmitts that took off from Volkel in the afternoon on a mission to prevend American bombers from reaching the German border. It is not known to date who exactly was the pilot who piloted the warplane. It's either Greorg Graf zu Ortenburg or pilot Otto Tillack. Both are still reported missing after all these years.
Some eye witnesses of the crash are still alive. What they have always suspected, has since yesterday been confirmed. Salvage specialists have found remains of the pilot. Now it is certain: the German pilot was unable to escape to safety and was indeed killed in his singleseat fighter.
During the salvage work that started on Monday, the salvage companies found quite a few remnants of the plane in a 5 meter deep hole, such as parts of an engine block, two propeller blades and kilos of twisted steel. They are surprised. “I did not expect the tail wheel to be there. That is virtually intact, "said Major Bart Aalberts, who is a salvage officer for the Royal Netherlands Air Force. "You can even see the inner tube."
A lot of ammunition was also found, such as a considerable number of small grenades. Two machine guns and a cannon were also taken out of the ground. Even the handgun that the pilot had in his pocket has been found. "The material is hardly affected by corrosion" said a specialist from the Explosives Ordnance Disposal Service (EOD). As a result, all data and even the eagle, the symbol of the Nazis, can still be recognized in the steel. The EOD will detonate the explosive material on the spot in a controlled manner on Friday.
The search for the identity of the pilot has now started. The registration number of the aircraft is required for this. Examination of the bone remains may also lead to more information. It will be weeks if not months before the identity of the pilot - after consultation with the German authorities and next of kin - is released. The remains will most likely be reburied at the German military cemetery Ysselsteyn in Limburg.
Bergers vliegtuigwrak bij Dalfsen vinden ‘verrassend snel’ stoffelijke resten Duitse oorlogspiloot | Foto
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