WWII Fighter Plane Salvaged Perfectly Intact from the Depths [Photos]

From War History Online:

On 1 November 2006, a Fw 190A3 was salvaged from the depths off the island of Sotra, near Bergen, Norway. The aircraft had made an emergency landing in December 1943; the pilot had scrambled to safety and was rescued soon after, but his aircraft had sunk to the bottom of the sea. After its retrieval from its 60 m deep watery grave, the Fw 190 ‘Yellow 16,’ from IV/JG 5 appears to be in remarkably good condition, only missing its canopy and the fabric-covered wing and tail surfaces.

Advertisement - story continues below

The full details of the aircraft are reported to be: Crash date 15 December 1943, Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-2 of IV./JG 5 WNr. 0125425. The pilot’s name is not known.

The Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger (English: Shrike) is a German single-seat, single-engine fighter aircraft designed by Kurt Tank in the late 1930s and widely used during World War II. Along with its well-known counterpart, the Messerschmitt Bf 109, the Fw 190 became the backbone of the Luftwaffe’s Jagdwaffe (Fighter Force). The twin-row BMW 801 radial engine that powered most operational versions enabled the Fw 190 to lift larger loads than the Bf 109, allowing its use as a day fighter, fighter-bomber, ground-attack aircraft and, to a lesser degree, night fighter. …

Stop the censors, sign up to get today's top stories delivered right to your inbox

Success!