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By: - 28th September 2014 at 16:06 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Technically speaking it was not the Zuiderzee (not Zuider Zee), but IJsselmeer, since it had been dammed pre-war. Schiphol is not in a section of it. Parts of the IJsselmeer were reclaimed in various decades of the 20th century, but Schiphol is in the Haarlemmermeerpolder (an inland lake reclaimed in the 19th century).
A large amount of aircraft (and crew) were found when the Flevopolders were reclaimed in the 60s and 70s (which prompted the documentary). They were the last large land reclaimations. Several aircraft have come to light since, in the IJsselmeer itself, and some have been recovered. An early model Me109 (shot down May 1940, recovered last year I think), a substantially complete P-47 some years ago (that toured several museums), a Stirling (but another forum member will be able to fill you in on parts located), a Wellington a month ago (although very fragmented). There are thought to be another couple of dozens of wrecks still not located.
By: - 28th September 2014 at 17:56 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Film of the bf109 being raised in 2012: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JhcFM7XD4Y, it was a Bf.109E shot down May 11th, 1940.
More info on the P-47D http://www.strijdbewijs.nl/top/v/p-47D.htm (pilot recovered as well, in 1995).
The Stirling: http://www.flevolanderfgoed.nl/home/erfgoed/zuidelijk-flevoland-2/vliegtuigwrakken/stirling-lll-bk710-oj-a.html
By: - 28th September 2014 at 19:47 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
I don't know about any new recoveries but i would dearly love to see the "Operation Harvest" documentry that was made a number of years ago about the various recoveries that have been made over the decades, but apparently it's mired in copyright issues so remains locked away in a vault somewhere.:(
By: - 29th September 2014 at 09:23 Permalink - Edited 1st January 1970 at 01:00
Then there's the P-51D recovered from shallow waters near Harderwijk in 1977: http://www.flevolanderfgoed.nl/home/erfgoed/zuidelijk-flevoland-2/vliegtuigwrakken/vliegtuigcrash-mustangs-p51-d.html (after a swimmer cut from the nearby beach cut his foot on it)
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By: jack windsor - 28th September 2014 at 11:28
hi,
I recently watched Some of our Aircraft are no longer missing, on u-tube, and wondered if any more a/c are being found?. It states that Schipol airport is on a section of it, or have they stopped now, I remember reading in a old magazine possibly RAF Review about a B.17 where the bomb camera film was processed and was good, also that they found the remains of a Gotha bomber from the 1st W.W.
regards,
jack...