A German bomber that had been shot down over the English Channel during World War II was successfully recovered by a British museum on Monday, after experts lifted the rusted, damaged plane from the depths of the channel.
The German WWII Bomber, nicknamed the Luftwaffe's "flying pencil" because of its narrow fuselage, came down off the coast of Kent county in southeastern England more than 70 years ago during the Battle of Britain, according to the Associated Press.
Urgent: Is Obama Telling the Truth on IRS, Benghazi Scandals?
The battered plane was lifted with cables and is believed to be the most intact example of the German Dornier Do 17 bomber that has ever been found.
"It has been lifted and is now safely on the barge and in one piece," said RAF Museum spokesman Ajay Srivastava. The bomber will be towed into port Tuesday, he added.
A few fragments of the German WWII Bomber dropped off as it was being lifted, but officials said divers will retrieve them later.
The museum had been trying to raise the relic for a few weeks, but the operation was delayed by strong winds and choppy waters.
In 2008, divers discovered the German WWII Bomber submerged in 50 feet (15 meters) of water.
Experts say the German WWII Bomber is remarkably undamaged despite the passage of time.
Museum officials plan to conserve the German WWII Bomber and put it on exhibition next to the wreck of a British Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft that also was shot down during the battle.
Editor's Note: Get the Navy SEALs Cap – Celebrate Our Heroes
Related stories:
World War II Bomb: Tokyo Trains Stopped as Dud Is Detonated
High-School Sweetheart Finds WWII Marine's Diary at Museum
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.