Iconic of the Battle of France and Dunkirk is the image
of the Stuka. John Hayes-Fisher of 360 Productions asked,
'Would it be possible to find one of those?'
As luck would have it Jean-Michel Goyat heard of a farmer
in Valmestroff, in northeast France, who had been searching
for one. Although the farmer had been told which field the
Stuka had crashed in, he had not been able to locate the exact
site. On a pre-filming reconnaissance the impact point was
soon established with aid of the old fashion metal detector,
Arrangements were made to excavate the aircraft and hire machinery.
Although a large amount of wreckage was recovered, including
the engine and control column, nothing was found that could
identify the aircraft. Several Werke Numbers on various components
were found, but none can be positively tied to an airframe
in the record of Luftwaffe losses.
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The crash site, located in a very large featureless
field, one frosty morning. |
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Early indications were that a substantial amount
of wreckage was buried and that the first mini-digger
would not be up to the job. No matter a second machine
was on hand... |
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Unfortunately, the digger driver refused to carry
on – his wife had forbidden him because there
might be a bomb. Once again the multi-talented Gareth
came to the rescue, rapidly acquainted himself with
the digger’s controls and carried out the entire
excavation with consummate skill. |
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No problem! |
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Steve and Jules - it was this big!
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Steve explains that he knows what the rusty lump is
- because he's found one before. |
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The engine and forward cockpit section exposed over
2 metres down. |
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Finally on the surface Peter Ayerst inspects the engine. |
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From among the mass of mangled wreckage many interesting
items surfaced - prize among them this control column. |
