80 years after the crash: secret of the aircraft wreck!

80 years after the crash: secret of the aircraft wreck!

There are stories that lie down like a shadow over time and suddenly come to light again. This is how a aircraft wreck is going on that has been hidden in Märkisch Buchholz for over 80 years. In a dull meadow, the diver Roger Blum from the Adlershof diving club found the remains of an old aircraft that raises many questions. Blum creates the thesis that it is a British bomber from World War II. During the dive in the Dahme he came across the wreckage that could become legend against the background of the story.

But what exactly happened? According to reports, the aircraft could have been shot down by a German anti-aircraft crew in August 1944, whereby it exploded in the air. This dramatic incident was documented by eyewitnesses; The local chronicler Reinhard Düring remembers the huge bang while his family was eating in dinner. The explosion was so strong that the eight crew members may have been undressed by the pressure wave when they crash. These men were initially buried in the urban cemetery, and then then released to a British soldier's cemetery.

a piece of war history and the Avro Lancaster

experts assume that the wreck is an AVRO Lancaster - a heavy bomber that was developed by AVRO during the Second World War. The Lancaster played a crucial role in nightly bombing and was able to transport the biggest bombs of the Royal Air Force, including huge "blockbusters". It is estimated that over 10,000 Lancasters were produced, of which 3,249 were lost. [wikipedia.org] This explains why there are still two flight -capable copies that can be admired on international flight shows.

The history of the Lancaster is remarkable. The bomber was designed by Roy Chadwick and started service in 1942; His first modification was due to the defects of the originally used model, the AVRO Manchester. He was equipped with four powerful Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, which enabled him to have a high load-bearing capacity and flexibility. In addition to the night attacks, the Lancaster was also in use in specialized missions, such as the bombing of Hitler's Berghof.

The unclear past of the wreck

Back to the wreck in Märkisch Buchholz, which harbor. Interestingly, an alternative theory could also be set up, according to which the bomber may have crashed in February 1944 after it was attacked by German night hunters. Parcels with stanniol strips were found at the crash site, which served to deceive German air defense. These traces could indicate that the aircraft operated in a particularly turbulent phase of the war.

The majority of the wreck was scrapped in the 1960s, but some fragments have been preserved to this day. These parts fit seamlessly into the narrative of a time that raises many questions and is characterized by brave pilots, dangerous inserts and tragic fates. The excitement around the wreck found shows that old stories sometimes revive and still stimulate us today.