Dornier Do 17 Recovery

Thursday, June 13, 2013 at 08:24 PM ET

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Key Takeaways:

The article details the preservation work of a rare WWII Dornier Do 17 bomber, believed to be the only complete example of its kind remaining worldwide.
The aircraft was recovered off the coast of Kent after being submerged in 50 feet of water for over 70 years since being shot down during the Battle of Britain.
Despite its long submersion, the Dornier Do 17, nicknamed the "flying pencil," remained in surprisingly good condition with its identity plate still legible, allowing for positive identification.

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A closer look at the preservation work of the rare WWII bomber.

**The Dornier Do 17 being raised off the coast of Kent. The airplane is believed to be the only remaining complete airplane of its kind in the world.
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**The rare airplane had been submerged in 50 feet of water for more than 70 years after being shot down during the Battle of Britain. Despite spending so much time under water, the aircraft has remained in surprisingly good condition.
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**The Dornier Do 17’s identity plate remained legible, enabling a positive ID of the aircraft.
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Because of its thin shape, the bomber was nicknamed the “flying pencil.”

A rare color photograph of a Dornier Do 17Z in flight.

A formation of Dornier Do 17Z bombers in flight.

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