Kategorie: News
Crashed flying boat from 1942 discovered
Italian Tek divers have found the wreck of a German Dornier Do 24 flying boat from World War II in the Mediterranean Sea. The divers have located the wreck of the German Dornier Do 24 flying boat at a depth of 122 meters. The Italians discovered it in the Mediterranean Sea near the town of Avelo in Sicily.
From March 1941 to May 1943, the 6th Maritime Distress Squadron was stationed at the seaplane base in Syracuse. It consisted of German Dornier Do24 flying boats and Heinkel 59 aircraft, so it is very likely that the wreckage discovered by the Italians was part of the units deployed at the base.
Wreck from 1942
According to archival research, two Dornier Do 24 flying boats were sunk in the Syracuse area. Both incidents occurred in 1942, just two weeks apart.
The first occurred on the night of December 16-17, when the Dornier collided with a ship's mast during takeoff. The second incident occurred on December 29, when No. 63 VH+SC Squadron's flying boat No. 6 sank as a result of an explosion during landing. Historical material is not in agreement as to the cause of the sinking in this case. Some state a mine collision, while others confine themselves to the "cause unknown" report.
After gathering documentation and making a preliminary assessment of the state of preservation of the wreck, the Italian divers believe it was the latter. The extensive damage matches the description and could have been caused by an explosion. Five pilots were killed and one seriously injured aboard Dornier Do 24 No. 63. The victims of both plane crashes were buried in the German war grave at Motta Sant'Anastasia.
Photos: Fabio Portella