2008 Aircraft Wreckage

If you are able to offer any insight into identifying this aircraft, please contact ryanlee@tamu.edu

During the 2008 season, the Danaos Project uncovered the remains of an aircraft 600 meters sea level southwest of Hrysi Islet. The high force of impact with the water when the plane crashed destroyed most of the identifiable structure, leaving only a few collections of twisted metal on the sea floor.

Based on the limited information available from the wreckage, we are not able to positively identify the aircraft. Peter Fix, Research Associate for the Center for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation tentatively identifies the wreckage as that belonging to a Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Würger, primarily on the basis of the configuration of the aileron and wing. Research is ongoing, as several questions remain unanswered. For instance, the largest air battle in the area of the Second World War, the Battle of Crete occurred in May/June of 1941, before the Fw 190 was introduced to squadrons in the east. This may be an Fw 190 that was shot down or crashed after the Battle of Crete, however. Additional research is required to determine if and where corrugated sheet metal is used in the construction of the Fw 190. In addition, most sources list the Fw 190 as all-metal construction, but the this example recovered off the coast of Norway in 2006 appears to used doped canvas on the control surfaces:

The most recognizable feature of the wreckage surveyed this summer is this wing (Fig 1), with a curved wing tip. Also visible is an aileron on the right side of the piece containing the wing tip. This aileron is neither inset in the trailing edge of the wing, nor does it end inboard of the tip. It appears to extend almost to the tip of the wing, with only a small inset into the wing structure. It is affixed separately and appears aluminum-skinned, rather than doped canvas. The outboard end appears damaged, and is squared-off.

The video footage below reveals that the skin on the wing is not doped canvas, as it did not appear to move with the current generated by the remotely-operated vehicle. The jagged pieces in the possible inner section show patches of green that may be possible areas of cupreous mineralization indicative of aluminum alloy decay.

Also of note is the leading and trailing edges of the wing appear to have been straight, and parallel with each other, however a section of the leading edge may be missing.

The crushed rectangular piece lying next to the wing tip might be a portion of the inner wing section, with a possible crushed rib visible with the leading edge pointing to the left of the frame under the crumpling.

No identifiable insignia or paint schemes are visible on this piece.

The next piece (Fig. 3 to the right) is an unidentifiable aluminum assembly. Noteworthy features include several large rivets and their fastening pattern on the left side of the image, and the streamlined tubing reinforcement to the right.

 

 

The third assembly shows elements of both the structure and skin of the aircraft, visible in Fig 4. In Fig 5. we see a close-up of a piece of structural reinforcement that may form part of the fuselage framing. It is made of pressed metal with a distinct shape, and rivet-fastened, not welded. The radius formed by the sheet metal to either side of the reinforcement appears to be an original construction feature, and not the result of deformation from the crash or decay on the sea floor.

Fig 6. shows some possible corrugation in the sheet metal. Also visible is a sequence of characters, upside-down in the image. A closer view, rotated 180 degrees is visible in Fig 7. Possible alphanumeric combinations include:

(Unknown letter or number) (7, 9 or 2) (4 or 9) - (5 or S)(7 or 9).

 

Fig. 7 - Close up view of writing, rotated 180 degrees. Visible are:
(Letter or Number) (4)(S or 5) - (9 or 7)

 

www.nationalmuseum.af.mil

Video of Fw 190 captured by the Soviet Union.

 

Above: Fig. 1 - Wing wreckage. Below: Fig 2. - Closer up of Fig 1

 

 

 

 

Fig. 3 - Unidentifiable aluminum assemblage.

 

 

Fig. 4 - Assembly showing elements of structure and skin

Above: Fig 5. Below: Fig 6. Close-ups of assembly.