Image: Luftwaffe Ju-87 "Stuka" Hellenic Air Museum, Tatoi-Dekelia

Description: The wreckage of a Stuka dive bomber at the Greek Air Force Museum. The HAF Underwater Operations Team (KOSYTHE) helped recover some rare aircraft from underwater for the museum. Underwater salvage of a Luftwaffe Ju87D-3 Stuka off the coast of Rodos (Rhodes) (9/10/2006)On 5 October 2006, the HAF Underwater Operations Team (KΟΣΥΘΕ) successfully carried out the salvage of a Luftwaffe Ju87D-3/Trop Stuka, from a depth of 15 metres, half a mile off the coast of Prassonisi at Rodos (Rhodes) island. According to a combination of available historical data, it appears that the aircraft is most probably S7+GM (100375), crewed by Lt. Rolf Metzger & Uffz. Hans Sopnemann - both MIA), which was shot down on 9 October 1943. The Hellenic Air Force web-site tells us this about this aircraft: On that very day the II/St.G. 3 lost a total of nine Ju 87D-3/Trop when they were intercepted during their mission against Royal Navy and Hellenic Navy ships in the Aegean. Of these nine, seven crashed into the sea and two made emergency landings on Rodos. A week before, German troops had landed on the island of Kos, which fell the next day. On 9 October 1943, HMS cruiser "Carlisle" and other destroyers, returning from a sweep west of Kos, were dive-bombed SW of Rodos Island by a formation of Ju-87 Stukas. "Carlisle" was seriously damaged and HMS destroyer "Panther" was sunk. Most of her crew were saved by the RHN destroyer "Miaoulis", which has also claimed firing against the Ju-87 formation and probably hit a couple of them.
Title: Luftwaffe Ju-87 "Stuka" Hellenic Air Museum, Tatoi-Dekelia
Credit: Luftwaffe Ju-87 "Stuka" Hellenic Air Museum, Tatoi-Dekelia Uploaded by Alaniaris
Author: Jerry Gunner from Lincoln, UK
Usage Terms: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0
License: CC BY 2.0
License Link: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0
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