Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin - Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-2; Werk Nr. 5052
Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-2; Werk Nr 5052
This aircraft was knocked down by ground fire on 11 January 1943 while attacking a Russian train. Flying as one of four aircraft from 13(Z)/JG5, the aircraft received hits in its fuel tanks. Heading for home base at Kemijarvi in Finland, the pilot realized he was not going to make it and belly landed on a frozen lake between Murmansk and Leningrad. The crew was rescued the next day but when the ice thawed, the Messerschmitt sank and remained at the bottom of the lake until recovered it was recovered in 1992.
In 1992, with the opening of the Soviet Union, British aircraft restorer Jim Pearce recovered two Messerschnitt Bf 110s from a lake in Murmansk, Russia. Both were sold to Sir Tim Wallis's Alpine Fighter Collection in New Zealand for restoration back to flying status. However, it was later decided to sell the aircraft and in February 1997 they were acquired by the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin (Berlin Technical Museum), in Germany.
A team of retired Dornier employees tackled the project and the aircraft were transferred to their headquarters at Friedrichshafen. It was decided to concentrate on Bf 110 F-2 Werknr 5052 code LN+NR for the rebuild.
Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin - Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-2; Werk Nr. 5052
Messerschmitt Bf 110 F-2; Werk Nr 5052
This aircraft was knocked down by ground fire on 11 January 1943 while attacking a Russian train. Flying as one of four aircraft from 13(Z)/JG5, the aircraft received hits in its fuel tanks. Heading for home base at Kemijarvi in Finland, the pilot realized he was not going to make it and belly landed on a frozen lake between Murmansk and Leningrad. The crew was rescued the next day but when the ice thawed, the Messerschmitt sank and remained at the bottom of the lake until recovered it was recovered in 1992.
In 1992, with the opening of the Soviet Union, British aircraft restorer Jim Pearce recovered two Messerschnitt Bf 110s from a lake in Murmansk, Russia. Both were sold to Sir Tim Wallis's Alpine Fighter Collection in New Zealand for restoration back to flying status. However, it was later decided to sell the aircraft and in February 1997 they were acquired by the Deutsches Technikmuseum Berlin (Berlin Technical Museum), in Germany.
A team of retired Dornier employees tackled the project and the aircraft were transferred to their headquarters at Friedrichshafen. It was decided to concentrate on Bf 110 F-2 Werknr 5052 code LN+NR for the rebuild.