RAF bomber wreck discovered in the North Sea

[Graham T]

Short article from the BBC re a new discovery.  The general opinion is that it's a Stirling & this seems to be based on the fact that many Stirlings went missing whilst carrying put supply trips to Norway; however there must be HUNDREDS of such wrecks in the N Sea of a/c of all types.  The only image released so far shows a wheel & I must confess, having looked at the Stirling's rather complex undercart, I can't reconcile that hoop shaped feature with any of it.  To me it actually looks like a tail wheel but of course there's nothing to give it any scale.

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-tyne-41049104

Edited August 28, 2017 by Graham T

[noelh]

Didn't the Stirling have twin tailwheels? I agree that the photo gives no real clue. Presumably other photos exist which led them to believe it's a Stirling not to mention the survey results. 

It would be nice if it was identified so the crew would be properly remembered. 

[Britman]

If that's a main wheel, then my money might be on a Hampden. 

[Simon]

It was first found in 2012:

 

http://sas.raf38group.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2562

 

and a possible ID is Stirling IV PK225 of 299 Sqn:

 

https://aviation-safety.net/wikibase/wiki.php?id=160190

 

Simon

[12jaguar]

the hoop is the scraper ring on the tail wheel. Some of the images appear o show the glider towing yoke and a part that I recognise from the cockpit floor. I'm in touch with the chap from the National Grid and hope to get a few more higher res pics in time

 

John

[Don149]

Given that there`s nothing to scale it with , it could even be a builders wheelbarrow ! .