Leemans Special Works news stories

Recovery of Vickers Wellington Successfully Completed

Leemans Aircraft Recovery has successfully completed the recovery of the British warplane Vickers Wellington HE346 in Holwert, Friesland. During the operation, which began on July 29, several valuable discoveries were made, including human remains, personal items such as a leather flying cap and an oxygen mask, as well as parts of the aircraft like the engines, landing gear, and the gun turret.

To carry out the recovery safely, Leemans Aircraft Recovery had to excavate almost 100 meters of seawall and install a construction pit and temporary water barrier up to 8 meters deep. The complexity of the operation was high, given the proximity to the storm season. Nonetheless, the task was completed well before the October 1 deadline.

German Family Visits Recovery of Warplane in Hallum

 Leemans Aircraft Recovery has been called upon to recover the aircraft wrecks that crashed during World War II. This effort not only brings valuable historical material to the surface but also offers solace to the families of the fallen pilots, even after so many years. For the family of the German pilot Georg Wilhelm, who crashed his Messerschmitt in the Noarderleech near Hallum on July 16, 1943, the recovery was an emotional moment. They were present at the crash site to witness the start of the recovery.

The Messerschmitt BF 109 was a German fighter plane that went into a dive, presumably due to a piloting error by the then 21-year-old Wilhelm. After his fatal crash, the wreck remained in the marshy area, which the Germans marked as a field grave. The recovery by Leemans is the first physical action since the aircraft’s crash and holds both historical and human significance.

News: Aircraft recovery Lancaster ED 603 near Breezanddijk

In September, Leemans Aircraft Recovery will begin the salvage of the Lancaster ED 603, a bomber wreck located several kilometres off the coast of Breezanddijk in the IJsselmeer. For updates and information about the salvage operation, visit this page.

The Lancaster was shot down by a German night fighter on the night of 12 June 1943, killing all seven crew members. Four of the young men washed up on the shore of the IJsselmeer several weeks after the crash. They were laid to rest in the cemeteries in Workum, Stavoren and Hindeloopen.

The remains of the other three crew members may still be in the plane. The initiative to salvage the Lancaster came from the relatives of the fallen servicemen. “The relatives have requested the recovery of the remains of their relatives to give them a dignified final resting place,” said Petra van den Akker, Alderman for Culture.

Leemans Speciaalwerken will carry out the work in cooperation with the Dutch Ministry of Defence on behalf of the municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân. The operation will take several weeks, mainly because part of the IJsselmeer will be drained to recover the plane.

Leemans used the same method to recover a Vickers Wellington near Lemmer in 2016.

The recovery of the Lancaster ED 603 is part of the Dutch National Programme for Aircraft Recovery. The Municipality of Súdwest-Fryslân serves as the client, while the Ministry of the Interior and Kingdom Relations and the Ministry of Defence support the municipality with funding and advice on the salvage.

News: Aircraft recovery Lancaster R5682 Warten

News: Aircraft recovery IJsselmeer:

Aircraft recovery IJsselmeer

During the night of the 9th May, 1941 a British bomber was shot down above the IJsselmeer by the Germans. Apparently, it was a Vickers Wellington with six crew members, of which two are still missing. Because the aircraft has bombs on board, it must be recovered. Leemans will drain a part of the IJsselmeer in order to recover the plane. It’s the first time it happened this way in the Netherlands. The recovery will take about a month in collaboration with the municipality Fryske Marren and the Dutch Royal Air Force.

News: Recovery of a F-5 aircraft near De Bodde in Bitgum