[ERTNews]
A Cretan fisherman landed a catch of a lifetime when he hauled in the remains of a wing from what is believed to be a Junkers Ju 88 bomber from World War II.
The find was made in the sea area off the city of Iraklio, between Linoperamata and the island of Dia, at a depth of around 70 to 80 meters, when the wreckage got tangled in trawler nets.
Upon the vessel returning to port, the wreckage was removed from the nets with the assistance of port authority officials, who in turn notified the local underwater antiquities ephorate.
According to reports, the unusual catch consists of a wing, measuring 15 meters in length and 2 meters wide.
The president of the local fishermen’s association, Yiannis Androulakis, described the wreckage as being in very good condition, despite being at the bottom of the sea for decades.
Specialist archaeologists have commenced the process of conserving the artefact.
The Junkers Ju 88 was a twin-engined multirole combat aircraft designed and produced by the German aircraft manufacturer Junkers. It was used extensively during the Second World War by the Luftwaffe and became one of the most versatile combat aircraft of the conflict.
During its wartime occupation of Crete, the Germans used Iraklio airport as a central base to support Rommel’s Afrika Korps and attack Allied convoys.