Underwater Archaeology: Recovering a Lost World War II Airplane Wreck from the Lakebed

During World War II, a massive air battle unfolded over Hungary, resulting in the loss of several Hungarian pilots, including Corporal Sándor Beregszászi, whose Messerschmitt fighter crashed into Lake Balaton.
In September 2020, as part of a military exercise, Hungarian Defense Forces divers located the wreckage submerged under mud. The aircraft, a Hungarian-made Messerschmitt Me 109G6, is historically significant, as no other surviving examples are known.
After years of preparation, in October 2023, the Military History Institute and Museum of the (Hungarian) Ministry of Defense -, the HDF General Staff arranged for the preparation of the recovery of the wreckage.
NORBIT supported the major recovery operation with multibeam sonar systems. During the operation, key components of the plane, including the propeller hub, weapons, engine, and fuselage sections, were retrieved. These finds confirmed the plane's identity, offering a vital connection to Hungary's WWII military and industrial history.

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More on the aircraft and less on the recovery team