London:
Experts from the Royal Air Force (RAF) Museum had spent five weeks preparing to lift the aircraft, which is believed to be the only Dornier Do-17 bomber plane left from the war.
The aircraft was shot down during the Battle of Britain in1940 and the operation to retrieve it was the biggest of its kind in British waters, the museum said. "The discovery and recovery of the Dornier is of national and international importance," said Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, director general of the RAF Museum.
"The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from the Battle of Britain and the Blitz (the Nazis 'intense bombing of London."
The bomber was only discovered in 2008 when it was spotted by divers. Sonar scans confirmed it was a Dornier Do-17.Attempts in the last few weeks to lift the plane 15 metres to the surface had been hampered by strong winds.
Work will now begin to conserve the Dornier and prepare it for display at the museum's London site.
Dye said the plane would provide an "evocative and moving exhibit" that would highlight the sacrifices made by young men from all sides.
"It is a project that has reconciliation and remembrance at its heart," he said.
The Dornier 17 was nicknamed the Luftwaffe's "flyingpencil" because of its narrow fuselage.
The Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940, and ended on October 31 the same year.
More than 2,900 British, Commonwealth and Allied airmen took part in some 600 planes - less than half the 1,750German aircraft involved.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe in what is considered a turning pointing World War II.
Hundreds of German bombers were shot down during the battle, almost all of them were smelted and turned into British aircraft, according to the museum.
The aircraft was shot down during the Battle of Britain in1940 and the operation to retrieve it was the biggest of its kind in British waters, the museum said. "The discovery and recovery of the Dornier is of national and international importance," said Air Vice-Marshal Peter Dye, director general of the RAF Museum.
"The aircraft is a unique and unprecedented survivor from the Battle of Britain and the Blitz (the Nazis 'intense bombing of London."
The bomber was only discovered in 2008 when it was spotted by divers. Sonar scans confirmed it was a Dornier Do-17.Attempts in the last few weeks to lift the plane 15 metres to the surface had been hampered by strong winds.
Work will now begin to conserve the Dornier and prepare it for display at the museum's London site.
Dye said the plane would provide an "evocative and moving exhibit" that would highlight the sacrifices made by young men from all sides.
"It is a project that has reconciliation and remembrance at its heart," he said.
The Dornier 17 was nicknamed the Luftwaffe's "flyingpencil" because of its narrow fuselage.
The Battle of Britain began on July 10, 1940, and ended on October 31 the same year.
More than 2,900 British, Commonwealth and Allied airmen took part in some 600 planes - less than half the 1,750German aircraft involved.
Despite being heavily outnumbered, the RAF defeated the Luftwaffe in what is considered a turning pointing World War II.
Hundreds of German bombers were shot down during the battle, almost all of them were smelted and turned into British aircraft, according to the museum.
Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world
