Indentification of aircraft part found on Norfolk beach (UK).

[Invictaman]

It might be helpful if you could identify the beach where the relic was found. There were not too many German aircraft brought down over/off there and I can look at possible candidates.

Hi BC1
The beach concerned was between Salthouse and Weybourne on the North Norfolk Coast. The 2 main wrecks up there are a Heinkel HE111 near Cley Next the Sea and a Ju88 nearer to Sheringham as I only found this piece this last Saturday (17 Oct) I would doubt it was either of these. I am very intrigued by this piece as it is the largest bit I have found, the others are too small to identify. Looking forward to hearing from you.

 

[Invictaman]

The head of the fastener in the structure - is there any way to determine if it's metric or standard?

I measured the bolt and it was 15mm.

 

[Invictaman]

I would ask firstly where are the rivets if it was from aircraft. Even if the plane would be crashed there were remained rivets, at least a couple of them.,.

There are rivet holes but no rivet heads, this piece has been washed around for some time.

 

[Wurger]

So the rivets must have been of the sugar.
Strange. It is first time I see a such part without rivets even if a plane was crashed and fell apart entirely.

 

[FLYBOYJ]

I measured the bolt and it was 15mm.

Excellent! Then the odds are its not from an American aircraft.

 

[A4K]

Not able to help, but nice find mate!

 

[Kingscoy]

No markings on top of the fastener? Sometimes they are marked.

 

[Invictaman]

No markings on top of the fastener? Sometimes they are marked.

Sadly no, there is very little to go on. I've just got a book of pictures of cutaway WW2 aircraft and the only one with corrugations like mine is a Whitley bomber! The plot thickens.

 

[Invictaman]

Junkers Ju 52 ?View attachment 513629

That looks interesting, i wonder if the debris could travel across the North Sea. Did any of these fly close to the UK during the war do you know?

 

[Wurger]

IMHO iit is not the kind of corrugating used for the Ju Tente.

 

[Invictaman]

IMHO iit is not the kind of corrugating used for the Ju Tente.

I guess that rules one plane out then!

 

[Wurger]

I must agree. If it is from a plane it would be from interior rather than used as metal skin.

Is the metal you found steel or aluminium ?

 

[Invictaman]

I must agree. If it is from a plane it would be from interior rather than used as metal skin.

Is the metal you found steel or aluminium ?

Aluminium !

 

[Wurger]

OK.

 

[Invictaman]

OK.

There is one rivet and the aluminium is of a fairly thick gauge.

 

[vikingBerserker]

I've seen corrugated that was flattened on the top in boats.

 

[Invictaman]

I've seen corrugated that was flattened on the top in boats.

This has always been a possibility that`s why I am 99.9% sure it was part of an aircraft.

 

[MiTasol]

So the rivets must have been of the sugar.
Strange. It is first time I see a such part without rivets even if a plane was crashed and fell apart entirely.

I have found some British rivets corrode badly and you can flip the rivet head off with your finger nail. Not seen that on American rivets and I have absolutely zero experience of Continental rivets from ww2

 

[Invictaman]

I have found some British rivets corrode badly and you can flip the rivet head off with your finger nail. Not seen that on American rivets and I have absolutely zero experience of Continental rivets from ww2

That`s sounds helpful as the only rivet on there has no head and the shank that is left behind is badly corroded, thanks for the post!