A bomber’s last flight

This was the “money shot” when the last surviving Dornier 17 German bomber was raised from the English channel today.

RAMSGATE, ENGLAND - JUNE 10:  A World War II Dornier 17 aircraft is lifted from waters of the English Channel on June 10, 2013 in Ramsgate, England.  (Photo by Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)

The RAF Museum, which intends to restore the bomber, says it’s using “cutting edge restoration techniques” to “stop corrosion in its tracks.”

It sure looks too late but the BBC says the goal is to stop the plane from “drying out” and getting any worse. That will take the next 15 to 18 months.

The initial plan is to display it in the “as is” condition, although the BBC says the idea of restoring it to its previous condition hasn’t been ruled out entirely. Judging by its condition, the idea pretty much can be.