YELLOW 16

"Yellow 16" is the codename of a German Focke Wulff 190 aircraft that was located at Herdla military airbase during the 2nd World War. It emergency landed in the sea west of Bergen in 1943 and was raised after 63 years under water. "Yellow 16" was transported to a hangar near Herdla Airbase where she has been cleaned and preserved. The hangar opened for public May 2010, as part of a permanent installation at Herdla Museum. The commisioned sound is a 6 channel work based on recorded air- and underwater sounds.

Yellow 16 / Gul 16
Herdla Museum, Askøy Island, Norway,
Permanent  sound installation since 2010

During the Second World War, Herdlawas a military base for the German Luftwaffe. The air base at Herdla was important for the Germans to defend the west coast of Norway against Allied attacks. Many fortifications were built to hinder possibly invading forces. All civilians had to leave the island. In 1945 they came back to an island full of military installations. In 1943, the German aircraft Focke Wulff 190A, codenamed 'Yellow 16', took off from the airfield Herdla in Norway. Shortly after takeoff, the pilot experienced engine trouble and had to make a controlled emergency landing on the water near the village of Solsvika west of Bergen. The pilot of the 'Yellow 16' was rescued by local fishermen and handed over to German authorities, which in turn released a prisoner held for illegal use of a radio.

On the 1st of November 2006 the Fw-190 was raised from a depth of 60msw.

The exhibition was created by:
Gunnar Furre, Geir Sebjørnsen, Frank Misje, Maia Urstad, and local enthusiasts.

>>  Back to sound installations

>> Back to works