1. DDz Quorum Painless Posted April 14, 2012 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 14, 2012 Actually FOUND in Burma. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9203822/Spitfires-buried-in-Burma-during-war-to-be-returned-to-UK.html cheers Mick Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaBear Posted April 14, 2012 Share Posted April 14, 2012 Yeah caught it on the news tonight, will be interesting to see what condition they are in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Streak Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 That is VERY cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_O_A_D Posted April 15, 2012 Share Posted April 15, 2012 I wonder if they were packed in cosmolean <spelling? I sort of doubt it since they were intended to be placed right into service. 40 feet would probably stop most oxygen, but not water seep I don't think. Were RAP shipping them in wooden crates, or steel? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2. Administrators Jabo Posted April 15, 2012 2. Administrators Share Posted April 15, 2012 Not sure in this case Todd, but the pictures I've seen of Hurricanes being unpacked on Malta shows metal container-style crates. I'd like to think that there are 60-odd 'new' Spitfires there just waiting to be unearthed but somehow I doubt it's that simple. Jabo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Brando Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Can't really say I've ever trusted the Daily Telegraph further than I can spit. Only a Tory-backed rag could print a line like "...... iconic Spitfire aircraft buried in Burma during the Second World War are to be repatriated to Britain after an intervention by David Cameron." I can't help thinking that the phrase "repatriated to Britain" is entirely inappropriate and disrespectful too, considering the number of British soldiers whose deaths have really earned that soubriquet in the last decade. As some wag stated, "... a squadron of Spitfires? Well, at least we will have something to fly off our new carriers!" Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1. DDz Quorum Painless Posted April 16, 2012 Author 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 16, 2012 ~S~ Chaps, I'm not really concerned with the politics of the matter I just, (like the old fellow who has spent 15 years trying to find them) would LOVE to see some or all of them fly again ! It would be fanastic (if unlikely) to imaging a squadron of Mk II's rushing across the Duxford grass on an actual SCRAMBLE to straff a confirmed Taliban convoy on the M1 heading for London!! I wonder what will eventually happen to them ? Scattered to the four winds to private ownership? All sold to Alan Sugar /Richard Branson/ Elton John ? It's all just a "Scramble in the wind" BTW: are there any other MkII's flying anywhere ? ~S~ P. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Brando Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 Yeah. Sorry to rain on your parade Mick - nothing personal. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1. DDz Quorum Painless Posted April 16, 2012 Author 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 16, 2012 ~S~ Brando M8, Hey no worries my friend I dislike nearly all things political as a default setting LOL Now all we need is 100+ 109F's in crates found buried just outside of Dublin ! (to make it a fair fight) Mick. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Arthur Posted April 16, 2012 Share Posted April 16, 2012 I just have a great deal of trouble believing there's anything down there period. Nothing has been found yet. This isn't the same team that "found" a Short Sunderland in Lake Windermere is it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2. Administrators Jabo Posted April 17, 2012 2. Administrators Share Posted April 17, 2012 This isn't the same team that "found" a Short Sunderland in Lake Windermere is it? Lol - yes, I recall that was a bit of a bust Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluBear Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 ~S~ Chaps, I'm not really concerned with the politics of the matter I just, (like the old fellow who has spent 15 years trying to find them) would LOVE to see some or all of them fly again ! It would be fanastic (if unlikely) to imaging a squadron of Mk II's rushing across the Duxford grass on an actual SCRAMBLE to straff a confirmed Taliban convoy on the M1 heading for London!! I wonder what will eventually happen to them ? Scattered to the four winds to private ownership? All sold to Alan Sugar /Richard Branson/ Elton John ? It's all just a "Scramble in the wind" BTW: are there any other MkII's flying anywhere ? ~S~ P. Mick The only currently airworthy MkII is the BBMF example IIRC. There are now three MkI's though, which is jolly nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Bongodriver Posted April 17, 2012 Share Posted April 17, 2012 I read in an article they are Mk14's and it's actually just 16 aircraft with a further 4 only potential, quite amazing story on how the chap came to start looking for these things, he overheard a group of US veterans talking about weird stuff they did during the war and one guy mentioned burying these spits, the story sounds like it's gone beyond just speculation, apparently this guy has made a borehole to get cameras to look at the crates and they look fine, the location is secret. TOAD the spelling you are looking for is Cosmoline....but that stuff was really for preserving firearms http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/destinations/asia/burma/9204921/British-farmers-quest-to-find-lost-Spitfires-in-Burma.html 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T_O_A_D Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Thanks, great link too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1. DDz Quorum Painless Posted April 18, 2012 Author 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 18, 2012 ~S~ Chasps, It would be really incredible if even one airworthy Spit was assembled from the "crates" but I too have some doubts about the condition they might be in. There is still the possibility that nothing worthwhile will be recovered but I'm going to keep an open mind. Just to reassure myself that I still have a few "optimistic" bones left in my body at 51.......I will bet £5 sterling with any ONE DD that there is a Spit or Spits found in a recoverable to airworthyness condition ! Bet to be settled at Duxford.(2075) ~S~ Penniless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Arthur Posted April 18, 2012 Share Posted April 18, 2012 Ooooohhhhhh. Five whole pounds? Tempting. Very tempting. Before I put my wife's money where my mouth is, it strikes me that all they've got to dig up is the plate thingy wiv' the important numbers on and Bob's yer uncle we can build you a spitty sir!! I mean the one they dug out of the beach at Le Tourquet and "restored" how much of that was in the thing we see flying around today? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1. DDz Quorum FoolTrottel Posted April 19, 2012 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 19, 2012 Ooooohhhhhh. Five whole pounds? Tempting. Very tempting. Before I put my wife's money where my mouth is, it strikes me that all they've got to dig up is the plate thingy wiv' the important numbers on and Bob's yer uncle we can build you a spitty sir!! I mean the one they dug out of the beach at Le Tourquet and "restored" how much of that was in the thing we see flying around today? Ooooohhhhhh. Five whole pounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2. Administrators Jabo Posted April 19, 2012 2. Administrators Share Posted April 19, 2012 English pounds? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tonar Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 You guys don't use euros??? I am Cornfused Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DD_Bongodriver Posted April 19, 2012 Share Posted April 19, 2012 Not in the UK we don't Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2. Administrators Jabo Posted April 19, 2012 2. Administrators Share Posted April 19, 2012 Euros? Pfft I think not. Mind you just cos we're not in the single currency, doesn't mean we're exempt from paying out millions to bail out banks that are...Moving on... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadAim Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 Wow, this is amazing! Five pounds English? That's got to be worth like a million Lira, which I could then trade for 1 yen, which would then get me a nickel which isn't worth a damn thing except for the scrap value of the metal, but hey it's something. Your on, even though I actually believe the story, I mean it's to freaking crazy to be false! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1. DDz Quorum Painless Posted April 20, 2012 Author 1. DDz Quorum Share Posted April 20, 2012 ~S~ BA M8, As you know you are my spiritual mentor so I'm not sure that I would feel comfortable taking your money !!! LMAO Seriously, I know all the arguments against these Spits (MK XIVs apparantly) being buried in the first place rather than destroyed, being stored to last, and surviving all these years in such a wet climate BUT........One reason for their careful burial has been voiced and that is... because there was a certain amount of capture, retreat, re capture going on within that area at the time, the Spits were buried with the intensioin of being dug up for use by the allies undiscovered by the Japs at a later date. Also the Burmese government are trying to get in with the west right now so they will not stand in the way of the recovery operation. What do you think chaps ?? ~S~ Painless Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BadAim Posted April 20, 2012 Share Posted April 20, 2012 I think it's quite possible, if not entirely plausible. But I don't really think it's any more crazy an idea than finding a Focke Wulf in a forest in Russia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2. Administrators fruitbat Posted April 20, 2012 2. Administrators Share Posted April 20, 2012 i think the 'being buried to be dug up later' is pure BS, they were buried because they were not needed imo. At that time there was no retreat etc going on, japan was loosing the war. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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