Spitfires in Burma

[Reno_Steve]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9203822/Spitfires-buried-in-Burma-during-war-to-be-returned-to-UK.html

I wonder how many other aircraft are buried in perfect condition in crates around the world. Many were thrown of ships at sea but I guess the water pressure would have crushed them.

[BuckyD]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

Eureka!!! What an incredible research triumph & warbird bonanza find, which even facilitated an extraordinary goodwill exercise between nations in this day & age. Hip-hip, hoorah!!!

Thanks Reno Steve f/your thoughtfulness in posting this momentus news f/board goers. Made my day to read it.

DBD

[ArmyMP]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

Read it on indytransponder as well. This is definitely a win for Spitfire fans the world over.

Next question is how many people will be standing in line with BIG check books to get a little piece of history? Guess we'll see......

[Coyote Chris]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

If they are really there, and even if they are in "poor" condition, I hope they film the recovery. It would make a great TV special. "Raiders of the Lost Spits."
Please dont have just a bunch of yahoos with endloaders smashing through the crates.
BTW, things like this do happen...about 2002, hundreds of tons of antique rifles and cannon were found in an old Palace in Nepal and brought to the US.

http://www.nramuseum.com/media/363885/Aug%2004%20Treasures%20From%20Nepal.pdf

[RBriscoe]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

What is especially interesting is that some of them were still in shipping crates.

[taglialavore]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

Good news.
Well, I hope to see an Spitfire Class in Reno.

[Arctic Cat]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

I'll wait and see what comes up out of the hole before I get to excited. I remeber a few years back they were gonna pick up a whole squadron of complete p-38's out of the ice, and they came back with a "pile of junk" Yeah it became Glacier Girl

[xmh53wrench]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

What an amazing story!! This would be great if it all comes to pass.
IMO the Spitfire is second only to our P-51 in great lines!
I finished this up last night





Its a made up paint scheme, but I had a blast building it.

[C_roundy]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

Good news.
Well, I hope to see an Spitfire Class in Reno.

Here, Here! - We will never EVER get a better justification for our loong overdue Spitfire class than this.

thought experiment: Just imagine the U.K. race going contingent's numbers, beer supply logistics, etc. Don't minor wars still start right in the stands of European football games on occasion?

[mgbf4u]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

Good Job XMH.
It's just fabulous to hear of such a recovery. Ya'll take care of them.
I'd love to see one fly.

[AirDOGGe]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

I'll wait and see what comes up out of the hole before I get to excited. I remember a few years back they were gonna pick up a whole squadron of complete p-38's out of the ice, and they came back with a "pile of junk" Yeah it became Glacier Girl

Or that entombed '57 Plymouth they "exhumed" after half a century only to find that invading moisture had over time fully submerged it in water for years, turning it into a wasted rust-bucket.



We can only hope the air forces packing techniques stand the test of time better.

...........Actual photo of a Spitfire being crated ...........





Another report said the main worry would be water damage if any seeped into the crates.

Otherwise these quoted statements present much hope:

"Mr Cundall said: “We sent a borehole down and used a camera to look at the crates. They seemed to be in good condition." "





"Ground radar images showed that inside the crates were (Griffen-powered!) Spitfires with their wings packed alongside the fuselages. "





"...But if the crates didn’t get waterlogged, the Spitfires might be in pretty amazing condition. It’s also encouraging that they put teak beams over the crates so they wouldn’t be crushed by the earth when they were buried."






And there may be even more findings..cross your fingers:

"Mr Cundall also raised the tantalising prospect that there may be more buried Spitfires out there.

“It’s possible there are other Spitfires buried around different sites in Burma. I have heard about 36 in one burial; 18 in another; 6 in another. And when they were buried, they would have been brand new, never taken out of the box.”

Mr Brooks, however, cautioned: “People have spent decades scouring the earth for Spitfires. If other aeroplanes are there, they may be very difficult to find.” "



Full text of the other article these quotes came from can be read at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/de...-in-Burma.html


.

[FuryFan]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

"they put teak beams over the crates"

They can send me the teak.........some day that stuff is gonna go the way of Brazilian Rosewood......unobtanium!

Kevin

[Coyote Chris]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

ok, now I really want to see a BBC special on unearthing and unpacking these things.....
"Snakes....why did there have to be snakes......."

[planecrazy2]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

I just placed my order for one of the nicer ones. It should be here in San Diego next week. We will have it ready to race in September.

See you there.

[N22252]

Re: Spitfires in Burma

I just placed my order for one of the nicer ones. It should be here in San Diego next week. We will have it ready to race in September.

See you there.

OK, while we're talking fantasy stuff... If there's to be a racing class made up of crate-fresh, 0-time Spitfires, may we please have Bob Hoover in the pace plane?