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Burma Spitfires to be dug up.

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Dave Masterson	Posted: Jan 4 2013, 06:05 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: Members Posts: 528 Member No.: 25 Joined: 24-June 05	Well it looks like the story of the 36 Spitfires buried in Burma is fair dinkum. Digging will statrt this month and it is said that the 1st one will be recovered this month also. They are the Mk14 version. This will be very interesting ;) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBLJ_Sebarg

Brendan Cowan	Posted: Jan 5 2013, 09:21 AM
Messageboard Co-ordinator Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,458 Member No.: 48 Joined: 20-September 05	Thanks Dave, The story had gone quiet for a while so it's grat to hear that progress is being made. Cheers Brendan

Rod Farquhar	Posted: Jan 5 2013, 04:09 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05	I read somewhere that they were buried a considerable depth, given the size of the crates it must have been a monumental job to dig the hole. Rod ^_^

Dave Masterson	Posted: Jan 5 2013, 04:44 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: Members Posts: 528 Member No.: 25 Joined: 24-June 05	G'day Rod Yes I saw a clip the other day and apparently they are about 9 mts under ground B) Apparently the guy digging them up is dead certain that they are there. A lot of money has been invested in this venture. He states that from research using ground penetrating radar,and witness statements, there are two lots of aircraft down there. One section containing 24 aircraft and the other 12. Anyway we will all see in several weeks the truth of the matter and whether or not the remains are in reasonable condition. They are supposed to be buried below the water table.

Martin Edwards	Posted: Jan 6 2013, 02:44 PM
FA-18F Super Hornet (A44) Group: ADF Serials Admin Posts: 2,206 Member No.: 27 Joined: 25-June 05	From the Phantom comes an interesting article that may relevant to the Burma recoveries http://www.reuters.com/article/2007/06/16/...628272520070616

Dave Masterson	Posted: Jan 6 2013, 05:16 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: Members Posts: 528 Member No.: 25 Joined: 24-June 05	Yes that is the risk. The Spits were buried in timber crates :( :unsure:

Brendan Cowan

Posted: Jan 11 2013, 02:17 PM

Messageboard Co-ordinator

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Posts: 2,458
Member No.: 48
Joined: 20-September 05

From the Phantom:

QUOTE

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-20957162

9 January 2013 Last updated at 13:24 GMT

Burma Spitfire hunters discover crate

David Cundall says finding the crate is "very encouraging"

British experts looking for a cache of World War II Spitfire planes believed to be buried in Burma say they have discovered a crate.

The team has lowered a camera into the crate in the Kachin state capital Myitkyina, but says muddy water has stopped them identifying the contents.

Project leader David Cundall described the development as "very encouraging".

The team believes that more than 120 unused Spitfires could be buried in sites across Burma.

"We've gone into a box, but we have hit this water problem. It's murky water and we can't really see very far," Mr Cundall told reporters in Rangoon, Burma's main city.

"It will take some time to pump the water out... but I do expect all aircraft to be in very good condition," he added.

Team member Stanley Coombe, 91, says he saw Spitfires being buried in Burma
Mr Cundall said a survey was being carried out at the site to locate any modern-day obstacles like electricity cables. He said they hoped to begin excavating within days.

The team hopes to find about 18 Spitfires in Myitkyina, where it has been digging since last month.

It is planning further excavations at Rangoon international airport, where it believes 36 planes are buried, and in the central city of Meiktila.

Research suggests the planes were buried in near-pristine condition by US engineers as the war drew to a close.

Finding out where they were buried has taken 17 years of research by Mr Cundall - a farmer from the Isle of Axholme, North Lincolnshire - and his fellow enthusiasts.

Geophysicists from the University of Leeds have also helped with the investigation.

Among the team is 91-year-old war veteran Stanley Coombe, who says he witnessed the burial of the aircraft.

"I never thought I would be allowed to come back and see where Spitfires have been buried," he said.

"It's been a long time since anybody believed what I said until David Cundall came along."

Only an estimated 40 to 50 Spitfires are believed to be airworthy today.

Mr Cundall said the practice of burying surplus military equipment was common at the end of the war.

Rod Farquhar	Posted: Jan 20 2013, 09:42 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05	Not good news coming out of Burma. In today's Sunday Mail a small article saying they have not been able to find any of the supposed Spitfires. Rod ;)

Aardvark	Posted: Jan 21 2013, 08:13 AM
General Dynamics F-111 (A8) Group: Members Posts: 241 Member No.: 3,706 Joined: 1-October 10	Further to Rod's post http://www.smh.com.au/world/dogfight-begin...0119-2czyf.html

Dave Masterson	Posted: Jan 21 2013, 09:24 AM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: Members Posts: 528 Member No.: 25 Joined: 24-June 05	Ouch :o ^_^ that is one very costly and embarrassing exercise.

Brendan Cowan

Posted: Jan 21 2013, 12:18 PM

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Posts: 2,458
Member No.: 48
Joined: 20-September 05

From the Phantom:

QUOTE

NO Spitfires found buried in Burma: Decades-long hunt for missing WWII planes ends in disappointment

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-22...-long-hunt.html

Rod Farquhar	Posted: Jan 21 2013, 09:12 PM
C-17A Globemaster III (A41) Group: ADF Serials Team Posts: 789 Member No.: 4 Joined: 1-June 05	The statement by Simon Parry pretty much sums up my thoughts on the story, it would be one hell of a dig with todays machinery let alone what was available in those times. Rod

JeffK

Posted: Jan 24 2013, 04:37 PM

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QUOTE (Aardvark @ Jan 21 2013, 08:13 AM)

Further to Rod's post

http://www.smh.com.au/world/dogfight-begin...0119-2czyf.html

The code letters on the picture seem to be appropriate. :P

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