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Squadron of lost WWII Spitfires to be exhumed.
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Author | Message |
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kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
It shall be interesting to see if they actually get them out of Burma. "Like a treasure chest stuffed with priceless booty, as many as 20 World War II-era Spitfire planes are perfectly preserved, buried in crates beneath Burma -- and after 67 years underground, they're set to be uncovered." Spitfire treasure hunt. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
James Sotherden Send message Joined: 16 May 99 Posts: 10436 Credit: 110,373,059 RAC: 54 |
If they can, There are many peolpe who would buy them up. [/quote] Old James |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
If they can, There are many peolpe who would buy them up. I am sure they would be worth many millions. I am equally sure that some ownership questions shall arise. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Stuff the ownership questions....it'll be absolutely great to see them fly. |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Stuff the ownership questions....it'll be absolutely great to see them fly. If it truly does come to that, it shall be quite an event, without a doubt. And these were apparently a higher performance version than many. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
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James Sotherden Send message Joined: 16 May 99 Posts: 10436 Credit: 110,373,059 RAC: 54 |
Hopefully they have a bunch of rare spare parts to. [/quote] Old James |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Nice one Cameron - bout time you did something right Wonderful stuff. I hope it comes to pass. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Hopefully they have a bunch of rare spare parts to. Easy, renovate 15 & use the other 5 for parts. @Mark. Yes, totally agree, I wouldn't care what the entry fee cost, I'd be there at the air show with them all flying. |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Have been doing a spot of research & had some luck. Can't be 100% sure, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they turn out to be either Mk 14's or Mk 18's. These were fitted with the Griffin 65 engines. |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Have been doing a spot of research & had some luck. Can't be 100% sure, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if they turn out to be either Mk 14's or Mk 18's. The article I first linked to mentioned the Griffon engines as being something other that standard...and far more powerful...... "The Spitfire Mark XIV planes are rare for more than one reason: They used Rolls Royce Griffon engines rather than the Merlins used in earlier models to achieve tremendous speeds. Griffon-powered planes could reach 440 mph thanks to the hefty, 2,050-horsepower engines." "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Ys, that's why I think they're either 14's 18's Mark, as the articles show that they were shipped to Burma but by the time they arrived, jets were taking over. At that time, most of the RAF & RAAF in PTO were being equipped with the later models. I really do hope that Cameron follows this through (should do as he is genuinely interested in the project) & ensure that they go to am established & reputable company, so that many can enjoy the beauty of those aircraft in flight. It would also take the pressure off the RAF in keeping their spitfire airworthy & I hope that whoever gets them, presents one to the RAF for their Battle of Britain Memorial Flight...that would be the icing on the cake. |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Ys, that's why I think they're either 14's 18's Mark, as the articles show that they were shipped to Burma but by the time they arrived, jets were taking over. You have far much more emotional interest in this than I do. I simply thought it very interesting. And still do. I posted it because of the relatively large contingent of ex-servicemen and other folks that I thought it might peak the smile of. The kitties sniff these things out from time to time, and really luv to share. I would love to see them fly again myself. If just for the historical viewpoint. But I am sure your love of the planes is more worthy than mine. And rightfully so. Meow. "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Not so much emotional Mark, I just think it was/is a beautiful aircraft. On a more personal note, one of my uncles actually flew a Spit in WWII & was shot down 3 times - once at Dunkirk, 2nd during the Battle of Britain & the 3rd time at Falaise in August 1944. The 3rd time, he was severely injured & after the war, was told that the cold climate of England was detrimental to his health so he immigrated to Australia & married there in 1948. After all that he went through in the war, only to die in a road traffic accident in 1964 is sad. To have more of those aircraft in perfect condition & flying will help to keep the memories of men like my uncle alive for another 50 years. |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Amen. Oh, I guess in these days I should just post a +1... "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Amen. No need, you continue posting the way you do. I enjoy reading your posts. Just make sure you & Lori take good care of yourselves. |
kittyman Send message Joined: 9 Jul 00 Posts: 51468 Credit: 1,018,363,574 RAC: 1,004 |
Amen. Spoke to her tonight..... She had a dinner with one of her old lost friends...... LOL, she did not call me until the late hours of the night. I too, must sleep now. And pray some more for her, as I would ask those so inclined to do so too. I'll be about tomorrow some time. G'night....... "Freedom is just Chaos, with better lighting." Alan Dean Foster |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
Yes, saw this in the media a week ago. Absolutely marvellous news and they think they could be worth a £million each. But price is academic, just to see some of them flying again would be brilliant. But they have to find them first! They've found them & just waiting to have them dug up & transported home. |
Nick Send message Joined: 11 Oct 11 Posts: 4344 Credit: 3,313,107 RAC: 0 |
I wounder if they also shipped out a few Lancaster bombers too and buried them alongside the spits as well... that would be great news. ...There'll be bluebirds over the white cliffs of Dover tomorrow just you wait and see... ...Grand stuff.... The Kite Fliers -------------------- Kite fliers: An imaginary club of solo members, those who don't yet belong to a formal team so "fly their own kites" - as the saying goes. |
Sirius B Send message Joined: 26 Dec 00 Posts: 24877 Credit: 3,081,182 RAC: 7 |
They THINK they have found them, but they haven't dug any up yet .... “We also realised that we were not searching deep enough as they had filled in all of these bomb craters which were 20-feet to start with." “I hired another machine in the UK that went down to 40-feet and after going back surveying the land many times, I eventually found them." Just waiting to dig them up now. |
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