classic car forum header
Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration.
 FAQFAQ   SearchSearch   MemberlistMemberlist   UsergroupsUsergroups 
 ProfileProfile   Log in to check your private messagesLog in to check your private messages   Log inLog in 
Register     Posting Photographs     Privacy     F/book OCC Facebook     OCC on Patreon

Twenty unused Spitfires found!
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Historic Aviation
Author Message
Castellated nut



Joined: 08 Dec 2007
Posts: 91
Location: Shropshire, UK

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:58 pm    Post subject: Twenty unused Spitfires found! Reply with quote

There was an interesting front-page article in yesterdays Daily Telegraph: apparently, there are 20 unused Mk II Spitfires buried in Burma! Their location has been found by a Lincolnshire farmer, David Cundall. He says "They were buried there in transport crates. They were waxed, wrapped in greased paper and their joints tarred. They will be in near perfect condition".

The story is that they were left there in case they were needed in their independence struggle by the Karen people, who were fighting on our side in the war. That nice Mr Cameron, who happens to be in the area at present, has apparently lent his support to efforts to bring them home.

Over the years there have been a lot of stories of caches of crated inhibited Merlin engines and such like, used as hard-core at the end of the war and concreted over, but as far as I know, none have ever been found. I wouldn't hold your breath, but it would really be quite something if this one turned out to be genuine!

P.S. Have found links to the story, and another in today's paper: Sat 14th Sun 15th Sunday's article says they are Mk XIVs.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Rick
Site Admin


Joined: 27 Apr 2005
Posts: 22423
Location: UK

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 9:38 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I was reading about this, hope they come out better than the '57 Plymouth buried in the States 50-odd years ago Smile

R
_________________
Rick - Admin
Home:https://www.oldclassiccar.co.uk
Videos:https://www.youtube.com/user/oldclassiccarRJ/videos
OCC & classic car merchandise (Austin, Ford ++):
https://www.redbubble.com/people/OldClassicCar/shop
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Greg



Joined: 03 Dec 2007
Posts: 445
Location: Dreamland Margate

PostPosted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 10:36 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wow!...what an amazing find!
....just hope they don't find their way onto E-Bay as 'Barn Find'! Wink Smile
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
JC T ONE



Joined: 30 Oct 2008
Posts: 1139
Location: Denmark

PostPosted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:18 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Cool Cool well done.
_________________
http://www.eurods.eu/wp/index.html
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Visit poster's website
pigtin



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 1879
Location: Herne Bay

PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 7:40 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Anyone heard any more about them?

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9203822/Spitfires-buried-in-Burma-during-war-to-be-returned-to-UK.html
_________________
Due to the onset of my mid eighties I'm no longer sprightly and rarely seen in my Austin special. I have written a book though. https://amzn.eu/d/7rwRRqL
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Penman



Joined: 23 Nov 2007
Posts: 4746
Location: Swindon, Wilts.

PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 8:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi
Me thinks the sale value of Spitfires has just dropped.
_________________
Bristols should always come in pairs.

Any 2 from:-
Straight 6
V8 V10
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
MVPeters



Joined: 28 Aug 2008
Posts: 822
Location: Northern MA, USA

PostPosted: Sat Oct 20, 2012 10:59 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

There is some more recent news - just search for 'Burma spitfires'.

The count of buried planes is now up to 140. Roughly 100 will stay in Burmese ownership, according to the agreement.

The first one may be un-earthed "by the end of the month".
_________________
Mike - MVPeters at comcast.net
2002 MINI Cooper 'S'
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
alec.elliot



Joined: 28 Feb 2012
Posts: 58
Location: Worcestershire

PostPosted: Mon Oct 22, 2012 6:57 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

My dad used to tell me that he had a Morgan 3 wheeler in Durban South Africa at the end of the war when everyone was coming home from the far east.

When it was his time to come home he couldnt sell the Morgan because there were so many cars up for sale at the time,so they ended up pushing it into a lake.

Good grief!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
exbmc



Joined: 18 Jun 2009
Posts: 236
Location: Derby East Midlands

PostPosted: Fri Nov 30, 2012 7:54 pm    Post subject: Buried Spits Reply with quote

David Cundall was on breakfast television this morning. The team searching for these aircraft, have made a bore hole in a spot identified as a burial area. A remote camera has been put down the hole, and what "looks" like an aircraft can be seen. Actual excavation will start early next year, according to Mr Cundall. Good luck to them.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
welshrover



Joined: 09 Aug 2011
Posts: 326

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:07 pm    Post subject: Re: Twenty unused Spitfires found! Reply with quote

[quote="Castellated nut"]home.

Over the years there have been a lot of stories of caches of crated inhibited Merlin engines and such like,
i wonder where the merlin from the foyer at rolls royce in crew has gone, as they moved it when the germans took over as not to offend them when they were thinking of buying R.R.now the frontage is full of poxy audis and vw's .
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Roger-hatchy



Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Posts: 2135
Location: Tiptree, Essex

PostPosted: Fri Dec 21, 2012 1:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I know where there is a Merlin, and I belive he has a griffin as well
The Merlin is on display as you enter his offices.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Jim.Walker



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 1229
Location: Chesterfield

PostPosted: Thu Jan 03, 2013 11:08 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Probably well known now but it seems digging for the Spitfires will start on the twelth of this month.
Fingers crossed!
Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Jim.Walker



Joined: 27 Dec 2008
Posts: 1229
Location: Chesterfield

PostPosted: Fri Jan 11, 2013 1:06 pm    Post subject: BOX FOUND! Reply with quote

The latest on Google Search this morming - Crate full of water found!
They hope that there will still be a Spitfire in good condition when pumped out!
Jim.
_________________
Quote from my late Dad:- You only need a woman and a car and you have all the problems you
are ever likely to want". Computers had not been invented then!
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message
Peter_L



Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Posts: 2680
Location: New Brunswick. Canada.

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 5:46 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

17th January. Reports coming out that they are not there.

Some still say that they are, its just that they have been looking in the wrong place.

The text I read was rather strange as it quotes an eye witness as saying that these dismantled Spitfires were loaded into crates and then buried.

QConfused If you are going to bury them, why load them into crates first ?

Of course it could be a misquote.
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message Send e-mail Visit poster's website
Roger-hatchy



Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Posts: 2135
Location: Tiptree, Essex

PostPosted: Fri Jan 18, 2013 10:09 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I did read that they were still crated and not unpacked and were still as per shipped from UK.
So they would have been packed for sea travel, ie. greased and wrapped for the voyage, I think it was in the 'Aeroplane' magazine a couple of years ago.

Roger
Back to top
View user's profile Send private message AIM Address
Display posts from previous:   
Post new topic   Reply to topic    Classic cars forum & vehicle restoration. Forum Index -> Historic Aviation All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Goto page 1, 2, 3  Next
Page 1 of 3

 
Jump to:  
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
OCC Merch link
Forum T&C


php BB powered © php BB Grp.