Lost Spitfire Squadron Found

[Solid Lifters]

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Lost_Spitfire_Squadron_206526-1.html

Lost Squadron Of Pickled Spitfires Found Email this article |Print this article

By Russ Niles, Editor-in-Chief

Aviation historians and warbird enthusiasts are drooling at the discovery of at least 12 and maybe as many 20 perfectly preserved brand-new Spitfire Mark 14s buried in Myanmar, which was formerly Burma. Thanks to the tenacity (and apparently considerable diplomatic skills) of British farmer David Cundall, the lost squadron of pristine fighters was found where they were buried by U.S. troops in 1945 when it became clear they wouldn't be needed in the final days of the Second World War. At least a dozen of the aircraft, one of the latest variants with their 2,035-horsepower Roll Royce Griffon engines replacing the 1,200-1,500-horsepower Merlins in earlier models, were buried without ever being removed from their original packing crates. It's possible another eight were also buried after the war ended. After spending 15 years and $200,000 of his own money, Cundall was rewarded with visual proof of the magnitude of his discovery. "We sent a borehole down and used a camera to look at the crates," he told the Telegraph. "They seemed to be in good condition."

The aircraft were declared surplus when they arrived in Burma because the Japanese were in retreat by then and carrier-based Seafires were getting all the action. They were ordered buried in their original crates, waxed, swaddled in grease paper and their joints tarred against the elements. Cundall found some of the soldiers who buried the planes by placing ads in magazines and was able to narrow down the search before using ground-penetrating radar to confirm the burial site. The next obstacles to recovery are political. Myanmar's former military junta was under a variety of sanctions, among them an international convention that prevented the transfer of military goods to and from the country. Recent political reforms have led to the lifting of that ban effective April 23. Cundall will also need the permission of the new Myanmar government to unearth the treasure. He helped his own cause by making numerous trips to the country and earning the trust of government officials. British Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to seal the deal with Myanmar President Thein Sein during a visit.

 

[Lizard]

Something that teh mighty Famine doesnt know much about (Ok I will stop bragging that I found the mighty ones weakness.)

Mk14's would likely have clipped wings for better role rate and speed so they most likely wont have the famous wings. Although I believe this was based on pilots preference as it reduced agility a bit so I am not 100% sure on that but diving on your enemy became the prefered tactic towards the end of the war rather than trying to out turn them as if you dive on them they can only dodge and thats hard, it is imposible to do an immediate counter.

 

[Azure Flare]

👍

 

[Coxis]

Wow, very interesting news!

I'm sort of a warbird aficionado, but I don't know many nor much about them. They're certainly an epic sight to be sure!

 

[CodeRedR51]

In for pics.

 

[mattythedog]

Cool! D'you think I could buy them for, erm...*checks bank account balence* £547?

 

[GregTheStig]

Unused Spitfires? That's just awesome! I can't begin to imagine how much people will try to buy them for.

 

[Omnis]

Why would you bury an airplane?

 

[Lizard]

They were in crates and it was quickest way.

 

[Omnis]

Quickest way for what? Disposal? I guess airplanes aren't so easily milsurped.

 

[Lizard]

Yes disposal.

 

[GregTheStig]

Presumably so nobody else could use them? Not really sure myself. At least they kept the planes safe.

 

[Lizard]

Presumably so nobody else could use them? Not really sure myself. At least they kept the planes safe.

Aparently they are in mint condition.

I see a spitfire airshow team being formed next to the red arrows.

 

[Coxis]

Why would you bury an airplane?

I don't know much about this, but my understanding is that this is a common technique in the war. When someone is losing a war, or when leaving an occupied country and you can't physically take weapons with you, they'd bury them so the enemy couldn't use them.

Didn't they find some jet fighters buried in the Irak war?

 

[GregTheStig]

Aparently they are in mint condition.

I see a spitfire airshow team being formed next to the red arrows.

That would be pretty cool, but I imagine these will be in air museums around the world fairly soon. Hell, I want one in my living room!

 

[Lizard]

How many people were gutted when reading my post about the clipped wings?

 

[GregTheStig]

How many people were gutted when reading my post about the clipped wings?

Just a bit Still a marvelous plane though.

 

[Lizard]

Those are the wings they will likely have but there are some pictures of MK 14's with the famous wings so im not 100% sure on this. Mk 16's almost all had clipped wings.

 

[Zenith]

And every military plane fan on earth saw God...

 

[E28]

Why would you bury an airplane?

Well, it seems almost like they were trying to preserve them almost like those 'time capsules' people do when you bury things in a box for 'future generations' to find.

 

[dhandeh]

I would love to see some pictures of these Spitfires!

Why would you bury an airplane?

They were in crates and it was quickest way.

Quickest way for what? Disposal? I guess airplanes aren't so easily milsurped.

👍 for disposal. At work, a few of the other instructors were in the first Gulf War, and the amount of 'stuff' that disappeared of the side of boats on the way back, makes the mind boggle. Tanks, artillery, vehicles, everything!

 

[Omnis]

I don't know much about this, but my understanding is that this is a common technique in the war. When someone is losing a war, or when leaving an occupied country and you can't physically take weapons with you, they'd bury them so the enemy couldn't use them.

Didn't they find some jet fighters buried in the Irak war?

They weren't losing the war. Hence why I asked.

 

[Lizard]

They weren't losing the war. Hence why I asked.

They werent needed.
The carrier based Seafires were doing most of the work.

 

[MarinaDiamandis]

I don't know much about this, but my understanding is that this is a common technique in the war. When someone is losing a war, or when leaving an occupied country and you can't physically take weapons with you, they'd bury them so the enemy couldn't use them.

Didn't they find some jet fighters buried in the Irak war?

Yup, the U.S forces even dug up some MiG-25's (Foxbats right? I think i'm right?) and took them back to America to restore/preserve them.

Will be interesting if these Spits are even approved to fly again, being buried can take it's toll on airworthyness.

 

[Mike Rotch]

Something that teh mighty Famine doesnt know much about (Ok I will stop bragging that I found the mighty ones weakness.)

Might be his weakness, but it ain't mine laddie.

Thanks for posting SL - great find, both the story and the planes!

 

[Lizard]

Might be his weakness, but it ain't mine laddie.

Thanks for posting SL - great find, both the story and the planes!

Ok then. Your favourite plane of WW2 and why.
Although I would of known from your avatar. Are those B17 Gs? Its hard to tell exactly.

For me it would have to be the N1K shiden or J7W shinden prototype. Both way ahead of their time in terms of performance.

Anyway on topic how are they going to bring the spits back? Boat?

 

[Mike Rotch]

Ok then. Your favourite plane of WW2 and why.

For me it would have to be the N1K shiden or J7W shinden prototype. Both way ahead of their time in terms of performance.

Anyway on topic how are they going to bring the spits back? Boat?

Note my avatar . In order to avoid hijacking this thread, consult your VM 👍

 

[hawkeye122]

Saddam Huessain buried his planes on Iraq, round 2.

 

[terminator363]

This is some awesome news! This is just as good as finding a treasure chest.

 

[Keef]

They were buried for "disposal".

They were probably actually buried for preservation purposes, like a time capsule. Whatever officer was in charge was probably ordered to "dispose" of them. If I were him I wouldn't have destroyed them either, I'd have found a way to preserve them for later retrieval. And that's what just happened.