If only I could remember where I buried those 20 new Spitfires

baronWastelan · #1 04-14-2012, 05:56 AM

more importantly, where did I put the keys?

from http://www.bbc.co.uk:

Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

British and Burmese authorities could work together to find 20 Spitfires buried in Burma at the end of the World War II, officials say.

The case of the missing planes was raised when PM David Cameron met Burmese President Thein Sein.

A Downing Street source said it was "hoped this will be an opportunity to work with the reforming Burmese government".

The exact location of the planes is unknown.

The planes were buried in 1945 by the RAF amid fears that they could either be used or destroyed by Japanese forces, but in the intervening years they have not been located.

“The Spitfire is arguably the most important plane in the history of aviation”

At the time they were unused, still in crates, and yet to be assembled.

Until a general election in 2010, Burma was ruled for almost half a century by a military junta.

It has been reported that experts from Leeds University and an academic based in Rangoon believe they may have identified the sites where the craft are concealed using sophisticated radar techniques.

On Friday, officials said President Thein Sein was "very enthusiastic" about the prospect of finding and restoring the planes.

AndyJWest · #2 04-14-2012, 06:06 AM

Um? Spitfires, buried in wooden crates in Burma, in 1945? And the chances of them being anything other than an ugly mess of aluminium oxide, rust-eaten junk, and a vague hint of WW2-grade utility aircraft paint is what exactly? I've heard such tales before (crates of Spitfires sitting on the dock at Murmansk, entirely unnoticed since 1944), but I see no reason to believe any of them...

Ctrl E · #3 04-14-2012, 06:14 AM

this version of the story says they were protected in grease and wrapped and would be in near perfect condition.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ukne...ned-to-UK.html

there's been similar stories before in Australia. sounds like nonsense, but would be amazing if true.

Letum · #4 04-14-2012, 09:19 AM

They buried plenty of material here in England at the end of the war as well. At the closest bomber airfield to me there is a large magnetic anomaly caused by all the buried metal from bombs, Jeeps, aircraft parts etc. Radios don't work anywhere near it, so it must be very large.
I don't think any amount of grease, oil and warping could save much of it.