Searchers arrive in Myanmar to hunt for buried WWII British Spitfire planes

[Sugarcane]

YANGON, Myanmar — A search team led by a British aviation enthusiast arrived in Myanmar on Sunday to begin a dig they hope will unearth dozens of rare British Spitfire fighter planes said to have been buried in the Southeast Asian country at the end of World War II.

The 21-member team, led by farmer and businessman David Cundall, will start excavations soon near the airport in the main city, Yangon.

Cundall said the aircraft were buried in wooden crates as surplus, around 30 feet (10 meters) under the surface. He estimated that the project would take about four to six weeks to complete.

"We are expecting them to be in first-class condition," Cundall said shortly after arriving at the international airport in Yangon.

The Spitfire remains Britain's most famous combat aircraft. Its reputation was cemented during the Battle of Britain when the fast-moving single-seater aircraft helped beat back waves of German bombers.

Britain built a total of about 20,000 Spitfires, although the dawn of the jet age at the end of World War II meant that the propeller-driven planes quickly became obsolete.

The planes believed to be in Myanmar were buried by American engineers as the war drew to a close. Searchers hope they are in pristine condition, but Andy Brockman, a freelance archaeologist who is part of the search team, said it was possible all they might find is a mass of corroded metal and rusty aircraft parts.

Nevertheless, he said, "I'm very confident that we'll have answers to the story of what happened ... in 1945."

The venture is being backed by the Belarusian videogame company Wargaming.net, which is best known for multiplayer titles including "World of Warplanes" and "World of Tanks."

The search team says 36 Spitfires are believed to be buried near Yangon airport, while another 18 are in Myitkyina in northern Kachin state and six more are buried in Meikthila in central Myanmar.

This archival picture from London's Imperial War Museum shows a Supermarine Spitfire LF Mark VIII, of No. 155 Squadron RAF, about to take off from Tabingaung in Myanmar (Burma) in January 1945.

Searchers arrive in Myanmar to hunt for buried WWII British Spitfire planes - Science

 

[somebozo]

Why is britain always digging the past?

 

[third eye]

Why is britain always digging the past?

Maybe because they respect / value their past & draw lessons for the future from it ?

 

[UmarJustice]

Have to admire the west for not just looking at the future but securing the past history.

 

[slapshot]

It would be great to see their effort in the form of some documentary. I have seen one documentary about restoring B29 bomber in past and it was amazing. Its called "Frozen In Time" and is available on you-tube

 

[third eye]

Burma Spitfire hunters discover crate

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

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.

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.

 

[Koovie]

One of the greatest combat aircraft ever!