Please let them find these Spitfires!

[targa911S]

told ya....under a runway..

[kach22i]

Burmese treasure: 'We've done some pretty silly things but the silliest was burying the Spitfires'
Adam Lusher
April 16, 2012
Read more: Burmese treasure: 'We've done some pretty silly things but the silliest was burying the Spitfires'
Burmese treasure: 'We've done some pretty silly things but the silliest was burying the Spitfires'

Finally, he found the Spitfires, at a location that is being kept a secret. Mr Cundall said: ''We sent a borehole down and used a camera to look at the crates. They seemed to be in good condition.''

Read more: Burmese treasure: 'We've done some pretty silly things but the silliest was burying the Spitfires'

British farmer’s quest to find lost Spitfires in Burma
By Adam Lusher7:50AM BST 15 Apr 2012
British farmer’s quest to find lost Spitfires in Burma - Telegraph

To meet the £500,000 cost of the excavation Mr Cundall enlisted the help of Steve Boultbee Brooks, 51, a commercial property investor who also runs the Boultbee Flight Academy, in Chichester, West Sussex, which teaches people to fly on the two-seater Spitfire that Mr Brooks bought for £1.78 million in 2009.
Ground radar images showed that inside the crates were Spitfires with their wings packed alongside the fuselages.

Click on link:
British farmer’s quest to find lost Spitfires in Burma - Telegraph
Image 3 of 3
Spitfire being prepared for burial in Burma Photo: Sean Spencer

[stuartj]

Really exciting stuff. 1945- these will later Mark aeroplanes, but regardless- I say it every time a Spitfire thread comes along- the Spitfire is, IMHO, the most elegant machine ever penned. Certainly one that continues to capture the imagination all these years on.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Considering that they were brand new and packaged to survive a trip to Burma, I would think there's a good chance that they are very restorable. The engines were likely pickled and the airframe packaged to protect against dirt and corrosion. I would LOVE to see their condition when uncovered.

[Steve Carlton]

I'll take dibs on one.

[recycled sixtie]

To your credit you give credit to a British aircraft but don't forget the Mustang was a formidable aircraft during WW11 especially with the long range tanks so that they could escort the bombers and penetrate deep in the heart of Germany. Anything preserved from WW11 is a great reminder of what went on. Lest we forget.

[fred cook]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

To your credit you give credit to a British aircraft but don't forget the Mustang was a formidable aircraft during WW11 especially with the long range tanks so that they could escort the bombers and penetrate deep in the heart of Germany. Anything preserved from WW11 is a great reminder of what went on. Lest we forget.

Both were great airplanes, each in their own way. And, while the P51 has a justifiable claim to the "best fighter in WWII", no airplane before or since has had the grace and style of the Supermarine Spitfire. Those who flew them in combat had nothing but praises for their capabilities. If I could own just one WWII warbird, the Spitfire would be in the top 2 or 3 on my list!

[74-911]

Originally Posted by recycled sixtie

To your credit you give credit to a British aircraft but don't forget the Mustang was a formidable aircraft during WW11 especially with the long range tanks so that they could escort the bombers and penetrate deep in the heart of Germany. Anything preserved from WW11 is a great reminder of what went on. Lest we forget.

IIRC the P-51 design was the result of a request by the RAF for new fighter . Also, the P-51 was just an average performer until the RR Merlin engine was installed.

Both great fighters but on grace and style, the Spitfire wins it IMHO anyway.

[jyl]

Kind of an Emma Peel vs Jane Russell thing . . . you know you'd crawl through molten glass for either.

[widgeon13]

I just read an article on AVWeb that they have in fact found at least 12 of the aircraft.

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

[asphaltgambler]

UFB!! - This is really great stuff and I am not even an aircraft fanatic! Could be one of the best "barn" finds ever. I hope someone is filming a proper docu-drama here??

[KNS]

If politics don't get in the way this should turn out much better than brushing the snow off of some P-38s in Greenland.

I hope some corrupt official doesn't step in after all the grunt work is done and declare the aircraft "Property of Burma".

[recycled sixtie]

Originally Posted by asphaltgambler

UFB!! - This is really great stuff and I am not even an aircraft fanatic! Could be one of the best "barn" finds ever. I hope someone is filming a proper docu-drama here??

Yes this is good History Channel material. It would be exciting to watch them unearth them, then put them together and then fly them. It should be good for a series. Where do I sign up to be a teamaker?

[azasadny]

Cool story!!!

[Baz]

Yes they have been located - I saw the article today.

Regarding Spitfire vs. Mustang - I'm in the Spitfire camp. It's such a BEAUTIFUL aircraft plus IMO most symbolic of Britain's valiant fight and victory over Germany in WW II.

[Jim Bremner]

Burma signs deal to dig up buried World War II planes | Fox News


Folks! READ this. there's MORE than the 20 that they said. there's more in the ground than what's flying!

[72doug2,2S]

Originally Posted by Jim Bremner

Burma signs deal to dig up buried World War II planes | Fox News


Folks! READ this. there's MORE than the 20 that they said. there's more in the ground than what's flying!

We estimate that there are at least 60 Spitfires buried and they are in good condition," Htoo Htoo Zaw said.

Read more: Burma signs deal to dig up buried World War II planes | Fox News

60 Sweet!

[ODDJOB UNO]

60 like 6 and a 0 like FREEKING SIXTY?????????????


holy sheet! well that means at least one will be made flyable. un damn real! what a FIND!


can wait to see what they go for on cheese bay?


i want the model with the "rockets option".

[Neilk]

Originally Posted by ODDJOB UNO

holy sheet! well that means at least one will be made flyable. un damn real! what a FIND!
.

I hope 10 or more are made flyable, otherwise, you might as well just display replicas. Can't wait to hear more about the expedition.

[rcooled]

I wonder if current Spitfire owners are concerned about how this'll affect the value of their planes. Kind of like finding an additional fifty Ferrari GTOs stashed in some forgotten warehouse.

Cool story nonetheless...can't wait to see some photos!