OT: RAF Spitfires to be returned from Burma to UK

[DSwain]

I'm still trying to get my head around why they were buried in the first place, however. By the time the aircraft were buried, SEAC was preparing for Operation Zipper. Was there really a fear that the Japanese would be able to launch a successful counter to this by re-invading Burma?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/david-cameron-spitfires-buried-burma

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: DSwain


I'm still trying to get my head around why they were buried in the first place, however. By the time the aircraft were buried, SEAC was preparing for Operation Zipper. Was there really a fear that the Japanese would be able to launch a successful counter to this by re-invading Burma?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/david-cameron-spitfires-buried-burma

Well they had not the insight we have. The Japanese still ambushed the British at Imphal and Kohima in 44 if I remember right.

[crsutton]

It could be quite a find. But those crates have been buried in soil under very wet conditions for more than half a century. I don't hold out much hope for their condition.

[Knavey]

If they had a layer of cosmoline on them, they may still be preserved. Ever tried to get that crap off a gun? Don't know if that is how they shipped stuff back then, but we can always hope. Would be an incredible find.

[tc464]

I pulled a couple of F6F Hellcats (buried in 1944) out of a burial pit not 100 yards from a large river back around 2000. The planes were torn up pretty badly by a hurricane, but the .50 cal guns I pulled out only required a steam clean and a light coat of oil and they were in working order. Broke my heart to have to run them in to the base EOD guys. There was very little rust on anything...I was surprised.

[JohnDillworth]

I want one. They have 20, why can't I just have one?

[JohnDillworth]

and here is what they will sound like when they un-crate them:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qSSI2WdSAP8

[JeffroK]

ORIGINAL: DSwain


I'm still trying to get my head around why they were buried in the first place, however. By the time the aircraft were buried, SEAC was preparing for Operation Zipper. Was there really a fear that the Japanese would be able to launch a successful counter to this by re-invading Burma?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2012/apr/14/david-cameron-spitfires-buried-burma

It was a lot cheaper than shipping almost obsolete aircraft back to Britain who already had tousands of them.

There is a story that the RN CV's sailed into US waters (near Guam) and pushed their Hellcats and Corsairs overboard, the Yanks already had too many of them and this fulfiled the LL return clauses.

[Reg]

ID number: P02552.001
Object type: Black & white
Physical description: Black & white
Collection: Photograph
Description:
Off Sydney, NSW. 1945. Members of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm dump aircraft into the ocean from the Escort Aircraft Carrier HMS Patroller. Men are lined up behind the tail ready to push the aircraft down the deck and off the end. Under the lend lease agreement with the United States, any material deemed useless was to be destroyed. Usually the only equipment removed from the aircraft prior to dumping were compasses, clocks and other reusable instruments. (Donor N. McKenzie)

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02552.001

One of the aircraft about to go over the side is so new it still has the Stars & Bars insignia from the factory.

[JeffroK]

I've got a stack of pics somewhere of RAAF Spitfires lined up for scrapping near Oakey, Qld.
They include the regulary shown Spit with the "GREY NURSE" name under the cockpit.

[:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(][:(]

[John 3rd]

COOL story. If they can be recovered and cobbled together into even just a few workable aircraft this would be a GREAT thing.

[JeffroK]

More than half of the problem will be with the engines, Airframes can be rebuilt, Merlins are VERY rare.

[JohnDillworth]

More than half of the problem will be with the engines, Airframes can be rebuilt, Merlins are VERY rare.

Not sure if these are Merlins. they are Griffon-engined and optimized for lower altitudes. Are Merlins & Griffons the same thing?

[bradfordkay]

ORIGINAL: Reg

ID number: P02552.001
Object type: Black & white
Physical description: Black & white
Collection: Photograph
Description:
Off Sydney, NSW. 1945. Members of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm dump aircraft into the ocean from the Escort Aircraft Carrier HMS Patroller. Men are lined up behind the tail ready to push the aircraft down the deck and off the end. Under the lend lease agreement with the United States, any material deemed useless was to be destroyed. Usually the only equipment removed from the aircraft prior to dumping were compasses, clocks and other reusable instruments. (Donor N. McKenzie)

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02552.001

One of the aircraft about to go over the side is so new it still has the Stars & Bars insignia from the factory.

It was a Confederate Air Force aircraft???

[CaptBeefheart]

I met an Aussie guy here in Korea who as a lad of 16 in the early 70s was trying to recover four Spits from New Guinea in the same condition (in crates and greased). His old man told him if he could raise $10,000 he'd come up with the other $10,000 needed. The young lad was into car restoration so he actually did have an income. Since he failed to raise the dosh, he reckoned the precious birds were scrapped. I asked him if they were Vc's or VIII's, but he didn't know (good old AE-gained knowledge coming into play).

This article says Mark II's, which is certainly wrong. Also, the fear of Japanese occupation doesn't make much sense to me as a reason.

EDIT: This article says they are Mark XIV's, which makes sense. In the Telegraph article it said Mark II's.

Cheers,
CC

[Grunt]

The author of the article makes quite a claim, "The Spitfire is arguably the most important plane in the history of aviation, playing a crucial role in world war two."

Crucial role in world war two? Sure. Most important in the history of aviation? Hmmm.

[LeeChard]

ORIGINAL: bradfordkay

ORIGINAL: Reg

ID number: P02552.001
Object type: Black & white
Physical description: Black & white
Collection: Photograph
Description:
Off Sydney, NSW. 1945. Members of the Royal Navy Fleet Air Arm dump aircraft into the ocean from the Escort Aircraft Carrier HMS Patroller. Men are lined up behind the tail ready to push the aircraft down the deck and off the end. Under the lend lease agreement with the United States, any material deemed useless was to be destroyed. Usually the only equipment removed from the aircraft prior to dumping were compasses, clocks and other reusable instruments. (Donor N. McKenzie)

Permalink: http://cas.awm.gov.au/item/P02552.001

One of the aircraft about to go over the side is so new it still has the Stars & Bars insignia from the factory.

It was a Confederate Air Force aircraft???

I don't think it's "star and bar" I believe it's a Brit roundel without the red center and a bars

[Grfin Zeppelin]

ORIGINAL: Grunt

The author of the article makes quite a claim, "The Spitfire is arguably the most important plane in the history of aviation, playing a crucial role in world war two."

Crucial role in world war two? Sure. Most important in the history of aviation? Hmmm.

Maybe its just me but I always thought the Hurricane won the BoB [&:]

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: Ranger5355

I don't think it's "star and bar" I believe it's a Brit roundel without the red center and a bars

[Dixie]

ORIGINAL: JohnDillworth

More than half of the problem will be with the engines, Airframes can be rebuilt, Merlins are VERY rare.

Not sure if these are Merlins. they are Griffon-engined and optimized for lower altitudes. Are Merlins & Griffons the same thing?

Griffons and Merlins are different engines. The Griffon is a larger capacity engine and the prop rotates in the opposite direction to the Merlin.