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The dig is on...

Posted: 05 Jan 2013, 02:38
by TSR2

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 05 Jan 2013, 10:43
by dodger
Good Morning Ben,

Now that will be something, lets hope it all goes well,

Cheers,

Roger.

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 08:50
by speedbird591
There's a sobering letter in The Times today from a man who was a flight mechanic in 81 sqdn based in Singapore from August 1946 to February 1948. As they were a reconnaissance squadron they found it more useful to spend a lot of their time at Mingaladon, Burma. He spent ten months, over two periods, during that time and at the time the Spitfires were supposedly buried. Despite working in an open hangar right next to the runway, he neither saw nor heard any rumours about burial of any aircraft. When they left all the aircraft flew out - 9 Mosquitoes, a Spitfire and a Harvard.

His guess is that the buried metal is the remains of the old metal runway made of interlocking strips. :S

Ian :)

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 10:20
by dodger
Good Morning Ian,

That will be a great shame if nothing is found but it was said that it was believed there could be three airports where some parts were buried so keep our fingers crossed, what a find if they come across new Merlin engines which would obviously have been buried if there are Spitfire's there.

They did say in an article about this that there has been bore holes done and that it's believed to have seen wooden crates, Oh well its a great story, it makes a change from all the other Doom and Gloom stories that's for sure.

Cheers,

Roger.

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 11:29
by Garry Russell
Personally..I think they find them but be very disappointed.

I might be wrong but I doubt if the packaging has stood the test of time.

We will see *-)

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 12:35
by TSR2
A few years ago Rimmer Bros (a car parts dealer specialising in the old BL makes) managed to get their hands on a whole load of SD1's in kit form that had been sent to India for assembly in the 80's. They were almost perfect, so if they have been well packaged you might be surprised Garry (if they do exist). ;)

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 14:07
by NigelC
dodger wrote:Good Morning Ian,

....what a find if they come across new Merlin engines which would obviously have been buried if there are Spitfire's there.....


Cheers,

Roger.
They're supposedly MkXIVs, so Griffon-powered :hide:

Anyway, BBC report they've found a crate!

N

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 16:15
by FlyTexas
Very exciting stuff. I feel confident that they'll find the Spitfires but I'm afraid they won't be in very good condition. :( This all reminds me of an event which took place back in 2007 in Tulsa Oklahoma, USA. The 1957 Plymouth Belvedere didn't fair very well underground for 50 years. :lol:
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article. ... UTLIN75917

Brian

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 16:44
by Garry Russell
Hi Ben :hello:

But were those kits buried in the ground?...so damp there

Re: The dig is on...

Posted: 09 Jan 2013, 17:29
by Garry Russell
Found a water filled crate...they don't know the contents

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