Warbird Information Exchange

IMPHAL: An Imphal-based World War II excavation and research team has identified the wreckage sites of one British and two Japanese fighter aircraft, which were shot down and had fallen into the Loktak Lake during a pitch aerial fight during the war in June, 1944.

Thousands of soldiers of both the clashing Japanese and Allied Forces were killed and as many injured in various air and ground battles across Manipur, one of the significant theatres of WW-II. It is known as the 'Battle of Imphal' in history.

Remarkably, the twin WWII battles of Imphal and Kohima have been named as the greatest ever battles involving the British forces by the National Army Museum, London.

"The two Japanese fighter planes christened 'Oscar' were shot down by British bomber 'Wellington' before the latter was also hit in the battle on June 17, 1944. All the three planes immediately fell into the Loktak lake," Second World War Imphal Campaign Foundation founder Yumnam Rajeshwor Singh told TOI on Tuesday

Over 1,000 WWII artifacts, including different types of guns and ammunition, used by the Japanese and Allied soldiers, khaki shirts of the Allied soldiers, war manual and oxygen cylinders used by aircraft pilots (Allied Forces) have now been displayed at the foundation's newly-set up war museum in Imphal.


"The war artifacts were retrieved from various battle sites across Manipur by our volunteers equipped with metal detectors and other gadgets," said Rajeshwor, who is also the member of Burma Campaign Society, London and International Guild of Battlefield Guides, UK.

The sites, where the three planes were shot down, were identified talking to the local elders, who witnessed WWII air battles in Bishnupur district which encompasses the Lokak, the biggest fresh water lake in eastern India.

"We have learnt that some parts of the planes, including the tails and wings, have already been sold off as scrap metals," Rajeshwor added. The engines and other heavy parts, which could not be lifted, were loaded on boats by the locals. These are still lying on the bed of the lake.

"We are planning to deploy a sonar machine to find out the exact location of the aircraft remains and retrieve those soon," he said.

Thousands of soldiers of both the clashing Japanese and Allied Forces were killed and as many injured in various air and ground battles across Manipur, one of the significant theatres of WW-II. It is known as the 'Battle of Imphal'

"We have learnt that some parts of the planes, including the tails and wings, have already been sold off as scrap metals," Rajeshwor added. The engines and other heavy parts, which could not be lifted, were loaded on boats by the locals. These are still lying on the bed of the lake.

"We are planning to deploy a sonar machine to find out the exact location of the aircraft remains and retrieve those soon," he said.

There goes some amazingly rare aircraft ever getting rescued and restored. But then again, maybe not. I dunno, Id love to see some pictures of whats left.