hidden nazi planes

[bryang]

maybe this subject is a little far out there, but-----has anyone heard or know anything about the germans hiding airplanes during world war 2,
Yes I know about operation seplcure---And has anyone of anyone trying ot locate these hidden aircraft----I read an article online about planes being buried underneath of and east german airport---==No I dont feed into rumors to easy, but I bored at work and just wondering


Ive also heard of planes out in the libyian desert on old german bases
this is probably another false rumor

Just curious--these things always stir-up the imagination

Thanks
bryan

[tom d. friedman]

never heard of operation seplcure.... enlighten me!!!

[bryang]

tighar's website has a good explanation, but basically---during world war 2 in 1944 germany tried to build massive underground facilities (80,000square ft) to build and store airplanes-the theory is , is that some of these underground bunkers may still be hidden, if the were ever built
nobody seems to know if they were built------I hope that explanations in the balll park

[Dan K]

TIGHAR...

...The premier authority on aircraft research and recovery...

Could someone please remind me of just how many historical aircraft they've actually recovered?

I have to admit though, that is a pretty cool name..."Operation Sepulchre"...makes the little hairs just stand right up on my neck!

[B-29 Super Fort]

As exciting as that idea sounds I am skeptical they will yield any warbirds if indeed these storage vaults were ever found. I agree with the Col. that the deserts of North Africa offer more promise.

[bryang]

I wasnt trying to validate tighar--just saying they had any explanation of operation seplcure---and dont believe much of the what if --just put it out there for a post---I think Ive come to realize that the lib desert as col rohr has talked about in the past may have somthing to it---please dont think I bought into alll the what if rumors---keep posting, appreciate the posts

[Tulio]

BRyang:

"during world war 2 in 1944 germany tried to build massive underground facilities (80,000square ft) to build and store airplanes-"

If I recall correctly, after the Peenemunde facilities were attacked, the Germans moved some of the assembly to caves and hardened shelters dug underground.

Discovery Channel IIRC, had a program a few years ago, where a group of guys went digging on an East German airfield, based on vague recollections, and ended up . . . just digging. Some of the areas are under housing nowadays, and although they did not find anything that time, there is always the possibility, of something there?

I wish I had solid information to give you, but I have just read a little on the subject, and it was a long time ago.

Saludos, and thank you for bringing forth this interesting subject.

Tulio

[Swiss Mustangs]

this reminds me of one of Clive Cussler's novels, where under a former German airfield a huge cavern is discovered, packed with Me-262's....

I keep hearing rumours on such hidden treasure-troves on a regular basis, but knowing the German Aviation Archaeology Scene a bit, I admit that such undergound hangars are rather unlikely, given the fact that many of these former Luftwaffe bases were later extensively used by Allied units - and I find it hard to believe that such caverns could have gone unnoticed at all during all these years and activities -

Martin

[DaveM2]

From what I have heard, the hangars etc. recessed into the mountains and hills were known to the Allies but some were thought to have been booby trapped so the entrances were blown or sealed with dirt & rubble to render them safe.
There were several underground production lines..Berlin's Tempelhof airfield repaired 190s etc...some are supposed to be still there in flooded hangars. Wartime pics exist.

Dave

[JägerMarty]

Would be great if this were all true they wouldn't be bother pulling thunderbolts out of lakes, as late war Luftwaffe types in underground bunkers would be more accessable.

[Dave Homewood]

A little off the topic but I recall seeing a documentary once that said Switzerland (or was it Sweden perhaps) has loads of huge underground mountain bunkersfull of military equipment, including aircraft I believe. They were designed for their defence and protection.

I also have a very vague memory of a b-grade film I saw late one night years ago, set in some mountaineous region where WWII Nazi Germany had a huge bunker drilled into a cliffside where they were storing stolen gold and artworks, etc. I can't recall what it was at all.

Another old favourite rumour is the first two Boeing aircraft that were supposedly stored away in one of the many military tunnels in Auckland, NZ. Some searches have been allowed but found nothing, and many of the tunnels are apparently still unsearched. If they did find them, they'd be priceless.

[Originalboxcar]

I also have a very vague memory of a b-grade film I saw late one night years ago, set in some mountaineous region where WWII Nazi Germany had a huge bunker drilled into a cliffside where they were storing stolen gold and artworks, etc. I can't recall what it was at all.

the following has info pertaining to that:


http://www.thirdreichruins.com/bunkers.htm

regards,

t~

[Swiss Mustangs]

We do have such fortifications in central Switzerland - some of the mountains look like Swiss Cheese (lots of holes in it) - this system was called "Réduit" - as in "Reduction" which meant that in case of an attack, the flat areas of Switzerland would have been left defenseless in favour of using the natural obstacles in the mountains.
These fortifications now are defunct and quite a number is now open for public as museums.

Many airfields in mountain valleys have these caverns, i.e. underground hangars, maintenance and storage facilities. Some are still actively used, some are still used as storage facilities.
Every now and then there are rumours of aircraft hidden away in these caverns, but nothing has ever come to light - types mentioned were Bf-109G, Bf-110G, Ju-88, Do-217's, all interned German aircraft during WW2.

I wish this was true, but based on my archives, I can safely say that these aircraft were disposed of in the 50's.

Martin

I hope that there is something to be found in the Libyan desert, but in my neck of the woods there's quite a few guys that work in the Libyan oil fields and they tell me that parts of the desert there have a very high degree of salinity in the sand. I assume this is a more coastal effect as the pieces of "Lady Be Good" I've seen in the USAFM look to be in really good shape that way. Time will tell.

Dan

[Cking]

When I was young and foolish I went to a place called Brdufoss in northern Norway. There I was part of a team changing a main rotor gear box on a Seaking helicopter (Cking..Seaking geddit?). We did this inside a hanger that the Germans had hollowed out of a hill side. The hanger consiseted of two entrances connected with a horse shoe shapped tunnel. off this tunnel were about six compartments each large enough to get an F-16 in.
We were told that in was dug by Norwiegen prisoners of war and it was haunted. One night we worked late and we all started to hear goastly drilling type noises!!!!!. As we ran screaming for the door we passed the Bardufoss radio controll car club having a race in one of the empty compartments!!!!!

Rgds Cking