Spitfire to be raised from bog after 70 years

[Pathfinder]

Excavation video here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPRA39-B8Nk

They found Wolfe's Type B helmet...hope they get it back in preservative media before it turns to mulch.

[JDK]

Centuries old dead bodies have been dug out of bogs in Ireland and Germany ....

Not overlooking 'Pete Marsh' Lindow Man in the UK.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lindow_Man

[The Inspector]

Very interesting to see just how good things look. I'm having issues with who ever put the video together, apparently they didn't listen to the wind and background microphone roaring noises always present whenever things are done 'live' for TV interviews (watch footage of a traffic accident on local TV) making it difficult to understand everything being said. If they had then perhaps they would have left out Edith Piaf gargling over the narrative, and what possible connection could there be between a wreck recovery in Ireland and tying it to a french song? Just being artsy #artsy?

[Django]

Here's another short clip of the tail remains.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yEUtBlW_w8&NR=1

[tom d. friedman]

the helmet is a miracle on it's own. wait till they take a pressure washer to the remains!! more surprises will pop up!!

[Jigs Bumper]

Hello forum...
An interesting story and even bigger find.

Couple of comments. There is a former Eagle Squadron fighter existing in UK, the Brooklands Museum Hawker Hurricane. She was lend-leased to Stalin's Air Force when the Eagle's traded in the Hurricanes. The Hurricane in question was lost with Russian Pilot, and recently recovered and returned to UK. Extensive rebuild to static display, with a working Merlin engine (I think it might be her original one as found in Russia?) she stands at Brooklands Museum on display. I worked there for a short time, and remember watching the middle of this restoration period, and looking at the engine cowling, which amazingly still carried the US Fighting Eagle motif artwork. The ship is displayed in the Eagle Sqn insignia she carried in 1940.

Dan Snow who is part of the TV documentary on this recovery is well known and much respected in many history fields. I read somewhere that his investigations on the Pilot and his story, revealed that the popular conception of US volunteers being applauded for joining the fight with is Brits is actually wide of the truth. I was not aware, that the US Government, Hoover and his Secret Service et al, was actively persuing the volunteers. Threats of removing their US citizenship, jail terms, fines, its far removed from the rose tinted idea that is most often talked about from that period of WW2. I had never known this was the case, certainly when Ive heard airmen speak of personal experiences who went through this route. I cannot recall any ever speaking of being hounded by their own people.....

I read from, again, the background research done for the programme that the UK-US decided to return this Pilot to the Republic of Ireland because of the neutrality situation. Kind of ironic I think, pandering to the Republic of Ireland when their President was well known as a pro Nazi. When Hitler committed suicide he issued an official notice of condolence.... when Roosevelt died, his office remained silent. Speaks volumes for the Irish President's leanings. After WW2, it emerged the Republican elements were proactive in forging an alliance for a major invasion of Ireland (Northern), by paratrooper and sea invasion. It never happened, but that and the historical facts of harbouring former high ranking Nazi Officers after the war, living quietly and in some luxury in Eire right till the 1980's, sort of begs some very difficult questions.....I agree with someone else who has rightly asked, why does the Irish authorities want to keep hold of this wreck, taking account of their questionable past in WW2.

It will be very intersting to view this programme in its entirety and see exactly what has been unearth, both from the bog and from records, about this unique event.

Ian

[StangStung]

Which specific Nazis lived in Ireland after the war?

[Jigs Bumper]

Which specific Nazis lived in Ireland after the war?

Sent a PM

[WIXMOD-Baker]

Watch the politics please, gents. Speculation about political sympathies (as against known neutrality issues) adds nothing to the discussion about the pilot, the aeroplane or the recovery.

[Jigs Bumper]

Dear Forum
If I have posted anything which has caused anyone personal offence, then I apologize without reservation.
Ian W
305th BGMA UK Contact

[guardianfilms0]

Thanks to all who watched our video. It may not be the best of quality to watch, but it was certainly great to be there at a once in a life time sight, and we really had fun working on it.

Oh, and it's music in the background. No need to be too critical?

Anyway, thanks again to all.

From,
Guardian Films in Inishowen, Co Donegal, Ireland!