Warbird Information Exchange

Remember what I said on the other thread back in November?

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)

That's better then no shovel at all.

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Better is the enemy of Good.

Thank you very much! (I can't think of a way to say that without sounding sarcastic.)

Some of us aren't as in the know as the rest of the people here, so we (or rather I) appreciate the link. I have seen that forum mentioned many times here before, and am really starting to gain an understanding of how important it is. I am simply amazed by the fact that the discussion there was having an actual impact on the efforts in Burma.

I hadn't heard Mr. Cundall wasn't feeling well. I only mention this because I can't help but think of another famous British archaeologist who happened to have some bad luck excavating some other buried treasure in some other far away land. Any mention of curses or dead canaries from the expedition?

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

Seems odd to me somehow with all the "you can count of those spits being there" posts, that there isn't any form of proof at all, like a photo of any kind from the dig site. You'd think people would be snapping away like mad for when something turns up and posting right away with a strong, "I told you so" to go with it...
It's so hilarious to me that a few people I know expect a bunch of factory-fresh spitfires that only need to be assembled, lubed and gassed, then flown away. In that climate and buried, they're gonna look pretty rough even if they were buried in great condition...

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Life member, 91st BG Memorial Association
Owner, 1944 Willys MB #366014
Former REMF (US Army, O3)

There's an old saying ...

"It's hard to wait for something you think might not exist but its even harder to wait for someone to tell you "I told you so"

Patience fellas and have a little faith. If I'm to believe these folks who are actually doing the work over there, I would tend to believe informing 'us who have no investment in the process' about what has been found or not is not high on their list of tasks. Like the man said ... "Sit back and relax" ... shouldn't be long to have your answers.

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Zero Surprise!!...

You also have to remember that there is 3 potential sites. Who knows they may even be digging in the wrong location for all I know. I personally hope that they do find at least one, or partial of one rather than bits of crap essentially.

Looking at the caliber of the discussion, I seriously doubt it...

Wow,
The UK Telegraph is actually reporting fairly today, maybe there's hope for agendaless information:

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviatio ... ssion.html

Here's two posts, both written by Mr. Mark12, apparently the man on the spot, I pulled out of the thread Mr. JFS61 so kindly supplied. I think they can answer both the below statements:






I think I know which news outlet, and more specifically reporter, I'll be going to for accurate reports on the effort.

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Tri-State Warbird Museum Collections Manager & Museum Attendant

Warbird Philosophy Webmaster

This is the exclusive interview that David Cundall gave to the Telegraph newspaper group after the plug had been pulled on further digging and the planned press conference had been cancelled.

PeterA (Mark12)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/aviatio ... ndall.html

Sounds like they need the type of detection equipment that companies use when calling Miss Utility before any digging in the USA. That type of equipment can detect underground wires, pipe, and conduit and such.

Thank you Peter. This makes wayyyy more sense than the initial reports. Some of those “Press” reposts made it sound like they started digging and instead of Spitfires they found metal junk like cables. They DID find cables, only the utility kind and rightfully stopped digging before someone REALLY screwed up. I remain positive and patient. Well maybe not patient

January 23, 2013
Spitfire Dig To Continue At Second Site

By Mary Grady, Contributing editor

Undaunted by a failure to find any buried Spitfires at the first dig site in Burma, project leader David Cundall said he is ready to start excavating a second site. Cundall said he will be flying soon to Myitkyina, about 900 miles from the first dig site. A preliminary dig at Myitkyina found a buried wooden crate filled with water, and Cundall hopes further excavation there will find airplanes. Cundall also said that excavation at the first site, at Yangon Airport, was stymied when officials prevented crews from digging more than five feet deep, to prevent damage to airport infrastructure such as pipes and cables. Cundall had said he wanted to go to at least 20 feet deep.

If the second site proves unfruitful, Cundall has identified at least one other site in Burma where he hopes to excavate. He also may return to the first site and continue digging by hand, if officials will allow it, to assure no damage is done. Cundall, a British farmer, has been hunting for the lost Spitfires since 1996. He believes that the British military packed more than 120 Spitfires in crates and buried them in the ground before vacating Burma more than 60 years ago at the end of World

http://www.avweb.com/avwebflash/news/Sp ... 056-1.html

As one who posted "yeah, they're there" earlier in this thread, all I can say is that I wanted this to be true. Because, if it did happen, it gives hope to all those who dream of the opportunity (usually in vain) to come across that long forgotten relic hiding in a barn somewhere. On my list is finding the long lost Martin Baltimore that was used at a Baltimore trade school, or perhaps the B-26H "Middle River Stump Jumper" parked in someone's backyard or maybe even one of the "playground" aircraft stored in the back of a maintenance yard.


...and you can never have too many flying Spitfires, imho...

It must be tough to get anything done when the whole world is either doubting you, trying to rip you off, or telling you how to do things. I would think that if everyone just backed off the poor man for a bit and let him do his business, we might all be pleasantly surprised.