any warbird recoveries in burma?

[JDK]

Hi James , could not agree more with you that ' wreck chasing ' can be a big risk in money laid out against possible returns , but it the persons choice on how they spend there money . On some of my trips looking for parts for my fairey battle cockpit project , i have come home with nothing after spending much money/time and yet on other trips have come home with many useful parts for myself and other peoples projects , sure its not on the scale of digging up a P38 from under the ice , but it is still wreck chasing and it is how i like to spend part of my time , the choice is mine.

Hi Dave,
As you know, I'm impressed with your work. In the next issue of Flightpath magazine, we have a feature on the RAF Museum Battle being restored in Rochester (recovered from Iceland...) and they've given you a credit for help, with the parts you've 'wreck hunted'. So it goes around, and it's all valuable.

As for helping restore a type of aircraft in a museum , lets say for example a spitfire , say a volunteer puts in the time/effort maybe even money into this project , then the management of museum decide that for whatever reason we will trade/sell said spitfire , where does this leave the humble volunteer , i feel that people who chase wrecks are after there own piece of history that they can look at/restore to flight/static or whatever it is there choice.

It's a good point. Of course it's frustrating, but a move isn't a loss, or spending cash and time, as you've said above, without anything being achieved except another cross off the map. (Which is useful negative evidence of course.) An aircraft traded away from the volunteers or staff who did the work is still a complete extant restored aircraft. Personally, I don't care where they are, as long as they're preserved!

I just wonder how many P-38 could have been restored with the money that was spent on glacier girl? I tend to think more people and corporations will donate or sponsor something glamorous like an expedition than a restoration. Now after all the publicity that glacier girl got more corporations sponsored the restoration. Look at the cost of the key bird (money and life).

That's Kee Bird, I think. You've put your finger on several of the compromises, challenges and issues there Steve. It's tricky, isn't it? Part of the interest in vintage aviation is the diversity of people and their views - and we need it all.

Cheers,

[Simcoe Warrior]

I just wonder how many P-38 could have been restored with the money that was spent on glacier girl? I tend to think more people and corporations will donate or sponsor something glamorous like an expedition than a restoration. Now after all the publicity that glacier girl got more corporations sponsored the restoration. Look at the cost of the key bird (money and life).

Steve

Good point Steve, I think in the case of Glacier Girl there was quite a bit of "romance" involved with the idea. Other such expeditions have had to fight tooth and nail for every penny, just ask Karl K. of 57 Rescue how hard he has had to work just to raise enough capital for a sonar scan of the area where Halifax LW-170 rests in the Irish Sea.

BTW, for those interested on news with this project, here is a link to the newsletter...

http://www.57rescuecanada.com/ProgressR ... eports.htm

[Simcoe Warrior]

Part of the interest in vintage aviation is the diversity of people and their views - and we need it all.

I think that's an excellent point James, there are many different ways to become involved with preserving vintage aircraft and they are all valuable. Whether its the guy chasing wrecks, the person fundraising, the researcher going through microfilms or guy ultimately banging metal, all are valuable parts of the warbird community.