Burmese Spitfires back in the news...

[Warbirdnerd]

We might finally get some real answers about the condition of the planes in the next week or so...

YANGON, Myanmar – Burma has signed a deal with a British aviation enthusiast to allow the excavation of a World War II treasure: dozens of Spitfire fighter planes buried by the British almost 70 years ago.

Aviation enthusiast David J. Cundall discovered the locations of the aircraft after years of searching. The planes are believed to be in good condition, since they were reportedly packed in crates and hidden by British forces to keep them out of the hands of invading Japanese.

The British Embassy said Wednesday that the agreement was reached after discussions between President Thein Sein and British Prime Minister David Cameron during his visit to Burma earlier this year.

The excavation of the rare planes is slated to begin by the end of October.

The Myanma Ahlin daily reported that the excavation agreement was signed Tuesday by Director General of Civil Aviation Tin Naing Tun, Cundall on behalf of his British company DJC, and Htoo Htoo, managing director of Cundall's Burma partner, the Shwe Taung Paw company.

"It took 16 years for Mr. David Cundall to locate the planes buried in crates. We estimate that there are at least 60 Spitfires buried and they are in good condition," Htoo Htoo Zaw said.

"This will be the largest number of Spitfires in the world," he said. "We want to let people see those historic fighters, and the excavation of these fighter planes will further strengthen relations between Burma and Britain."

The British Embassy described the agreement as a chance to work with Burma's new reformist government "in uncovering, restoring, displaying these fighter planes."

"We hope that many of them will be gracing the skies of Britain and as discussed, some will be displayed here in Burma," said an embassy spokesman, using the old name for Burma.

Burma has since last the past year turned away from many of the repressive policies of the previous military government and patched up relations with Western nations that had previously shunned it.

Myanma Ahlin cited Transport Minister Nyan Tun Aung saying the agreement was a milestone strengthening the friendly relationship between Burma and Britain and amounts to the British government's recognition of the democratic reforms of President Thein Sein's new government.

Cundall has said his quest to find the planes involved 12 trips to Burma and the expenditure of more than 130,000 pounds ($210,000).



Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/world/2012/10/17 ... z29YzLvIlR

[Jesse C.]

I thought they where buried at the end of the war?

Well, get those shovels to shoveling!

[Fleet16b]

OK First reports were that there may be as many as 20 Spits
Now its sixty !!!!!
The monsoon waters must have made them grow more

The whole thing smells like Bullcookies if you ask me

[Tiger Tim]

Aw come on Cam, there's HUNDREDS of them there (seriously, I once read a figure of something like 124) and once they're above the surface they'll bolt on the wings, fill the tanks and fly 'em home to England!

-Tim

[bdk]

So is the country called Myanmar or Burma now?

[k5083]

Myanmar by everybody except Fox News, apparently!

August

[bdk]

Seems like pretty basic information so I was wondering if the new regime had changed the name back.

There have also been some WW2 Jeep tours done along the Burma road, so things have obviously been softening up over the past few years.

[Russ Blow]

I am sure after 67 or so years in the ground they will be in outstanding shape. Just wash off the cosmoline, service them and fly them out.

I am sure it will be that easy.

[marine air]

If this turns out to be real, I would be interested in buying one!

[TROJANII]

You know, for all the mocking going on here, if there WERE actually Spitfires buried there, I bet the mindsets would change! Look at some of the "aircraft" they are getting out of the oceans/fjords/muck. IF they were buried in crates, how much worse condition could they be in?

[Adam Kline]

So is the country called Myanmar or Burma now?

From what I heard even the Burmese can't stand the name Myanmar.

[brucev]

File this under believe it when I see one spitfire come out of the hole let alone 60 or 124.

Myanmar by everybody except Fox News, apparently!

August

Official US policy is to call it Burma
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/35910.htm

[bdk]

We might finally get some real answers about the condition of the planes in the next week or so...

My expectations are quite low thankfully, so anything better than mush will be a serious win for me.

Good luck to the gentleman who instigated all this!

Last edited by bdk on Wed Oct 17, 2012 7:57 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[bdk]

Double post...

[Lynn Allen]

I thought they where buried at the end of the war?

"Well, get those shovels to shoveling!"

Look Moe, a shovel ready job!