Former 8th AF bases dump site digs...

[Holedigger]

Sad ending for old 733. It's amazing anyone got out. Ran across a vid titled "I'll be Seeing You" with a lot of B-17 footage, rather well done
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPDVZFwn5X0

[RAMC181]

I'll do some research on that component this weekend, Paul. We're going to be working on Chuckie and I'll see what I can find in the airplane and our parts storage area.

Scott

Thanks Scott.

I'm awaiting a photo of the lumps in question.
I'd have hoped they'd be here by now, otherwise I'll have to drive halfway across the country to take some myself.

Have fun over the weekend,
Paul

[RAMC181]

Finally, photos of the mystery items in question :







All the best,
Paul

[Second Air Force]

Hmmm...... I had very little time to spend with the IPC this weekend, but it appears that all the ductwork in the late style B-17 heater system is square. I didn't see anything like this in the mix. I'm going to pass the baton to those who have more experience on this one. A neat artifact, though!

I'll post an update later on the Chuckie thread, Paul. I took some photos of the radome opening and radio room today.

Scott

[ausflyboy]

Could it be part of a P-47 intercooler system?

[lmritger]

Hoooooooly crap.

The diversity and condition of the things coming out of that hole are simply phenomenal... I cannot overstate how insanely jealous I am of you lot getting to muck about in all that wartime surplus goodness.

Lynn

[Indian head]

It's a quonset hut for bunny wabbits............



I'll shut the door on the way out then, shall I??

[Django]

Simon has some new pics up on page 10 and 11. They are quite incredible.

[RAMC181]

Oh dear, he even managed to get a few photos of me in the update.....

TTFN,
PB

[Django]

Took FOREVER to find this with the search engine on the fritz, but it looks like the next dig is this weekend, right?

[RAMC181]

Apologies, I missed this post.....
Yes, the second dig was the 12-13 December weekend.

I've posted photos of some of the finds in THIS THREAD.
Most of the items in that thread came out of the far end of this trench, from the red (burnt) soil.:



The main report, such as it is, is slowly being posted in THIS THREAD on usaaf.co.uk.
I really have to include the following image, taken at dusk on the saturday when we decided to fire up the floodlights and "give it another hour" before retiring for the night. (Your humble scribe caught lower right)



A return visit to the first site is planned for the very near future......

All the best,
PB

[Django]

Thanks for the updates Paul!!

[RAMC181]

The BBC programme showing the first dump dig is being broadcast at 7.30pm GMT, Monday 11th January on BBC1 East.
Whether the iPlayer broadcast will be viewable overseas I don't know as yet.

All the best,
PB

[RAMC181]

Well, the BBC iPlayer version turned out to be UK-only viewing, and was only online for 7 days.

Fortunately, someone's posted a copy on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYlNfLj-mYs

The picture quality isn't great, but you'll get the idea.

Looking forward to the return visit in the next few months,
PB

[Pat Carry]

Interesting video! Just think what they could find if dumps like this existed at every former base. Pretty cool stuff.