Spitfires buried in Burma during war to be returned to UK

By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics and access other forums reserved for members. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today by clicking here.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 1:35 pm

Wonder what kind of shape they will be in?
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/9203822/Spitfires-buried-in-Burma-during-war-to-be-returned-to-UK.html#disqus_thread

Master Baiter Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 118

Cool stuff.

According to the article they were buried in shipping crates, greased up pretty well, and otherwise prepared with a long period of time in mind.

My guess is unless the crates failed and they filled with mud or water, they'll be in virtually the same condition today as they were buried in.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 3:01 pm

How cool? I think they'll be in pretty good shape. Lack of oxygen=little rust even if the boxes failed. I'd love to the documentary.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 8:43 pm

There are thirty five working Spitfires around the world.
If there are twenty there, in mint condition, it's a very significant find that is pretty exciting.
The "squadron" will be in high demand at air shows throughout the world.

I'm not a spotter type person but this is an exciting part of history.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 3:14 pm

Worth millions if they haven't rotted away.

I used to live next to this old boy who was in the Burma Star Association (he once got so hammered at their annual reunion that he spent ages trying to get in our front door with next door's key, until I went down, and gently pointed him at his house next door), and he told me very similar tales of crating up brand new Harley Davidson WLA's and burying them as the Japanese advanced.

They must have thought they were coming back for them, or they would have just trashed the lot.

Master Baiter Joined: 07 Feb 2012 Posts: 118

Roycropper wrote:

They must have thought they were coming back for them, or they would have just trashed the lot.

From what I understand it was pretty common to bury large caches of military equipment in certain regions. During the war tanks, planes, ammo, and other such military goods were very precious to both sides of the war effort due to the high demand and limited production.

In volatile areas where the security wasn't very secure it made perfect sense to bury equipment. If the enemy did take control of the territory, it ensured that they wouldn't get the opportunity to use your own equipment against your own forces, and if you did reoccupy the territory the caches were kind of like bonus reserve, making it easier to secure the area without having to depend on transporting all new equipment there.

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 6:00 pm

Is that like the former gov't in Iraq burying anything from ammo/atillery pieces to MiG 25s? interesting stragtegy. Thank goodness for infrared satillite arrays.

Spitfires buried in Burma during war to be returned to UK	View next topic View previous topic