Lost Spitfires To Return Home

Treasured Warbirds Discovered In Burma.

Talk about your buried treasure... Twenty iconic Supermarine Spitfire aircraft will be returning home to the UK soon now that they've been found buried 40 feet underground in Burma. The discovery was made in February by David Cundall, 62 - a British farmer and patriot who spent 15 years searching for the missing aircraft.

Since then, Prime Minister David Cameron has stepped in to resolve political and trade entanglements that might have prevented their return. It's believed the 20 planes will be in near perfect condition as they were buried in their shipping containers waxed, wrapped in greased paper, and with their joints tarred.

The aircraft were abandoned and buried at the order of Lord Louis Mountbatten to protect against a Japanese occupation just two weeks before the end of the war. Amazingly Cundall says the British government will make no claim against the planes, so he hopes to be able to recover some of the money he spent searching for them. His dream is to see a full squadron of the iconic fighters flying at future airshows.

Of the 21,000 ships produced in WWII only about 35 are reportedly left flying in the world today.


Source: 16 April 2011 - ( spitfiresite.com, spitfires.ukf.net)

Photo: UK Spitfire MkV (britishskytours.com)


(4/16/2012)