Burma signs deal to dig up buried World War II planes

AP via Fox News ^ | 10/17/12 | AP

[DFG]

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.

[Slump Tester]

Are you sure that author's name is right? I just went online to our library system here in Columbus and couldn't find it. (Very odd, as they usually have anything I'm looking for!) They have a couple others called "The last mission" though.

There's one by Jim Smith that says "A gripping account of the final American bombing mission of World War II and how it prevented a military coup that would have kept Japan in…"

Is this the one you are talking about?

[Northern Yankee]

Yep... must get more coffee in the morning. Jim Smith is the author. (Sorry about that!)

My father was part of that mission. My dad ended up having to land at Iwo Jima after he lost an engine over Japan. The day he arrived back at Guam the war was over.

[Slump Tester]

That's really something! Is he in the book? I saw a documentary about the end of the war called "Japan's Longest Day" that I think may have had that mission in it. I wonder if he's in there?

I had a friend who's late father-in-law was one of the team that loaded the bomb on the Enola Gay. He found him in some documentary footage!

Thanks for the heads up - I just reserved it.

[Northern Yankee]

You'll enjoy the book.

My father isn't mentioned in the book, but my brothers and I did contact him before he died, and said he remembered my father. (Jim was the radio operator for the B-29 Boomerang.)

My brothers and I also keep in contact with the 315th Bombardment Group, NW Field, Guam. Lots of sons and daughters have taken over for their fathers who have passed away. We try to keep the memories alive of the 315th Group. We had a few e-mails with Jim Smith. He was a delightful man.

Let me know what you think of the book.

Warmest regards,

Jay

[Joe 6-pack]

"I’ve only seen one ME-262 and that was at the Smithsonian Air and Space museum and I think Britain has at least one."

You could always build your own.