JCB diggers help recovery of Second World War Spitfires buried in Burma
DIGGERS made by JCB are to embark on a mission to help recover Spitfire warplanes believed to have been buried in Burma as the Second World War came to a close.
The Rocester-based firm is supplying two machines to excavate for containers at Rangoon International Airport which are thought to contain more than 30 unassembled planes.
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It is thought that more than 30 unassembled Spitfires, pictured, could be found in the containers located at Rangoon International Airport.
They have been discovered after a 17-year search by Lincolnshire farmer and aircraft enthusiast David Cundall.
Leading the dig will be JCB employee Oliver Keates, 31, of Cheadle, Staffordshire – the team leader of the world famous Dancing Diggers.
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Mr Keates is a demonstrator based at JCB's World Headquarters in Rocester.
Last week, it was revealed that the excavation team found a wooden crate, which could contain a plane.
It was filled with muddy water which has made it difficult to see what was inside the container.
Comments
by seisnag
Tuesday, January 15 2013, 7:32PM
“The aircraft were buried in a huge trench, about 90 yards long. They were left, instead of bringing them back to England, in case the political situation changed, and we had to send forces back to Burma. There are three sites, where aircraft are buried. "Brand new" and not incinerated, though how the protective packing has stood up to 65 years underground remains to be seen.”
by OllyB1
Monday, January 14 2013, 7:28PM
“Spitfires were obsolete and almost worthless in 1945 due to advances in jet engine technology. To dig a pit big enough to contain 30 containers would be unlikely. Unfortunately it is much more likely that the planes were all set on fire bulldosed into a pile and then buried saving time and effort and all that will be found is some old melted Merlin engine blocks.”
by towercrane
Monday, January 14 2013, 3:35PM
“the best known digger for the best known plane. thats the way”