Thread: Buried spitfires in Burma?

Dad's army was probably closer to reality than we'd like to admit..

Who's read Catch 22?

Choc coated cotton ball anyone?

Dean

Interesting thread. I remember well in the early '60's in Cairns the old Blitzes which were converted into cranes and semi trailers, and going down the banks of the Fitzroy R in Rocky in the mid '70's in old Studebaker trucks owned I believe by GF Wiggington Transport. In Townsville a gentleman named Kevin Parkes has done extensive research on WWII tunnel networks and suffered much scorn from non-believers. I've had a few chats with Kevin and also worked with ex air force personnel who assisted as volunteers at the air force museum. They have spent many years tracking stories of downed or lost aircraft, some with success, some not. One of their proudest moments was the re-location of "Texas Terror" on Hinchinbrook Island's Mt Straloch. 18 December 1942 - Crash of a B-24 Liberator on Mt. Straloch on Hinchinbrook Island

I do not doubt the stories of WWII vehicles etc being secreted away with or without official permission as I have visited cattle properties where very little has ever been thrown away, just stored in the shed. One such property had quite a history of vehicles in various states of repair in the sheds from WWII Blitzes thru Series 1 Landies etc.

People are people, some will always see an advantage to them so I guess many items never got destroyed or were never reported as the above article suggests.

Here's another great video on the uncovering and restoration of a Spitfire, unfortunately not a happy ending.......

Spitfire The Pursuit Of A Dream - YouTube

Ken

Originally Posted by RayG

I wouldn't be at all surprised, anything that was shipped across the tropics was sealed in "tropicalised" packaging.

For small parts this involved, multiple layers of grease impregnated cloth, followed by grease proof paper, followed by sealed plastic bags followed by more greasy cloth layers... more cardboard layers... etc.. etc.. the degree of effort put into packaging and protecting some of this stuff was incredible.

Dad's army was probably closer to reality than we'd like to admit..

Regards
Ray

Tank idler and road wheel bearings came in sealed oil filled cans much like the medium canned salmon and tuna comes in now

Until around 10 years ago, there was a machinery manufacturer at Corowa NSW , UPTONS . They bought a lot of surplus equipment to use as a source of parts for their business .

During the annual Corowa military rally, we would all scrounge through their yards . There were dead LVT amphibious landing craft there , some with tracks still on. UPTONS used to use the LVT turret gear rings to make large agricultural rotating sprayers .

In the paddock over the road, were dead Matilda and Grant tanks . There was a huge pile of carbon arc rods as used in searchlights . millions of them .

Inside the sheds you never knew what was there . Wish I had bought one of the old lathes they had . They had a Hall Scott V12 engine from a WW2 recsue boat ...... crates of Chevy pistons wrapped in grease and in WW2 boxes , cast iron type for the 216 Motor .

Its all gone now .. Mike