Image finding a squadron of 20 lost British Spitfires, found buried in Burma, in essentially factory-fresh condition, still in their shipping crates from 1945! But that is exactly what has happened to aviation buff David Cundall, who is a farmer by trade. The rare and famous fighter planes have been located after 67 years. With some diplomatic help from David Cameron and Number 10 Downing Street, these 20 aircraft will soon be joining the other 35 remaining relics of World War II. Cundall, 62, has spent some 15 years and about $200,000 searching for these planes. After a dozen trips to Burma, Cundall will soon be realizing a dream come true! The Royal Air Force enthusiasts can thank Cundall, as well as the leaders of Myanmar, President Thein Sein and former political prisoner, Aung San Suu Kyi. Myanmar, as Burma is now called, has been steadily becoming more free, especially as they seek financial help from the European Union.
The Supermarine Spitfire was the brainchild of legendary designer R. J. Mitchell. After designing aircraft for racing competitions, Mitchell began working on the Spitfire in the mid 1930s. Mitchell had incorporated an elliptical wing, which he had developed previously in his racers. Alarmed by the rearmament program in Germany, Mitchell saw the need for a deadly, fast interceptor. The Spitfire went into production just in time as World War II broke out. By the summer of 1940, the Spitfire and the RAF Fighter Command were all that stood between England and being conquered by Germany.
The big news of the lost Spitfires found in Burma may be topped soon. The 20 British Spitfires found by David Cundall were not the only aircraft known to be buried. Another stash of 36 aircraft is known to be somewhere in Myanmar, and possibly other sites as well. The cooperation between leaders of both countries, President Thein Sein and Prime Minister David Cameron, will help in their recovery. Myanmar is in the process of seeking help from the European Union and others since the military junta was replaced and political prisoner Aung San Suu Kyi was freed. The 67-year old World War II fighters now found stand as a testament to a different era when the world faced other enemies of freedom.
April 21st, 2012 at 10:19 am
John Malkovich
One of the Best Actors that ever lived
April 22nd, 2012 at 4:11 am
Yes, Awl!
I had another video, more conventional, picked out, but when I saw this one, well…
Who can resist watching two Spitfires race to catch a woman’s silk stocking???
April 22nd, 2012 at 5:45 am
So you don’t say who buried these planes. The British? Cargo cults?
April 22nd, 2012 at 5:49 am
Oops! You’re right, FM. I neglected to mention that the Brits buried the planes to prevent possible capture by the Japanese.
April 22nd, 2012 at 8:59 am
The British buried the aircraft because they were declared surplus and no longer required by the RAF. They were shipped and then buried in August 1945, long after the Japanese had been defeated in Southeast Asia. The Japanese, in fact, declared their intention to surrender on 15 Aug 45.
April 22nd, 2012 at 9:03 am
Here are a couple of links for further research:
http://www.smh.com.au/world/burmese-treasure-weve-done-some-pretty-silly-things-but-the-silliest-was-burying-the-spitfires-20120415-1×1kn.html
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/19/buried-treasure-in-burma-squadron-lost-wwii-spitfires-to-be-exhumed/
April 22nd, 2012 at 9:08 am
Here is a link for some further research……..also, click on the link within the article, it delves into how they found out about the buried Spits in the first place.
http://www.foxnews.com/scitech/2012/04/19/buried-treasure-in-burma-squadron-lost-wwii-spitfires-to-be-exhumed/
April 22nd, 2012 at 10:13 am
flyingmonkey
You’ve touched on something both hilarious and fascinating. The Cargo Cultists.
Were the modern Entitlement Plantation dismantled, would we see Urban Shrines to the Air Jordan or 24″ Rims ?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qmlYe2KS0-Y
April 23rd, 2012 at 5:45 pm
Entitlement Plantation?
Yikes.
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