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Post by jimpadgett on Apr 27, 2012 22:10:44 GMT 9
This from Air Force Magazine on-line:
Spitting Distance of History: Thawing Western relations with Myanmar's government may unearth a squadron of Spitfire fighters buried by British forces at the end of World War II. Just several weeks before Japan surrendered in early September 1945, British troops entombed as many as 20 Spitfire Mk. XIVs—a rare variant powered by Rolls Royce Griffon engines—in their original weatherproof packing to prevent them from falling into Japanese hands in case Japan tried to re-occupy then-Burma. "We sent a borehole down and used a camera to look at the crates. They seemed to be in good condition," said David Cundall, the British farmer leading the recovery effort, reported Australia's Sydney Morning Herald. Cundall has said he located the aircraft based on a veteran's offhand remark years ago. During his official visit to Myanmar on April 13, British Prime Minister David Cameron secured Cundall's right to recover the trove from the Myanmar government, reported the UK Guardian. Only 35 Spitfires of any type still fly today, according to the press reports.
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Post by Mark O on Jan 7, 2013 2:36:53 GMT 9
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Post by Jim on Jul 24, 2014 8:04:02 GMT 9
It was equipped with 4 machine guns, making it an old warbird
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Jim Scanlon (deceased)
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Post by Jim Scanlon (deceased) on Jul 24, 2014 9:56:40 GMT 9
It was equipped with 4 machine guns, making it an old warbird My cousin's husband began his Navy service before WW2, as a radioman/engineer/and whatevere else was needed, on the PBY.
He began flying in the Flying Boat type, as they didn't put wheels on them until late in 1941, but most didn't hit fleet service until 1942-43.
He flew in them until he was mustered out in 1946.
Part of his time in the PBY was flying courier duties all over the world.
He made CPO about the time the war started, went in as a PO2, in 1937.
He related many stories about his life in the Catalina, some pretty scary.
He said the number of guns was partly dependent on if you could "recruit" some Marines to mount .50s at blisters, then open the blisters and point them at whatever they wanted to shoot.
So, the .30s in the nose and tail, were not always the only weapons they carried.
I fell in love with the Cat the first time I saw one take off, or remember it anyway, from San Francisco Bay.
Great Lady, with a great history.
Jim Too
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Bullhunter
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Post by Bullhunter on Jul 24, 2014 11:41:08 GMT 9
PBY at McChord AFB Museum. Attachments:
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