A nearly priceless find - a dozen+ Spitfires

[Statalyzer]

At least 12 and perhaps as many as 20 Spitfires, still in the shipping crates, have been found in Myanmar (Burma) and will be returned to the UK, hopefully for restoration to flight in some cases. The Spitfires were never removed from the crates and were simply buried where they were. Despite the early-model depicted in the photo, a little digging reveals that the Spitfires in question are apparently Mk. XIVs, which are the slightly bigger Griffon-powered models.

The Link

Depending on what condition they are in, each plane could be worth $ 3-4 million.

 

[WorsterMan]

I saw that story last spring when it first broke - very interesting. I hope they take video / photos of the restoration of some of these planes and then flying them 67 years after they were buried.

 

[texas_ex2000]

Very cool. Spitfires are beautiful planes.

In a big furball, which is the last plane flying?

Spitfire (RAF)
P-51 Mustang (USA)
P-47 Thunderbolt (USA)
P-38 Lightning (USA)
F4U Corsair (USN and USMC) - my favorite
F6F Hellcat (USN and USMC)
Me 109 (Luftwaffe)
Fw 190 (Luftwaffe)

I left off the Zeros because they were no match for the Navy by the end of the war.

 

[WorsterMan]

All of those American planes are players - very solid. Don't a have pick on your question 2000...

If I could only pick one plane to fly / go to war in from that list - it would have to be the North American P-51 D (with the Rolls Royce Merlin engine). The Chance Vought F4U Corsair would be # 2.

 

[Jim Bob]

It's a great story, but unfortunately it's starting to look iffy.
The Link

 

[Statalyzer]

In reply to:

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[Crockett]

Once in the air, I think the P51 was the best propeller driven fighter of the war. The Hellcat had the best kill ratio, but it was working the Pacific theater where the competition wasn't quite as good from 1943 on. The P51 had amazing range and was probably the best bomber escort. The Hellcats and Corsairs could be launched from carriers, which gave them indispensable roles.

 

[WorsterMan]

The Hellcat was an incredible Navy fighter in the Pacific - tough, fast, agile and lethal. After replacing the F4F Grumman Wildcat the Hellcat and the Corsair significantly changed the air balance in the Pacific. The Hellcat had an incredible kill ratio to the Nips - it was 13-1 or 11-1... I cannot remember the exact figure.

 

[Crockett]

Wiki -- says the Hellcat had a 13-1 kill ratio in battling the most common Japanese fighter, the Zero, and overall a 19-1 ratio. The article also says it was tough, rugged and easy to maintain.

 

[texas_ex2000]

HBO should do a mini-series based on the Enterprise in the Pacific War a la Band of Brothers/Battlestar Galactica.

Two words: Emmy Gold

 

[WorsterMan]

2000 - great idea for a new HBO series.

Military History Channel has a 1 or 2 hour program about the USS Enterprise - The Big E - that is very good - seen it a couple of times but has not been on in over a year that I know about.

 

[VYFan]

I'm seeing a movie by James Cameron, with someone who buried a love relic with the boxes in the war to be there when it is dug up, maybe an old guy who lost his legs in a dogfight with the Japanese, who then overcomes lifelong depression and drugs and builds one of the planes of his youth and flies once more. Maybe "Not Divided by Zero."