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Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2012 5:08 pm
by Christel
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-17710598

This article is contradictory, in one place it says the planes were in crates, later on it says to restore and fly again.

Ah well, written by a journalist... :G

With the regime in Burma it might not happen right now despite the few changes that has happened recently, maybe one day O:-)

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 6:58 pm
by enfielddream
Just curious. If those wonderful planes can be found and restored, who owns them today in 2012?
By the way, as a novice WW II aircraft historian and a huge fan of the American P-51, I believe the British Spitfire was the best all around aircraft fighter of WW II. What would have happened during the Battle of Britain without the "spit"?

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:01 pm
by ovenpaa
Hmmm... I am a huge fan of the Spitfire as well, a truly iconic fighter however what would have happened during the Battle of Britain without the "Hurricane"?

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:04 pm
by enfielddream
The same thing without the Spitfire! The Spitfire is still # 1 for me.

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:12 pm
by Dellboy
p51 is that the one with the Merlin in it
sort of a Yanky Spitfire

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2012 7:21 pm
by meles meles
Ah yes, the Badger Expeditionary Air Force flew those too...

Image

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 10:32 am
by Christel
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/ ... to-UK.html

Looks like they are being returned to the UK.

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 1:45 pm
by saddler
ovenpaa wrote:Hmmm... I am a huge fan of the Spitfire as well, a truly iconic fighter however what would have happened during the Battle of Britain without the "Hurricane"?
....and more enemy aircraft were shot down in the Battle of Britain by ground Ack-Ack than either of the two named planes - good as they are/were

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Mon Apr 16, 2012 9:01 pm
by Sandgroper
saddler wrote:
ovenpaa wrote:Hmmm... I am a huge fan of the Spitfire as well, a truly iconic fighter however what would have happened during the Battle of Britain without the "Hurricane"?
....and more enemy aircraft were shot down in the Battle of Britain by ground Ack-Ack than either of the two named planes - good as they are/were
From http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/ETO/BOB ... html#setup
On 1 August RAF Fighter Command strength stood at 570 Hurricanes and Spitfires (two- thirds of these were Hurricanes), and of the total only 367 were operational. Thus, excluding the less capable types, Blenheims, Defiants, Gladiators, and so forth, the German Me109s outnumbered the British forces by almost two to one (367 versus 702). British defenses also included some 1,200 heavy and 650 light antiaircraft pieces. And, although the Germans considered these insufficient for the defensive task, antiaircraft fire would account for about 12 percent of the German losses in the coming battles.

Re: Spitfires in Burma 'could be found'

Posted: Tue Apr 17, 2012 7:30 am
by EagerNoSkill
Hi Ovenpaa

Did I loan that book to you on the history of the Hurricane and its role in BoB!

The Hurricane was the grunt the workhorse and the Spitfire was the racehorse.

Both had planes roles and both served the nation with honour and valour.