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RAF WWII fighter found in Egypt after 70 years.

Discussie in 'Everything Else Heritage' gestart door Martin Perry, 24 apr 2012.

  1. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    RAF (US built) P-40 Kittyhawk fighter found in Egyptian desert 70 years after it went missing in WWII: https://picasaweb.google.com/114682...authkey=Gv1sRgCKjxkt6rkNTFKg&feat=directlink#
     
  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    If this can be rescued and brought back to "civilisation" it will be a hugely important addition to the warbird community.
     
  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Hopefully (IMHO) displayed in 'as found' condition.
     
  4. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    I'm with you on that. There aren't many warbirds out there that complete, down to the original paintwork (cue derision).
     
  5. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    After 70 years in the desert, maybe buried by sand for some of them I grant you, I wonder how "original" the paint work is after being grit blasted and bleached. A truly amazing find nonetheless.
     
  6. 60017

    60017 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

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    I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that it survived there for so long without being discovered!' Incredible.
     
  7. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Looking at the photos the roundel is still clearly defined.
     
  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

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    But very, very faded.
     
  9. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    Agreed, but better than most survivors!

    To be strictly honest, much as I love these beasts, and love seeing them flying, I don't know how many Kittyhawks there are about, how many flying, how many in museums, and in what condition. All I hope is that this one is treated in accordance with its condition and history, also taking into account the condition of other survivors.

    Edit: Wikipedia (cue further derision) suggests that there are a lot of survivors out there - 30-plus, most of them in airworthy condition - including the last survivor of Pearl Harbour, remarkably.
     
  10. K14

    K14 Member

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    Totally agree. The IWM has this little gem:
    [​IMG]

    OK, it has some species of protective coating all over it (hence the sheen), but it's as near 'as found' as you're going to get.

    <hasty edit>As GJ says - According to Wikipedia*, there are a bucketload of airworthy P-40 variants, and a further metric shedload under restoration, so keeping this one as found ought not to cause a fuss. * List of surviving Curtiss P-40s - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia </hasty edit>

    Pete S.
     
  11. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

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    What happened to the pilot, was he found after he crash landed?

    might he still be alive today? that would be an interesting story to tell him, oh, your plane has been found

    is the airframe going to be able to be moved, might it not brake up when someone puts strops around it to lift it? then there is the logistics involved plus wont an egptian museum have first call on it?
     
  12. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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    What's the story on this? Presumably the state of preservation is due to being covered over completely for many years, and then recently uncovered as the sands shifted?

    Tom
     
  13. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    Lots of info ... and opinions here
     
  14. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

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    And people think this forum is bad for speculation and adverts...
     
  15. K14

    K14 Member

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    [video=youtube;CFe8CsOdoG8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFe8CsOdoG8[/video]
     
  16. K14

    K14 Member

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    [video=youtube;M9LsK74J_W0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LsK74J_W0[/video]
     
  17. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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    There is still some uncertainty over the identity of the aircraft but people seem to have a good idea of who the pilot was. He is listed as 'missing', so sadly seems to have not survived the incident ...
     
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

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  19. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

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