If you register, you can do a lot more. And become an active part of our growing community. You'll have access to hidden forums, and enjoy the ability of replying and starting conversations.

RAF WWII fighter found in Egypt after 70 years.

Discussion in 'Everything Else Heritage' started by Martin Perry, Apr 24, 2012.

  1. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    7,897
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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#
     
    Martin Perry, Apr 24, 2012
    #1
  2. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,839
    Likes Received:
    22,283
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    If this can be rescued and brought back to "civilisation" it will be a hugely important addition to the warbird community.
     
    Spamcan81, Apr 24, 2012
    #2
  3. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    7,897
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Hopefully (IMHO) displayed in 'as found' condition.
     
    Martin Perry, Apr 24, 2012
    #3
  4. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    I'm with you on that. There aren't many warbirds out there that complete, down to the original paintwork (cue derision).
     
    guard_jamie, Apr 24, 2012
    #4
  5. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,839
    Likes Received:
    22,283
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
    Spamcan81, Apr 24, 2012
    #5
  6. 60017

    60017 Resident of Nat Pres Friend

    Joined:
    Jul 6, 2008
    Messages:
    9,106
    Likes Received:
    8,076
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Retired from corporate slavery :o)
    Location:
    Fylde Coast
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    I'm still trying to get my head around the fact that it survived there for so long without being discovered!' Incredible.
     
    60017, Apr 24, 2012
    #6
  7. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Looking at the photos the roundel is still clearly defined.
     
    guard_jamie, Apr 24, 2012
    #7
  8. Spamcan81

    Spamcan81 Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Aug 25, 2007
    Messages:
    35,839
    Likes Received:
    22,283
    Occupation:
    Training moles
    Location:
    The back of beyond
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    But very, very faded.
     
    Spamcan81, Apr 24, 2012
    #8
  9. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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.
     
    guard_jamie, Apr 25, 2012
    #9
  10. K14

    K14 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    306
    Location:
    Catford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    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.
     
    K14, Apr 25, 2012
    #10
  11. martin butler

    martin butler Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jun 16, 2008
    Messages:
    3,440
    Likes Received:
    388
    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?
     
    martin butler, Apr 25, 2012
    #11
  12. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,804
    Likes Received:
    64,502
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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
     
    Jamessquared, Apr 25, 2012
    #12
  13. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    7,897
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Lots of info ... and opinions here
     
    Martin Perry, Apr 25, 2012
    #13
  14. guard_jamie

    guard_jamie Part of the furniture

    Joined:
    Jul 7, 2008
    Messages:
    2,503
    Likes Received:
    27
    Gender:
    Male
    Occupation:
    Signalman
    Location:
    Herefordshire
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    And people think this forum is bad for speculation and adverts...
     
    guard_jamie, Apr 25, 2012
    #14
  15. K14

    K14 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    306
    Location:
    Catford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    [video=youtube;CFe8CsOdoG8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CFe8CsOdoG8[/video]
     
    K14, Apr 25, 2012
    #15
  16. K14

    K14 Member

    Joined:
    Nov 6, 2011
    Messages:
    413
    Likes Received:
    306
    Location:
    Catford
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    No I do not currently volunteer
    [video=youtube;M9LsK74J_W0]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LsK74J_W0[/video]
     
    K14, Apr 25, 2012
    #16
  17. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    7,897
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    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 ...
     
    Martin Perry, Apr 26, 2012
    #17
  18. Jamessquared

    Jamessquared Nat Pres stalwart

    Joined:
    Mar 8, 2008
    Messages:
    27,804
    Likes Received:
    64,502
    Location:
    LBSC 215
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Jamessquared, May 11, 2012
    #18
  19. Martin Perry

    Martin Perry Nat Pres stalwart Staff Member Moderator Friend

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2006
    Messages:
    16,551
    Likes Received:
    7,897
    Location:
    1012 / 60158
    Heritage Railway Volunteer:
    Yes I am an active volunteer
    Martin Perry, Jun 27, 2012
    #19

Share This Page