They are widely believed to be Mk 14 Spitfires - late models. Griffin not Merlin engines. The Burmese Air Force operated Mk 14 Spitfires through the 50's - they were bought second hand from the Israelis.
A Spitfire case is one and a half times the size of a 40 foot shipping container. Made of softwood not noted for long life.
140 is just ridiculous. 12 Squadrons worth.
To bury 140 Spitfire crates 40 feet underground would require a hole the size of Wembley Stadium.
If they get them out at minimum they will have to be completely re-riveted, a huge job. The slightest corrosion on many critical parts completely writes them off for ever being airworthy.
A Spitfire is worth around $2,000,000 flying. A total restoration including reskinning and replacement of corroded fittings would conceivably cost more than this. If 120 hit the market there will be a nose dive in the value of Spitfires.
Nobody has seen them, nobody has had ground penetrating radar on the job.
There seems little doubt there were some Spitfires buried (just deep enough to cover the boxes I dare venture. Production and shipping details are available for every Spitfire ever built - the claimants obviously have based their research on these records.
The numbers and details in the above posts are figments of enthusiast's and journalists imagination.
Buried in August 1945, I was not aware the Japanese Army was fighting on after surrender to such an extent Spitfires had to be buried to hide from them.
Last edited by Lang; 19-10-12 at 09:26.
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