Stuart dug up in France

[Hanno Spoelstra]

See http://tf1.lci.fr/infos/jt/0,,386853...mondiale-.html

[Pedr]

Merci beaucoup Hanno,

And for those of us whom aren't as fluent in French.

From the Adelaide Advertiser newspaper page 9 on the 6th of June,



"War history rises from the road

French bomb disposal experts were called out yesterday to check a World War II U.S. tank discovered buried under a street at Chartres, 90 km south west of Paris.

A mechanical digger was brought in to clear away the earth around the tank so the experts could ensure the tank posed no danger, a witness said.

The M5 light tank, which was discovered by council workers, was from the 31st Tank Battalion, part of the 1944 D-Day invasion force that recaptured France from the Nazis.

Residents said this particular tank, the first of the invasion force to enter Chartres, had been on reconnaissance when it either ran out of fuel or its tracks broke down.

At the time of France's liberation, it was pushed in a hole and buried."

I take no responsiblity for the accuracy of this reporting as it is from my local paper who are constantly caught out for embelishment or creative writing.

Pedr

[Dinty]

G'day All, I read about this on the net about 6 weeks or more back, I just can't remember where could have been 9MSN story?? anyway good story anyway cheers Dennis

[claude_GILLONO]

Hi - I am fluent in French and that qualifies me to add
The locals (some were eyewitnesses) interviewed stated that the Stuart was the first to enter the town, was shot by the Germans and later dumped in a shell hole to fill it up.
It was forgotten here 'for some years'
HTH

[alleramilitaria]

i can see it listed on e-bay... ran when last parked

[Eric Korhonen]

What a nice find. We would probably be amazed what was buried or lost during the war. And maybe not even lost just some things that someone may have hidden away in a old barn or shed.