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The Spitfire

  • Thread starter Thread starter O.C.
  • Start date Start date
We watched the programme last night too, the passion of all who worked with and flew the Spitfires was touching and even today, they are so proud of their Spitfire history, great programme I thought.
Sue
 
Hi Jennyann,
Yes, I lived on Castle Vale in the late 80s, and it was rumoured that there were Spitfire engines (crated up and coated in grease) buried somewhere- the place I seem to remember being mentioned was somewhere on the fields by Farnborough Road. I'm not even sure if these fields haven't been built on since I left the area!
jerry.
 
I think this is mentioned on the forum somewhere. It is a rumour that resurfaces now and again unlike the parts that are allegedly buried of which there has, to my knowledge, been no sightings.
 
there was a report on the spitfire crates buried underground on the main bbc 1 news this evening, hope it turns out to be true, kind reguards sidwho
 
Hi Bernie D'Boult,
I tried to follow your 'motto of the week' ie search before posting, but this facility doesn't seem to work- I keep getting 'image verification error', or 'internal database error. If I'd realised it had been mentioned elsewhere on the forum, I wouldn't have replied.
And yes, I do agree, there haven't been any sightings, so it's probably not true.
 
Hi Radley. Once you have selected Advanced search then select 'Search Single Content Type' that is working not sure why the multiple one isn't. One other tip - I occasionally use Google even when I know the subject is posted on here somewhere.

By the way my'Check before posting' is a memo note to myself to make sure I say what I meant to say and also that - hopefully - others will read it as I meant.

Happy hunting.
 
The crated Merlins buried in Castle Vale story is old as the hills, but I do have a very faint memory that some bits were actually found a long time ago, presumably during the clearing of the old airfield and building of Castle Vale. In the 1970's I took my pal down to David Hiam Ltd to collect his Citroen, and there were two men in the reception talking about the 'crated Merlin legend'. I got talking to them and they swore blind that it was true, and that also an archaeological team from Birmingham University had carried out some excavations. I also remember hearing similar stories of aircraft parts and assemblies being stored in underground workshops at Longbridge...I don't think so, somehow. But...you never know!

G
 
That's good news Jennyann. And they hope to have some evidence in only 5 or 6 days! Thanks for posting. Viv.
 
If anyone would like to read a public forum regarding the buried Spitfires in Burma including some other aircraft burial stories you can go to this site. Today's posts are at
the bottom as the posts are in date order and will continue on as this project in Burma gets going. I read through most of it this am and there are some very interesting observations on this forum. https://www.pprune.org/archive/index.php/t-482576.html I'm keeping an open mind at this point.
 
Such a pity. But they must be there somewhere in Burma. Suppose it would cost too much to extend the survey. Viv.
 
Surely if there are any Spitfires buried in Burma (which I am beginning to have doubts) would not the local populace know of their whereabouts ?? I realise there is a lot of wild terrain there but I'm sure some locals would have been aware of the location and passed the information down. Eric
 
At the moment the buried Burma Spitfire story is not panning out as expected. We will have to await further news. There might be something in the
local angle to the story of buried Spitfires at Castle Vale. This story ran in the Birmingham Mail last week. One man came forward sometime ago stating
that he knows of Spitfires buried at Castle Vale. Now another gentleman has come forward to say the same thing. https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/local-news/richard-iii-hunters-set-to-hunt-1033443
 
Do not wish to sound disbelieving, but as in Burma would they not keep records of the exact location in Castle Vale (I presume they woud be in crates ready for assembly ?). Eric
 
Hi Eric: I would have thought that there would have been some records kept about the Castle Vale Spitfires. On the other hand there were
such things as "Top Secret" projects with the MOD, so no records have come to light so far it seems.
 
We played on the aerodrome as kids there was lots of stuff about we had cockpit dials etc you can buy spitfire parts today still boxed all stamped AM dated 43/4 sadly mine have gone now still got Jerry bits i picked up on ex Lutfwaffe bases that site needs a good dig
 
Great Jennyann. Fingers crossed for Mr Cundle. Seems very determined and wish him luck. Viv.
 
That be interesting i done digs years back it was what i found on Castle Vale that started me off you did not have to dig then?
 
I recently read a book on the archaeology of WW1 and WW2 airfields in the UK, and it seems that at the end of the last war it was common for materiel to be buried, rather than take it away to dispose of it. Apparently the Americans buried vast quantities of stuff rather than ship it all back to the USA. I said in a previous post that the subject of buried Rolls Royce Merlin engines, Spitfires, etc., etc., has become something of an urban legend, and if this is the case then I'm sure it harks back to real burials of surplus materiel. Regarding the story of buried Spitfires in Burma, I'd say that the chances are there's something in this, urban legend or not, otherwise it wouldn't have kept going for so long.

G
 
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