Buried Spits in Burma

[bgp429]

If I knew where planes were buried I would just go get a couple pieces of equipment and dig them up. Is this some remote spot where there is no heavy equipment? Why does the guy need a huge sum of money? Doesn't seem it would be that expensive to move some dirt. At least dig one up and inspect it. He may have made a huge mistake making this find known. Now, as others said the politicans and lawyers will complicate things

[Wildchild]

Well... erm... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/worl ... Burma.html

The latest article doesn't sound good. I had hoped that this could be handled in a way that would provide these bits of history to the world so they would be displayed and restored (assuming they can be) properly. I remember all the flak over the B-17E "Swamp Ghost" - what did it take, 20 years, to finally get it moved and over to the U.S.?

Is there a website where one can go to (other than here, of course) where I can keep up with the latest developmemts?

This is different, since Burma isn't claimimg that the Spitfire's are their's for Tourists

['nothernug]

This is not immediately in topic with this thread but slides in sideways, as it were... The title of this topic somewhat paraphrased, reminds me of a very sore point with me.
My Dad was in the CBI in WWII. I have many photos of his time there, sadly, most unidentified. But there are two photos in particular... A military graveyard for allied soldiers.

Well, as near as I can determine, they were in India not, 'buried in Burma," and they are there yet but you can believe the place doesn't look like that any more! Typically, them folks not only could care less what was done for them at great cost, some of them out right resent it!

Sorry for veering off but I've been seeing this topic title and thinking of this every time and just had to post this.

[Mark_Pilkington]

But there are two photos in particular... A military graveyard for allied soldiers.
Well, as near as I can determine, they were in India not, 'buried in Burma," and they are there yet but you can believe the place doesn't look like that any more! Typically, them folks not only could care less what was done for them at great cost, some of them out right resent it!

Sorry for veering off but I've been seeing this topic title and thinking of this every time and just had to post this.

?? I'm not sure you can make that judgement without going there and seeing for yourself? and proving such views and opinions?, there are WW1 graveyards in Europe still regarded well by the villages and their children for the sacrifices of those who died nearly 100 years ago,


Here is an allied war cemetery in Burma, apparantly well cared for?

This cemetery was created in 1951 and the remains from many temporary small military cemetaries were re-interned here, it one of 7 such cemeteries in Burma/Myanmar with allied war dead buried there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Taukkyan_War_Cemetery



There are 34 listed war cemeteries in India, and these, as well as those in Burma and in France are administered by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on behalf of the British and Commonweath national governments such as India, Australia, New Zealand etc

The US has its own agency, the American Battle Monuments Commission to manage US and overseas Military Cemeteries, the only on in the Pacific is at Manila and I suspect the graves in the US Cemetery in India in your photos were relocated post war to this central Cemetery by the ABMC.

http://www.abmc.gov/cemeteries/cemeteries/ml.php

The Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines occupies 152 acres on a prominent plateau, visible at a distance from the east, south and west. It contains the largest number of graves of our military dead of World War II, a total of 17,201, most of whom lost their lives in operations in New Guinea and the Philippines....Twenty-five mosaic maps recall the achievements of the American armed forces in the Pacific, China, India and Burma. On rectangular Trani limestone piers within the hemicycles, are inscribed the Tablets of the Missing containing 36,285 names.

If there is any evidenced resentment or even attacks against such graves as occured in Libya recently against Australian and other Commonwealth graves, it is inspired by the cynical and inconsistant foreign policy actions of many of our current governments and the UN and not resentment against the deeds of those who died in WW2.

regards

Mark Pilkington

['nothernug]

Actually, I can say that with at least some reasonable degree of certainty. I have tried researching this and found something. There is a "recently unearthed large Burial-ground..." An article from a site about the region reported: "The most of the graves in the Cemetery are damaged due to wild Elephants, wear and tear in the course of time and tempered due to miscreants...." This article has been updated. Earlier it reported that the remains were bull dozed into a common mound and marked. This article makes a reference to a 'common grave" but neglects comment as to how it got that way.

Here's a link to the article... http://changlang.nic.in/interest.html#ww2cemetery
Dad was a truck driver/MP and drove the Ledo/Burma roads. He kept a pocket notebook in which he made some notes about his tour. Far from a true diary but, far better than nothing. He remarked about burials at "Margherita" and had these two photos. Regrettably, he did not mark these as he did some such. But it stands to reason that this is the same one he made notes about. As well, there's only a possibility that this grave yard is the same one but I'd say the odds are good all the way around.

In a way, it is a fitting epitaph. The CBI was the armpit (actually, a bodily orifice further south would make a better anomaly) of the war. They only got left overs of supply and Bob Hope never went there. Dad said they used to call themselves the FBI- the Forgotten Bas---ds of India.
And so it seems, they remain.

Btw, Dad passed on in 1988. I can't begin to recount how many times I have wished I could ask him questions I didn't think of then.

Edit. At least it is not all so bad. I just found an article on better kept remains. http://www.bharatonline.com/assam/digboi/war-cemetry.html

[Mark_Pilkington]

Actually, I can say that with at least some reasonable degree of certainty. I have tried researching this and found something. There is a "recently unearthed large Burial-ground..." An article from a site about the region reported: "The most of the graves in the Cemetery are damaged due to wild Elephants, wear and tear in the course of time and tempered due to miscreants...." This article has been updated. Earlier it reported that the remains were bull dozed into a common mound and marked. This article makes a reference to a 'common grave" but neglects comment as to how it got that way.

Here's a link to the article... http://changlang.nic.in/interest.html#ww2cemetery

Edit. At least it is not all so bad. I just found an article on better kept remains. http://www.bharatonline.com/assam/digboi/war-cemetry.html

I would agree the cemetery in your link has been mistreated but that seems to be primarily that it became overgrown and forgotten, - surprising since it is in India and should have been under the care of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, the bigger surprise is the level of care and respect being provided to the second cemetery you link in Burma, which as a closed country would have limited access by both the Commonwealth and American Commissions.

I would recommend you write a letter of concern including copies of your father's photos, to both of those Commissions asking them to take interest in, and responsibility for the relevent graves in these two cemeteries.

regards

Mark Pilkington

[reno64]

Going back to the original topic. I just read the following report out of Australia. It seems like this find may be the real deal!!!

http://www.smh.com.au/world/burmese-tre ... 1x1kn.html

[JDK]

Going back to the original topic. I just read the following report out of Australia. It seems like this find may be the real deal!!!

http://www.smh.com.au/world/burmese-tre ... 1x1kn.html

You'll note that the report isn't from Australia, but is a licenced copy from The Telegraph (UK newspaper) as credited at the bottom of the linked article. It's simply the same story, again.

Regards,

[jtramo]

So it's 124 now and he knows where 60 are. Has a buyer for all at 1.5 mill each. Amazing! This shall flood the market and bring the price down. Soon spitfires for all at the price of a mid time 172!

[WallyB]

So it's 124 now and he knows where 60 are. Has a buyer for all at 1.5 mill each. Amazing! This shall flood the market and bring the price down. Soon spitfires for all at the price of a mid time 172!

I'm still waiting for one of those six Lancasters I was promised! After I get that I might go for a Spitfire

[JFS61]

I'm still waiting for one of those six Lancasters I was promised! After I get that I might go for a Spitfire

Don't worry, as you aren't the only one - I'm still waiting for my Short Stirling from Russia to arrive.

[seaknight15]

I am still waiting for my dad's $50.00 dollar Jeep In a crate to dock in Duluth. 40 years ago.

['nothernug]

I am still waiting for my dad's $50.00 dollar Jeep In a crate to dock in Duluth. 40 years ago.

I remember those ads! Government surplus!

[Enemy Ace]

I am starting to wonder if this whole spitfire story is a bunch of BS..... No pictures or anything has surfaced beyond some wild claims so far as I know..

[marine air]

There were so many russian deals that involved the Russians selling the same hurricane, or BF-109 three or four times. If I were the person in the know, I wouldn't disclose anything until they are recovered and moved out of that country. Eventually, say 6 months pictures will surface or it will be proven a hoax.