Squadron of Lost WWII Spitfires To Be Exhumed In Burma

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt that sounds like a good Neal Stephenson plot point: "Like a treasure chest stuffed with priceless booty, as many as 20 World War II-era Spitfire planes are perfectly preserved, buried in crates beneath Burma — and after 67 years underground, they're set to be uncovered. The planes were shipped in standard fashion in 1945 from their manufacturer in England to the Far East country: waxed, wrapped in greased paper and tarred to protect against the elements. They were then buried in the crates they were shipped in, rather than let them fall into enemy hands, said David Cundall, an aviation enthusiast who has spent 15 years and about $200,000 in his efforts to reveal the lost planes."

Comments

Condition

[_Shad0w_]

If they turn out to be in good enough condition to be made flyable I will squee, a lot.

Re:Condition

[Guppy]

No, we should leave them sealed. Every collector knows they're worth more in the original box. I mean, who wouldn't jump at an eBay listing like:
"Spitfire Vintage MINT NEW IN BOX - SUPER RARE!!! (Returns: Not Accepted)"

Perfect timing

[Maquis196]

With recent austerity measures, the UK are looking at bringing these fighters back into service.

Thanks David!

Re:Perfect timing

[Tridus]

Oh they'd sink just fine. It was the getting them to come back up part.

Leave them where they are

[DrXym]

These planes will be needed in the uprising against the psychlos.

Great idea for other old military hardware!

[PolygamousRanchKid]

Burying military surplus is a great way to give future military historians and archeologists solid evidence to study in the future. It is inexpensive and should be done with other unneeded military hardware.

Like, landmines and nerve gas.

Re:erection

[Catmeat]

I have had the pleasure of seeing-hearing-feeling a Spitfire fly by at full speed at very low altitude. It's a sexual experience for anyone who appreciates aircraft.

I'm not sure exactly what kind of experience this reporter had with a low, fast Spitfire, but it doesn't seem to have been sexual, despite what he subsequently said.

Re:erection

[Shinobi]

Oh, that was a sexual experience

Surprise Butt Sex kind.

Re:Preserved Junk?

[Noughmad]

Planes have been pulled from swamps, bottoms of lakes, and worse and been restored to flying condition.

Yes, but we don't have Yoda here, do we?

Re:Preserved Junk?

[ColdWetDog]

Keep looking, the Arc of the Covenant is bound to be in there somewhere....