20 Crated Spitfires Found in Burma????

[Gary1961]

Hi Guys,

This article was in a Melbourne newspaper today.
http://www.theage.com.au/world/green...018-27seg.html

If the British and Burmese Govts are making a deal about the Spitfires, it would appear that they have indeed been found.

[Dan O'Connell]

http://news.yahoo.com/british-spitfi...034106927.html

This was posted on Yahoo news page.

[Graham Boak]

Nothing has been found. Yet. Now that the monsoon season is over, the hunt is on.

[Nick Beale]

It's in The Guardian, so it must be true.

P.S. doesn't that "Spitfire fighter planes" bit make you cringe? As if the British don't know what a Spitfire is!

[Graham Boak]

To be honest Nick, nothing surprises me anymore when it comes to the level of historical knowledge in the general population, away from enthusiast groups. Too many examples of every possible warship being called a battleship, too many appalling errors in continuity in TV programmes... the list could go on. The Spitfire was of course a Triumph sportscar, was the aircraft named after that?

If you watch a couple of examples of the TV programme Pointless, you will soon be disillusioned as to how few people know what you'd imagine to be fairly widespread knowledge. And no, I don't mean trivia such as Madonna's top 40 hits! If a newspaper refers to a Spitfire fighter plane, at least it isn't calling it a bomber.

[Bill Walker]

I thought the car and the airplane were named after the beer.

[Nick Beale]

Originally Posted by Bill Walker

I thought the car and the airplane were named after the beer.

But, to use a favourite media word, it's iconic!

[RangerJimK]

Originally Posted by Nick Beale

It's in The Guardian, so it must be true.

P.S. doesn't that "Spitfire fighter planes" bit make you cringe? As if the British don't know what a Spitfire is!

With all due respect, have you ever heard of a chap named Sidney Cotton and/or the Nr. 1 Photo Reconnaissance Unit (PRU)?

Now, I must admit that I'm a former US Army Photo Intelligence Analyst/Air Intelligence Officer, so when someone says "Spitfire fighter planes," I tend to say, "Well, yes but... " and - while I dinna cringe - I do have a tendency to roll my eyes and sigh....

It's been a good while since I was in the business, but as I recall, I was taught that the first effective photo recce birds flown by the Allies in WW II were Spitfires flown by the Nr 1 PRU, as they could fly faster and higher than any interceptors that the Axis had at that point.

For that matter, I believe that the Spits were used as ground attack "fighter-bombers" in Normandy following D-Day, but that wasn't my bailiwick, so I shan't comment on that.

Jim Kirk
(aka "RangerJimK," "Ranger Jim" et al
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[RangerJimK]

Originally Posted by Bill Walker

I thought the car and the airplane were named after the beer.

But what about the BSA Spitfire?

And I ask you truly, just what (and whose) "beer" are you talking about? Surely you aren't talking about English "Beer", eh?

[Andy Saunders]

Yes, RangerJimK....real beer! English beer. :-)

Some classic adverts for Spitfire Ale to be found here for a little light relief and amusement:

http://www.spitfireale.co.uk/spitfire-adverts/

My favourite? "Spitfire Ale - Downed all over Kent. Just like the Luftwaffe!"