Kittyhawk Found in Sahara

[Andy Saunders]

I would echo what Mark Sheppard says in his post.

As of yet, the pilot i/d has not been confirmed. Thus, when CNN and BBC World Service asked to talk to me about it (just bcause they wanted to tal to someone!) I made it clear that I wouldn't talk to them about the name of the pilot for obvious reasons. However, the supposed name was already out there on the net and thus the news outlets used it anyway. I'm afraid that some of the media did manage to rather garble what facts they were given, anyway!

C'est la vie.

[Ludovico Slongo]

Hello to all,
I received from my friend Daniele Moretto
the request to publish this link

http://www.qattara.it/60-173%20Kittyhawk.htm

Ciao

Ludovico

[markjsheppard]

Ludovico,

Now that 1035 has been reported and with the link, it is safe to report that the P40E Kittyhawk in the desert is now confirmed as Curtiss P40E-1-CU Curtiss shipping number 1035, construction number 19761, US serial 41-35928 and British serial ET574.

From the loss card for ET574 we know F/Sgt Dennis Copping was flying this plane.

The Copping family were made aware of the confirmation early last week but although the Kittyhawk has been found, F/Sgt Copping is still missing.

RIP

Mark

[Leo Etgen]

Hello

It appears that quite possibly the remains of F/Sgt Dennis Copping have been found. If true at least his family can now inter him with the respect and honor he deserves.

http://www.qattara.it/versione%20in%...ESTO%20_1_.pdf

RIP

Leo

[Andy Saunders]

Some caution needs to be exercised until these have been confirmed as human.

The artefacts found with the reported remains contain nothing RAF-specific or aviator related, apart from the oddly positioned parachute part and with the remainder of the 'chute being with the P40 a long distance away.

The copper disc seems to be from a 127lb box of some kind of cupro-related ore and, again, hard to associate this with the P40 or its pilot.

Time will tell, but it would be wrong to jump to conclusions at this stage.

Today is the 70th anniversary of the pilot's sad demise. RIP.