ABMM's upcoming metal detecting job.

[abmm]

No bunkers, no unexploded ordnance, no secret bases, just a good old fashioned metal detecting tasking we are doing for another museum.

In Late March, we are taking the I-160 to a certain location...

Here's some photos of that location in 1947





Yep, those are WWII spitfire fighters. They along with countless P40 Warhawks, P51 Mustangs and Royal Navy (English) carrier borne types like FU-4 Corsairs and Hellcats were scrapped here. All they were interested in was the aluminium skin for scrap so all other components were bulldozed into pits and buried.

Over the years hydraulic action in the soil has brought some of those components to the surface so every couple of years the staff of the museum do a walkdown of the fields and pick up anything they might need for their spitfire restoration or their museum display. No one has ever run a metal detector over the site, let alone an OKM I-160 due to the fact that is in a military restricted area near an active airbase.

Man, we've got two days there for this job and I think we're gonna be busy.


As always with our work, there is an urban legend or two surrounding the site. So we will be also looking for these:

"For years, stories have surfaced regarding the fighters rumoured to have been buried by airmen who were upset that the planes were being scrapped after World War II. According to a couple of legends, the airmen put the planes in crates and buried them in either mine shafts, tunnels or pits. These stories have been around for a long time and known to a great many people. Apart from local townsfolk, local historians, historical societies, historical aircraft enthusiasts, museums, as well as current and former Australian Defence Force Personnel from the Australian Army and Air Force, have all heard about the buried Spitfires. Not every story is exactly the same, but the amazing thing is, they’re all pretty close. It’s these stories that are fueling our search for these elusive Spitfires."



For more info see: Broken Wings - Legend

I'll post photos when we're done. At this site, we have Air Force maps showing the disposal pits and what they contain so expect to see a couple of Merlin and Allison engines.


Cheers,

[bdahunter]

Finding an original Spitfire in crates or intact would be like finding the holy grail for aviation enthusiasts.

Wishing You Luck,

BDA

[MinelabMan]

Sounds like you have your hands full, only 2 days! Hope you find a crated cosmoline coated Spitfire!

[Steve in PR]

Even parts will be appreciated, There must be tons of targets just below the surface!

[abmm]

Originally Posted by Steve in PR

There must be tons of targets just below the surface!

For sure!

This one will be a cakewalk. Over a thousand aircraft were scrapped onsite just after WWII and they buried most of the iron scrap (engines, oleos, exhausts, etc.) right there. I've got photos somewhere of massive piles of aircraft engines sitting there waiting for the bulldozer to push em into the hole.

This one is for a really good cause too. The museum which exists onsite is supposed to be government funded, but the budget is not really enough. So they will keep any really nice examples of various bits and pieces for display and as spare parts for their own aircraft and the rest will be sold off on the warbird (mil aircraft restorers) market worldwide to raise funds for the museum. What do we get out of it? Fuel and accommodation costs covered and a huge amount of priceless free publicity for our own museum. That's what I call networking!

As for the crated spitfires, we have a few targets to scan, but I certainly won't guarantee we'll find them - most of the stories place them outside the wire on private property.

[Sly]

Merlin's and Allison's eh.......................................

Wonder if I could fit one of those in my Sportster????

The cannon's on those Spitfire's are MASSIVE!!!!

[EBCIII]

Good luck to you with the hunt! Looks like it will be intresting to say the least, Beale.

[prizm-pal]

Originally Posted by bdahunter

Finding an original Spitfire in crates or intact would be like finding the holy grail for aviation enthusiasts.

Wishing You Luck,

BDA

Abmm... very interesting... Hey are you hiring I know pay only room and board... but if you could get me airfare I am in...will do any grunt work... Keep us posted! Thanks Chick!

[EPC Guy]

Awesome! Wish I could come along with you!

[gordiesgirl]

soundslike a dream job, That would be very interesting work. Best of luck