Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - Printable Version

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+--- Thread: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara (/showthread.php?tid=74841)

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Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - LeBigTed - 13.05.2012

Hi Guys,

A quick look at what I just found... a P40 !!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YcG462Vw1WQ

After 70 years the aircraft was found in the Sahara desert. This is an RAF fighter Curtiss P-40 Kittyhawk. Despite the great time that has passed theairplane is complete and with only some damage.

The plane was reportedly flown in 1942 by Sergeant Dennis Copping at age 24. The young man had orders to bring the aircraft to a British basein Egypt but never reached its destination. Exactly why did not reach the base but there bullet holes in the fuselage. Experts conclude that after failing to repair the engine was a victim of the heat Copping and died trying to get somewhere because the closer it is to more than 300kilometers.

The finding will be taken to an aviation museum in London, but since the discovery has been difficult to keep secure the site and some thieveshave taken pieces.

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Re: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - madcat - 13.05.2012

You beat me to it, was going to post this

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... esert.html

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Re: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - Fireskull - 16.05.2012

Very cool!



Fireskull

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Re: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - Serpiko - 17.05.2012

Sorry for that guy's sad fate

But it's amazing how well the plane has preserved! Maybe the extremely dry environement prevented the corrosion?

And maybe the poor pilot, wherever he is, has endded up mummified and is preserved too.

Do they know if it has been buried by the sand so far, or simply sitting there too far away from anywhere?

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Re: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - Planemad - 17.05.2012

Great story, but very sad for Sergeant Collins

I hope they do find him so he can be lain to rest, and have a grave Its nice to think they are thinking of turning his crash site into a war grave,

Thanks for posting 8)

Planemad

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Re: Aircraft of WWII found almost intact in the Sahara - LeBigTed - 18.05.2012

Hi Planemad, hi Serpiko,

They are now looking for the pilot. They have determined an area 20 miles around the plane to find him.

He survived the crash, as the article said batteries out of the plane, and parachute suggest he tryed to contact some help and uses his parachute to protect himself from the sun.

He probably went into the desert to survive, but the first town was at 300 km from where he crashed.

Hope they will find him.

Ted ;o)

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