No buried Spitfires found
An operation to excavate dozens of British Spitfires thought to have been buried in Burma during the Second World War has ended in disappointment.
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Read the full storyBuried spitfires excavation a 'major find'
An operation to excavate dozens of British Spitfires buried in Burma during the Second World War is set to begin next year.
It marks the climax of a 16-year search for the lost aircraft by Lincolnshire farmer and aircraft enthusiast David Cundall, who says it is a "major find".
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Prime Minister's support 'opened door' to Spitfire excavation
The expedition to excavate dozens of British Spitfires buried in Burma during the Second World War may not have occurred if the Prime Minister had not called for the suspension of sanctions against Burma during a visit to the country in April, according to Mr Cundall.
David Cameron was talking about releasing the sanctions in April. At the same time he asked the president of Myanmar if the Spitfires could be recovered and there was broad agreement.
The timing was perfect. They suspended the sanctions, allowing me to negotiate the terms with the Myanmar government and also to sign the contract.
I cannot thank the Prime Minister enough because he has opened the door for me.
Mr Cundall had been sending letters to Mr Cameron calling for the removal of sanctions before the Prime Minister's trip to Burma.
Later in the year the Prime Minister sent him a letter of congratulations in which he expressed the hope that the Spitfires would fly once again in Britain, according to Mr Cundall.
Burma Spitfire excavation project 'biggest of my life'
Speaking before the announcement to evacuate dozens of British Spitfires buried during the Second World War today, Lincolnshire farmer and aircraft enthusiast David Cundall said:
It is the biggest project I have ever taken on in my life. I did not realise it would take 16 years or quite a large amount of personal money. But I do not regret it.
I have always admired the Spitfire. It has a very special place in British history, from the Battle of Britain. To find one Spitfire would be a major find, let alone 36.
Buried spitfires to be excavated
An operation to excavate dozens of British Spitfires buried in Burma during the Second World War is set to begin next year.
It marks the climax of a 16-year search for the lost aircraft by Lincolnshire farmer and aircraft enthusiast David Cundall.
Mr Cundall, 63, has poured tens of thousands of pounds into the venture - he says he stopped counting when the cost hit £130,000 - and hopes the recovered aircraft can be restored and eventually returned to flight.
He believes Lord Louis Mountbatten ordered the burial of 36 Spitfires in 1945 at the Mingaladon airfield, a major British base in Burma, as the Second World War was drawing to a close.