RAF Spitfire aircraft found in a bog in Co Donegal

the_syco

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/wwii-ammo-found-in-co-donegal-510771.html

The find was made today during the excavation of a crashed RAF Spitfire aircraft on the Inisowen peninsula - which was buried 30 feet in a bog.

Bogs are great for keeping human bodies in very good condition, and I'm hoping it's the same with the plane. The pilot was captured, and there was ammo at the plane, so I'm hoping this means it didn't go on fire when it hit the land. All going well, we may end up with a well perserved plane.

Lapin

the_syco wrote: »

http://www.breakingnews.ie/ireland/wwii-ammo-found-in-co-donegal-510771.html

All going well, we may end up with a well perserved plane.

Will 'we' get to keep it ?

Would the RAF want it back to be displayed at Hendon, Duxford or some place ?

Not saying we should return it, but just wondering what the lagal stuff is.

Would the RAF have a claim to it, or is it a case of finders keepers after 70 years ?

Daniel S

Lapin wrote: »

Will 'we' get to keep it ?

Would the RAF want it back to be displayed at Hendon, Duxford or some place ?

Not saying we should return it, but just wondering what the lagal stuff is.

Would the RAF have a claim to it, or is it a case of finders keepers after 70 years ?

Sure if we get it working, it's increase our air corp's potential hugely!

foxshooter243

Folks, I was at the crash site today, I have posted some pics on a website called Irish shooter dot com under the millitary section for anyone wanting a look.

chughes

RTE Radio interviewed a guy yesterday who is involved in this excavation. It was being filmed as part of an BBC NI series where they go around WW2 sites and excavate whatever they can from the site.

It sounds like a version of Time Team. It should be an interesting series and the Spitfire dig will be particularly interesting whenever it's shown on TV.

Klunk001

You were also able to follow the dig as it happened yesterday on twitter @DigWW2, Inc photos. The Spit was well preserved, but in a million pieces. Interesting story behind this http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-13924720.

the_syco

Aye, seems the pilot bailed and got to fight another day. The plane smacked the ground, so looks like it won't be in as good a condition as I hoped

A320

Lapin wrote: »

Will 'we' get to keep it ?

Would the RAF want it back to be displayed at Hendon, Duxford or some place ?

Not saying we should return it, but just wondering what the lagal stuff is.

Would the RAF have a claim to it, or is it a case of finders keepers after 70 years ?

I hear its some museum in Derry are getting it

Morpheus

The aircraft would still be the RAFs property. any aircraft that crashlanded here that we got or recovered to flying condition from the RAF during ww2 were bought, usually for a nominal fee of £1. This aircraft was never recovered and therefore was never completely struck off.

It is going to a museum in the UK, derry i believe may be correct.

xflyer

Well it will be staying in Ireland which is good. Londonderry in the UK or Derry in Ireland depending on your ideology. To be fair it's better there. I don't think there's the expertise to display and look after a crashed aircraft on this side of the border.

Should make a fascinating documentary. The story around the pilot is interesting too. The article mentions how he escaped from the Curragh and was handed back by the British. They don't mention the reason which was that he broke his parole. All the internees were allowed out of the camp as long as they promised not to escape. Some were actually studying in Trinity College up in Dublin. The threat was to withdraw that privilege from all the internees if he didn't come back. So he was sent back. They could though escape from the camp itself and a tunnel was attempted. When it was discovered by the guards. The Commandant let it continue because he could see it improved morale among the internees. It was only 'discovered' just as it was complete.

Quite a surreal situation.

If anyone wants to dig up an Irish Spitfire then can go to the Wicklow hills where there are still remains of a Seafire that crashed there in the fifties. I visited it once. Quite a lot remains albeit buried and waterlogged.

Tenger

xflyer wrote: »

...
Should make a fascinating documentary. .....All the internees were allowed out of the camp as long as they promised not to escape. Some were actually studying in Trinity College up in Dublin.......... a tunnel was attempted.......The Commandant let it continue because he could see it improved morale among the internees......

Brillant!!

kona

xflyer wrote: »

If anyone wants to dig up an Irish Spitfire then can go to the Wicklow hills where there are still remains of a Seafire that crashed there in the fifties. I visited it once. Quite a lot remains albeit buried and waterlogged.

Thats awesome, where is it? I want to go check it out!

xflyer

There isn't much to see as it's mostly underground and boggy. There was some evidence when I was there but that was some time ago. It's on Corrig mountain overlooking Kilbride firing range. Just down from the summit on the firing range side. You may have to search around for the hole. There's a War Department stone marker on the summit. It's not a tough hike or anything. It was Seafire 154, the pilot was killed when a formation became separated in bad weather. He was agonisingly close to the top of the hill too and it's one of the smaller hills in the vicinity. Sad to see. There is also the wreck of an Air Corps Provost in Wicklow. The engine apparently is still there on the surface. Bear in mind that removing anything from a wreck is illegal, as is the use of a metal detector without a licence in this country.

kona

xflyer wrote: »

There isn't much to see as it's mostly underground and boggy. There was some evidence when I was there but that was some time ago. It's on Corrig mountain overlooking Kilbride firing range. Just down from the summit on the firing range side. You may have to search around for the hole. There's a War Department stone marker on the summit. It's not a tough hike or anything. It was Seafire 154, the pilot was killed when a formation became separated in bad weather. He was agonisingly close to the top of the hill too and it's one of the smaller hills in the vicinity. Sad to see. There is also the wreck of an Air Corps Provost in Wicklow. The engine apparently is still there on the surface. Bear in mind that removing anything from a wreck is illegal, as is the use of a metal detector without a licence in this country.

Can anybody head up or is it military land? I dont want to be shot!. I just want to see them, I dont particularly have much use for wreckage! I wonder what other stuff is around the country.

xflyer

No, you're OK, it is military land but it's a popular route for hikers and hill walkers. In fact when I was there a hiker passed no doubt wondering what I was at. It's well away from the range. As long as you don't try climbing from the range itself you'll be OK. I remember once being security on the range during a shoot and having to intercept someone skiing down one of the hills right towards us. Yes skiing, it was snowed over. I think we scared him, having a bunch of armed soldiers running towards you does spoil your day. But really we were just trying to protect him.:)

Google Corrig mountain. After I posted, I came across some info which might be helpful. A lot of the hill walker and mountain climber sites have info on wrecks. There is a book called 'High Ground Wrecks' which is were I got the info. No doubt there are websites too.

Be prepared, I found it very sad to think about what happened at that spot. Very sobering. It was a few days before that particular crash was found. Even the USAF helped out with search. I can't recall the name of the pilot right now but he's buried in Tallaght.

280special

Looks like it is possible to visit the dig site in Donegal? Anyone know when they are finishing up there?

foxshooter243

280special wrote: »

Looks like it is possible to visit the dig site in Donegal? Anyone know when they are finishing up there?

tomorrow evening as far as I know..

daithi55

the plane was found in ireland so belongs to ireland
the weapons are been cleaned by the irish defense force and are then been presented to a museum in derry

for some reason the bbc have no interest in the aircraft now
the documentary stops after the digging up of it
pity as the best part is only starting now in cleaning the
weapons for the museum and engine

280special

foxshooter243 wrote: »

tomorrow evening as far as I know..

thanks for that, had hoped to get up there but no chance !

Not so sure who actually owns the aircraft now as it came down outside the jurisdiction of the UK . Would be nice if it does remain on the island.

xflyer

As to who owns it. You can be quite sure that side of it was sorted out long before the dig. The British MOD lays claim to all RAF wrecks at home or abroad. But you can get a licence to recover one as long as there is no human remains suspected. On the other hand use of a metal detector in Ireland is illegal without a licence as is removing anything of archaelogical value. So you'll need permission from the Irish government too.