RAF fighter plane found after 70 years in the Sahara

[Ryan]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2142300/Crashed-plane-Second-World-War-pilot-Dennis-Copping-discovered-Sahara-desert.html#ixzz1uXYLGWrY

[Dom B]

That's a great find, probably worth a small fortune.

[Danzul]

awesome find! hopefully nothing is stolen for scrap money or memrobilia before it is recovered!

[Nick Mann]

Got to feel sorry for the pilot. Of all the ways to die as a pilot in WWII that's got to be a sh!tty one.

[aboo]

I read this in the paper today. Just go's to show how vast the desert is that it has taken 70 years to fined it.

[Ryan]

Yeah not a pleasant way to go at all. As one of the comments suggested, hopefully he had his service revolver to hand and was able to dispatch himself quickly. I really hope that they recover it before the local yokels strip it.

In 1994, an Avro Shackleton belonging to the South African Air Force was en route to the UK to participate in air show when it experienced total failure on engines 3 and 4 which subsequently also caught fire. The crew relayed their plight via radio to SAAF HQ in Pretoria before crash landing in the Mauritania desert. All 19 crew were thankfully rescued with no injuries or fatalities (also a testament to their flying ability).

The plane, at that stage one of only two flying examples left in the world was stripped bare by the locals. There isn't much left of it now unfortunately :(

http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/168/pel16.jpg/

[kiteman]

A great post Ryan and a sad end for the fighter pilot.The photo of the shackleton reminded me I have a photo some where of a
Junkers JU52 taken in dublin 1983 during the filming of a TV film called "caught in a free state".
It told the story of German spies parachuting into Ireland during WW11.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Caught_in_a_Free_State

Anyhow the story we were told at the time was of the JU52, having only recently been found in north africa, was being flown to Ireland, en route to america for full restoration.
It was used briefly in the filming while here, and while parked on an apron at dublin airport, it was badly damaged in a storm.
Whatever became of it, I dont recall, but I'll have a go at researching it.

The attached photo shows yours truly on the left, waiting to board the JU52 for the parachute drop.
Vernon McCarthy in the centre is the standin for the the spy, and Ronan Lee is the freefall photographer.
My roll on board was to dispatch Vernon by static line, and I wore the overalls and helmet in case I got into frame. The inflight action was filmed from a cessna 172 and 5 seconds after the lads had exited, I was free to dive out after them, as I was well out of frame by then.

[Ryan]

What an awesome story / experience Tommie. Kind of eerie in a way too knowing what it must have been like for a German Fallschirmjager leaving the very same aircraft they used as well!

[kiteman]

I found a link to a photo of the JU52 parked in dublin airport.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/24101413@N03/3451765079/

[exevoowner]

Just think if that was found after 70 years what else is out there thats gone missing ?????

[kiteman]

What an awesome story / experience Tommie. Kind of eerie in a way too knowing what it must have been like for a German Fallschirmjager leaving the very same aircraft they used as well!

Yeah it was quite an experience back then.
From what I recall of the story of the time, it was near the end of the war, that the JU52 was taxi'd to a bush area and heavily camoflaged.
The allies overran the airfield as the war ended, and missed the aircraft totally.
It was eventually found sometime in 1982.
It was a well worn aircraft when I was on board, and in poor state of airworthiness.
Can you imagine, a 40 gallon drum of oil positioned in the centre behind both pilots, with a 3rd crewmember pumping oil to the engines (not sure if it was to all 3) while we were in flight.
Theres no way it would be allowed in the sky today.

[Ryan]

Heh, that sounds pretty Dodge City! Just cutting back to the Shackleton for a second, the only remaining one in flying condition* was ground run at AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town yesterday. Here is a video clip of the startup - unfortunately one simply has to be there to really appreciate the sound of four RR Griffon engines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Griffon)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ItwfLopinlU

And some pictures:

53417

53418

53419

53420


* Although this aircraft still has ~60 hours left on its airframe, it last flew in 2007 and is no longer able to fly due to a lack of qualified (current) crew to fly her as the ones that are still alive are over the age limit to fly. This aircraft type was retired from SAAF service in 1984 to give you an idea of how old they are.

[jayp]

It still amazes me to look at these older aircraft, that can take off and fly, when you look at the size and shape of them. Then again I thought the the same when I first boarded a Hercules, and they can pretty agile when they want to bd!

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk 2

[kiteman]

Heh, that sounds pretty Dodge City! Just cutting back to the Shackleton for a second, the only remaining one in flying condition* was ground run at AFB Ysterplaat, Cape Town yesterday. Here is a video clip of the startup - unfortunately one simply has to be there to really appreciate the sound of four RR Griffon engines (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rolls-Royce_Griffon)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=ItwfLopinlU

And some pictures:

53417

53418

53419

53420


* Although this aircraft still has ~60 hours left on its airframe, it last flew in 2007 and is no longer able to fly due to a lack of qualified (current) crew to fly her as the ones that are still alive are over the age limit to fly. This aircraft type was retired from SAAF service in 1984 to give you an idea of how old they are.

Great write up and pics +video Ryan. The sounds of the startup is only brilliant, and its only now I realised they used contra rotating propellors.Were they used on the original shackletons, ??

[Ryan]

Great write up and pics +video Ryan. The sounds of the startup is only brilliant, and its only now I realised they used contra rotating propellors.Were they used on the original shackletons, ??

Yes they were. It is the first British bomber to use contra-rotating propellers - although not the first British plane. Later model Spitfires that received the Griffon engine (replacing the Merlin) were also fitted with contra-rotating props. I believe that they are there mostly to help manage the massive torque of the engine - each engine produces about 2000HP.

[Gingerfish]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2142300/Crashed-plane-Second-World-War-pilot-Dennis-Copping-discovered-Sahara-desert.html#ixzz1uXYLGWrY

What a great story. It's just a shame all the readers have to argue with each other at the bottom of the article.

[tw5jim]

they also found a load of spitfires buried in burma. but not as dramtic as crashing on your own in a desert with no rescue.must be a harrowing experience!!

[Ryan]

Yeah there's a bit of a battle going on (legal wranglings) with regards to retrieving those buried Spits. I hope that the issue can be resolved quickly but knowing what's at stake monetarily, it tends to bring out the worst in people.