ianstone
05-09-2010, 10:44 AM
Sorry i don't know if this story has aired, anyway.
Buried by a Welsh beach for 60 years, the World War II fighter that has emerged from the seas
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
It has been hidden under the the sands and waves since it crashed off the coast of Wales in 1942. But now this wreckage of a rare World War fighter plane may soon be back on dry land.
Described as 'one of the most important WWII finds in recent history', the location of the Lockheed P38 Lightning has been kept a secret to keep the amazing find safe.
Known as the Maid of Harlech the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighter crashed on the Gwynedd coast when it was taking part in training exercises and its engines cut out.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BD9A000005DC-557_634x507.jpg The World War II Lockheed P38 Lightning buried under sand and waves on a Welsh beach, its location is being kept secret
Amazingly pilot Lt Robert Elliott walked away from the incident without a scratch but tragically went missing in action just three months later serving in the American's Tunisia campaign in North Africa.
These incredible pictures show how the previously undetected Lightning suddenly appeared on a Wales beach in 2007. Shifting water displaced sand which had hidden it for 60 years and revealed a gem find for aviation buffs.
But now a charity has announced plans to next year retrieve the wreckage. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery are looking for support and a British museum who will accept the fascinating American machine as a gift to display at their venue for history lovers.
TIGHAR are the only non-profit organisation of their kind in the world and work tirelessly retrieving plane wrecks of historical importance and donate them to museums for the public to enjoy.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BF75000005DC-401_634x552.jpg A diver and experts examine the Lockheed P38 Lightning which crashed on a training exercise in 1942
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BF10000005DC-651_306x423.jpg Second Lieutenant Robert F Elliott, USAAF the pilot of the crashed World War II fighter
Led by Ric Gillespie, the team are preparing to journey next month to Gardner Island in the Pacific to find clues of missing American aviation legend Amelia Earhart.
Following that project, TIGAHR will turn their attention to 'The Maid' and are trying to secure funding to pull the buried plane from the Welsh sands.
The group have been in discussions with the Imperial War Museum who were on site in 2007 as they performed an analysis of the Maid. The aim was to determine if it could be safely retrieved and how they can stop the aged machine disintegrating when they do.
Ric said: 'The world's beaches, bays and oceans are rich repositories of rare aircraft but they remain largely untapped because of the corrosive effects of immersion in sea water.
'Museums have raised historic aircraft from salt water in good condition and at great expense only to see them crumble to white powder in a matter of months.
'Techniques for conserving and stabilising metals recovered from nautical environments have been developed and tested but have never been applied to a complete aircraft.
'One of the proven processes involves partially dismantling the aircraft and submerging the pieces in tanks of a special solution through which a mild electric current is passed. Detox can take a year or more but the end result is a relatively stable historic artefact that would otherwise have been lost.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BDAC000005DC-795_634x376.jpg Parts of the plane poke up above the waves at low tide on the remote beach
'We are working closely with the Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University to develop a recovery and conservation plan that will enable the Maid of Harlech to be truly conserved.
'We're also building a coalition of US and UK archaeological and aviation historical groups that will make it possible to fund and carry out the recovery and begin the conservation process before the whims of nature once more expose the aircraft to the destructive force of the sea and what the 17th century British antiquarian John Aubrey called, "the hands of mistaken zeal."
'We invite and encourage anyone who shares our goals to join us.'
And TIGHAR feel the fascinating find could go down in the history books. With the help from other individuals and organisations they have worked hard to protect her.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-024035AB000004B0-798_634x286.jpg The Lockheed P-38 Lightning as it would have looked, with a Spitfire flying alongside
'It is one of the most significant WWII-related archaeological discoveries in recent history,' added Ric.
'We call her the Maid of Harlech after the magnificent 13th century Welsh castle, but until she is can be rescued from the sands of time, her actual location must remain confidential.
'Although the aircraft is covered by the Protection of Military Remains Act and disturbing the site in any way carries heavy penalties, the looting of historic wreck sites by unscrupulous souvenir hunters is, nonetheless, a major problem worldwide.
'Nature has done a good job hiding the wreck.'
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/index.html)
The comments below have not been moderated.
I have to agree that the average American is a generous individual - but their rulers like the almighty dollar more than anything else - they did help us out in the last war - but we did pay dearly for this help - in fact we have only just repaid that debt - I personally think that if the Japs didn't bomb Pearl Harbour the Americans would not have come to our aid - just sold us the ornaments to boost their economy .still that is now water under the bridge - let us now try and get on well together - after all is said and done we still need each other .
in this unstableworld .
- Mr G M Wills, Cullompton Devon, 09/5/2010 14:03
Click to rate Rating 2
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23843556)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 9/5/2010 3:24
Yes we have lots too. I used the same one that Catherine Zeta Jones used when she was a child and all my treatment was free on the Great British NHS. No ridiculously huge bills for my parents.
P.S, I have stunning teeth, no fillings, no veneers and perfectly white, what are your teeth like?
- Lucy Higgins, Skewen, Neath, 09/5/2010 13:25
Click to rate Rating 6
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23843182)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 9/5/2010 3:24
Typical yank all show no brain. No wonder you hold Paris Hilton in such high esteem, she`s a role model for you all. Still she is I suppose thin unlike the rest of you burger munchers.
Proud American, Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 8/5/2010 23:43
I am sure your father was a brave man but the fact still remains we had to pay to dollar for the oil and anything else. The usa took advantage of the early part of ww2 to dismantle the British empire and replace it with itself. It was not some kindly act but the usa always represents it as such. Even in the 50`s after having supported you in korea you would not share nuclear technology. So we developed our own hydrogen bomb, once we did then you wanted to share providing we bought your bomb not ours.
Please stay home I`d like my sons back not dead from friendly fire!
- roger, wales, 09/5/2010 09:13
Click to rate Rating 24
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23840414)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 09/5/2010 03:24
Click to rate Rating 44
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23838950)
I am a Welsh ex-pat living in US. Dad was a RAF Spitfire pilot in WWII, flew with Aussies, Yanks, Poles, Canadians and anyone else who would come to our aid. And more than once saved by them. With all due respect to Americans and the generosity and bravery they showed helping us out, I think the Brits record on archaeological recovery from salt water environs is unrivalled (i.e. Mary Rose). Even more, the Brits can keep the location a secret; the US Freedom of Information Act will have the location blasted all over the newspapers and TV stations. The plane was originally discovered in 2007 and already too much info has been given out: Gwyneth County and 'near Harlech' by British papers.
- Daphne W, Churchton, MD, USA, 09/5/2010 02:22
Click to rate Rating 11
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23838801)
I am an ex-pat from Wales. Dad was Spitfire pilot in WWII. He flew with Aussies, Americans, Poles and anyone who would help us, and they in turn saved his life more than once. With all respect to the Americans and the generous and brave efforts on behalf of the Brits, the Brits have an amazing and enviable record of archaeological restoration for items lost in salt water environs (i.e. Mary Rose).AND, more importantly, at least the Brits can keep the location SECRET, whereas the US Freedom in Information Act would have the discovery site blasted all over the fron pages of the papers and 'Special News Alerts' on TV stations.
- Daphne W, Churchton, MD, USA, 09/5/2010 01:24
Click to rate Rating 3
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1274292/Buried-Welsh-beach-60-years-World-War-II-fighter-emerged-seas.html#ixzz0nRYhpQqx (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1274292/Buried-Welsh-beach-60-years-World-War-II-fighter-emerged-seas.html#ixzz0nRYhpQqx)
Sad yet joyous find
Buried by a Welsh beach for 60 years, the World War II fighter that has emerged from the seas
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
It has been hidden under the the sands and waves since it crashed off the coast of Wales in 1942. But now this wreckage of a rare World War fighter plane may soon be back on dry land.
Described as 'one of the most important WWII finds in recent history', the location of the Lockheed P38 Lightning has been kept a secret to keep the amazing find safe.
Known as the Maid of Harlech the United States Army Air Force (USAAF) fighter crashed on the Gwynedd coast when it was taking part in training exercises and its engines cut out.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BD9A000005DC-557_634x507.jpg The World War II Lockheed P38 Lightning buried under sand and waves on a Welsh beach, its location is being kept secret
Amazingly pilot Lt Robert Elliott walked away from the incident without a scratch but tragically went missing in action just three months later serving in the American's Tunisia campaign in North Africa.
These incredible pictures show how the previously undetected Lightning suddenly appeared on a Wales beach in 2007. Shifting water displaced sand which had hidden it for 60 years and revealed a gem find for aviation buffs.
But now a charity has announced plans to next year retrieve the wreckage. The International Group for Historic Aircraft Recovery are looking for support and a British museum who will accept the fascinating American machine as a gift to display at their venue for history lovers.
TIGHAR are the only non-profit organisation of their kind in the world and work tirelessly retrieving plane wrecks of historical importance and donate them to museums for the public to enjoy.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BF75000005DC-401_634x552.jpg A diver and experts examine the Lockheed P38 Lightning which crashed on a training exercise in 1942
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BF10000005DC-651_306x423.jpg Second Lieutenant Robert F Elliott, USAAF the pilot of the crashed World War II fighter
Led by Ric Gillespie, the team are preparing to journey next month to Gardner Island in the Pacific to find clues of missing American aviation legend Amelia Earhart.
Following that project, TIGAHR will turn their attention to 'The Maid' and are trying to secure funding to pull the buried plane from the Welsh sands.
The group have been in discussions with the Imperial War Museum who were on site in 2007 as they performed an analysis of the Maid. The aim was to determine if it could be safely retrieved and how they can stop the aged machine disintegrating when they do.
Ric said: 'The world's beaches, bays and oceans are rich repositories of rare aircraft but they remain largely untapped because of the corrosive effects of immersion in sea water.
'Museums have raised historic aircraft from salt water in good condition and at great expense only to see them crumble to white powder in a matter of months.
'Techniques for conserving and stabilising metals recovered from nautical environments have been developed and tested but have never been applied to a complete aircraft.
'One of the proven processes involves partially dismantling the aircraft and submerging the pieces in tanks of a special solution through which a mild electric current is passed. Detox can take a year or more but the end result is a relatively stable historic artefact that would otherwise have been lost.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-0977BDAC000005DC-795_634x376.jpg Parts of the plane poke up above the waves at low tide on the remote beach
'We are working closely with the Centre for Maritime Archaeology and Conservation at Texas A&M University to develop a recovery and conservation plan that will enable the Maid of Harlech to be truly conserved.
'We're also building a coalition of US and UK archaeological and aviation historical groups that will make it possible to fund and carry out the recovery and begin the conservation process before the whims of nature once more expose the aircraft to the destructive force of the sea and what the 17th century British antiquarian John Aubrey called, "the hands of mistaken zeal."
'We invite and encourage anyone who shares our goals to join us.'
And TIGHAR feel the fascinating find could go down in the history books. With the help from other individuals and organisations they have worked hard to protect her.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/05/07/article-0-024035AB000004B0-798_634x286.jpg The Lockheed P-38 Lightning as it would have looked, with a Spitfire flying alongside
'It is one of the most significant WWII-related archaeological discoveries in recent history,' added Ric.
'We call her the Maid of Harlech after the magnificent 13th century Welsh castle, but until she is can be rescued from the sands of time, her actual location must remain confidential.
'Although the aircraft is covered by the Protection of Military Remains Act and disturbing the site in any way carries heavy penalties, the looting of historic wreck sites by unscrupulous souvenir hunters is, nonetheless, a major problem worldwide.
'Nature has done a good job hiding the wreck.'
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below, or debate this issue live on our message boards. (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/index.html)
The comments below have not been moderated.
I have to agree that the average American is a generous individual - but their rulers like the almighty dollar more than anything else - they did help us out in the last war - but we did pay dearly for this help - in fact we have only just repaid that debt - I personally think that if the Japs didn't bomb Pearl Harbour the Americans would not have come to our aid - just sold us the ornaments to boost their economy .still that is now water under the bridge - let us now try and get on well together - after all is said and done we still need each other .
in this unstableworld .
- Mr G M Wills, Cullompton Devon, 09/5/2010 14:03
Click to rate Rating 2
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23843556)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 9/5/2010 3:24
Yes we have lots too. I used the same one that Catherine Zeta Jones used when she was a child and all my treatment was free on the Great British NHS. No ridiculously huge bills for my parents.
P.S, I have stunning teeth, no fillings, no veneers and perfectly white, what are your teeth like?
- Lucy Higgins, Skewen, Neath, 09/5/2010 13:25
Click to rate Rating 6
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23843182)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 9/5/2010 3:24
Typical yank all show no brain. No wonder you hold Paris Hilton in such high esteem, she`s a role model for you all. Still she is I suppose thin unlike the rest of you burger munchers.
Proud American, Dallas, TX, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, 8/5/2010 23:43
I am sure your father was a brave man but the fact still remains we had to pay to dollar for the oil and anything else. The usa took advantage of the early part of ww2 to dismantle the British empire and replace it with itself. It was not some kindly act but the usa always represents it as such. Even in the 50`s after having supported you in korea you would not share nuclear technology. So we developed our own hydrogen bomb, once we did then you wanted to share providing we bought your bomb not ours.
Please stay home I`d like my sons back not dead from friendly fire!
- roger, wales, 09/5/2010 09:13
Click to rate Rating 24
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23840414)
Just curious...Do y'all have orthodontist (specialized dentist) who straighten teeth?
We have lots of them.
- GG, Beautiful, South Carolina, USA, 09/5/2010 03:24
Click to rate Rating 44
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23838950)
I am a Welsh ex-pat living in US. Dad was a RAF Spitfire pilot in WWII, flew with Aussies, Yanks, Poles, Canadians and anyone else who would come to our aid. And more than once saved by them. With all due respect to Americans and the generosity and bravery they showed helping us out, I think the Brits record on archaeological recovery from salt water environs is unrivalled (i.e. Mary Rose). Even more, the Brits can keep the location a secret; the US Freedom of Information Act will have the location blasted all over the newspapers and TV stations. The plane was originally discovered in 2007 and already too much info has been given out: Gwyneth County and 'near Harlech' by British papers.
- Daphne W, Churchton, MD, USA, 09/5/2010 02:22
Click to rate Rating 11
Report abuse (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/reportAbuseInComment.html?articleId=1274292&commentId=23838801)
I am an ex-pat from Wales. Dad was Spitfire pilot in WWII. He flew with Aussies, Americans, Poles and anyone who would help us, and they in turn saved his life more than once. With all respect to the Americans and the generous and brave efforts on behalf of the Brits, the Brits have an amazing and enviable record of archaeological restoration for items lost in salt water environs (i.e. Mary Rose).AND, more importantly, at least the Brits can keep the location SECRET, whereas the US Freedom in Information Act would have the discovery site blasted all over the fron pages of the papers and 'Special News Alerts' on TV stations.
- Daphne W, Churchton, MD, USA, 09/5/2010 01:24
Click to rate Rating 3
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1274292/Buried-Welsh-beach-60-years-World-War-II-fighter-emerged-seas.html#ixzz0nRYhpQqx (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1274292/Buried-Welsh-beach-60-years-World-War-II-fighter-emerged-seas.html#ixzz0nRYhpQqx)
Sad yet joyous find