World War II Archives - Page 4 of 5

Restoring a Focke Wulf 190F-8 from World War II

We have have recently noted an article about resurrecting lost RAF spitfires in Burma and then the finding of aviation’s equivalent of Tutankhamun’s tomb in the form of a lost RAF Kittyhawk P-40 found in Egypt’s desert but General Aviation News has a detailed article about an effort to restore a Luftwaffe Focke Wulf 190F-8 “White One” that was shot down over Norway on February 9, 1945.

The aircraft’s pilot, Luftwaffe Unteroffizier (Corporal) Heinz Orlowski had just gone up against an RAF Mustang (which crashed, killing the pilot) and had taken flak, probably from the German destroyer Z33 and support ships that the RAF planes had been sent to destroy, when his aircraft was hit by a shell. While attempting to bail, Orlowski got entangled and by the time he freed himself, he was already too low and the chute only partially opened. He landed on a mountain, sparking an avalanche that caused his flare pistol to ignite and seriously burn his leg. After being found hiding in a barn by locals, he was turned over to German ground forces and spent the rest of the war in a hospital.

In 1983, the “White One” and other wrecked FW190s were shipped to the Texas Air Museum on an exchange deal to be partially restored and put on static display to be visited by Orlowski in 1994 (he passed away a couple of years ago in Berlin). In 1999, the aircraft was acquired by Mark Timken with the intention of restoring it to its 1945 flight condition to become the second air worthy FW190F-8 fighter bomber.

Of course, restoring a World War II aircraft to flying condition is never easy and the article goes into considerable detail about the trials and tribulations faced by the restorers, including corrosion, having to translate the original flight and maintenance manuals from German to English and missing and damaged parts. In fact, the restorers have had to do a worldwide search for FW190 parts which, surprisingly, occasionally pop up on eBay – meaning restoration can continue until another missing part stalls progress. Hence, it will probably be another two years before the entire restoration is completed.

To learn more about project or about restoring World War II era fighters in general and how you can help, visit WWIIFighterAircraftFoundation.org.

Aviation’s equivalent of Tutankhamun’s tomb found in Egypt’s desert

Not long ago, we mentioned an article about resurrecting lost RAF spitfires in Burma, a fairly questionable quest given that country’s wet and humid climate but the Daily Mail has just reported aviation’s equivalent of finding Tutankhamun’s tomb in the form of a well preserved RAF Kittyhawk P-40 lost over the deserts of Egypt.

Apparently, Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping from Scotland, who was part of a fighter unit based in Egypt during the North Africa campaign against Rommel, must have lost his bearings while flying the damaged Kittyhawk to another airbase for repair. After crash landing, he then took whatever he could salvage from the aircraft and wandered into the desert.

Since the crash site is about 200 miles from the nearest town and no human remains have been found at the site, its believed that the pilot’s decomposed body may lay anywhere within a 20 mile radius of the aircraft (Copping is not known to have any close living relatives).

Seventy years later, an oil worker exploring the region discovered the aircraft, which happens to be close to a smuggling route from Sudan and Libya – meaning the area is not the safest place to be. As for the aircraft itself, its heading home to Britain as the RAF Museum at Hendon, north London, is planning to recover the aircraft for exhibition in the future and hopefully before anyone else rediscovers it and strips it for souvenirs or scrap.

Below are just a few of the amazing pictures of the crash site that you can see more of on the Daily Mail’s website.

Resurrecting RAF Spitfires in Burma

Last Saturday, there was an article in The Telegraph about Spitfires (apparently Mark XIVs) buried in Burma (now Myanmar) that could turn out to be in near mint condition as they were buried inside their crates. Apparently, David Cundall, a 62 year old farmer from Scunthorpe, North Lincs, had spent 15 years and made over 12 trips to Burma at a cost of £130,000 in order to eventually locate them at a former RAF base there using radar imaging technology.

With Burma now opening up to the outside world, Prime Minister Cameron secured a deal on his recent trip there that will allow for the aircraft to be dug up and returned to the UK. In fact, a UK team is expecting to begin the excavation soon which will cost around £500,000 and is being funded by the Chichester-based Boultbee Flight Acadamy.

Originally, the Spitfires had been shipped to Burma and then transported by rail to the RAF base during the war but advances in technology along with the emergence of better combat aircraft jets meant that they were never used and were simply abandoned before the end of the war. According to Cundall:

“They were just buried there in transport crates. They were waxed, wrapped in greased paper and their joints tarred. They will be in near perfect condition.”

On the other hand, they have yet to dig up aircraft and I do have to wonder just what kind of condition they will be in given Burma’s no doubt hot, humid and wet climate.

Meanwhile, Paul Bertorelli recently wrote about the find on AVWeb and pointed out that recent auctions and for-sale offerings have valued the Merlin versions between $2 and $3 million while documented combat history makes one even more valuable. Of course, there will likely be a cost to restore the aircraft plus they will need to get them out of Burma.

Nevertheless and if all goes well, Cundall hopes to not only get his money back but to be able to put together a flying Spitfire squadron for air shows – a sight that would be worth seeing and no doubt worth all of his troubles.

Doolittle Raid on Tokyo 7th anniversary

Last week was the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic while today is an important military aviation anniversary as its the 70th anniversary of the so-called Doolittle Raid on Tokyo using B-25 bombers and led by then-Lieutenant Colonel James “Jimmy” Doolittle. All 16 aircraft used in the raid were lost, either crash landed or were wrecked with one ending up in the Soviet Union where its crew was interned. In addition, 64 out of 80 crew members were rescued with 3 of the 8 captured by the Japanese being executed while more than 250,000 Chinese civilians were reportedly executed for “helping” the raiders to escape.

And while damage from the raid was minimal and paled in comparison to later air raids on Japan using B-29s, it served as a badly needed morale booster for the USA after Pearl Harbor.

The EAA website has also posted this short contemporary newsreel about the raid on its website:

In addition, the National Museum of the US Air Force in Ohio is having a Doolittle Tokyo Raiders reunion that will be attended by all five of the remaining crew members from the raid who are still alive. World War II aviation buffs might want to check out the reunion webpage on the museum’s website which contains videos of previous Doolittle Raider reunions, relevant photos and an audio of a 1980 interview with Jimmy Doolittle.

The WASP trainee alphabet

Hat tip to the Winged Victory Women in Aviation Webzine for posting this Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASP) trainee alphabet by Mary Hart. No doubt its still useful for student pilots even today!

A is for Airplane a gadget designed
For scaring the student plumb out of her mind.
B is for Brakes on the same which is splendid,
But use them too sharp and you’ll end up upended,
C is for Compass installed with much cost
In function best suited for getting you lost.
D is for Details you mustn’t forget,
Like safety belt fastened or parking brake set.
E’s Elevators affixed to the tail;
If not used in time nothing else will avail
F is for Flaps, which are tricky and fickle,
But without these addenda, you’d be in a pickle.
G’s Gosports, which surely need no introduction;
They’re for learning new cuss words’ and other instruction
H is for Headwind, built in or external:
In violence unequalled, in purpose infernal
I is for Instruments–none of them care to
Tell you a thing–take their word if you dare to.
J is for Jolts which you get in the air
And the height that you had which is no longer there.
K is for Kicks which are aimed at the rudder;
The way these are given make a check pilot shudder.
L is for Looking and all of that drivel!
Rebuild your neck, pal, so’s to make it full swivel!
M is for Motor; if it quits, you can bet you
De Lawd’s on your side, for Green Pastures will get you,
N is for Nose which is always surprisin’
By never remaining upon the horizon
O is for Off, which is where for the switches
When, parked, or you’ll hear from those strict sons of—Texas
P is for Pilot; that’s you—on condition
You don’t spin too low or not check your ignition.
Q is got questions -that need understanding—
Clean forgot by the time you have come in from landing
R is for Rudder, to use in each antic;
It drives airplanes sideways, the rest of us frantic.
S is for Slipstream to complicate matters
With torque, until everyone’s mad as mad hatters.
T is for Throttle, controlling the go-juice;
Without this device trying to aviate’s no use.
U is for Up, and the Upper the better;
For the higher you are the more spots you can set her.
V is Velocity; nothing can stop it;
Once you’ve too much, you must climb up to drop it.
W’s Wobble-pump—use debatable
It aids most in making the starting quite hateable.
X marks the spot where the landing gear hit;
Three points was the aim but two points was what lit
Y is for yes which is all you can say
When the board says a check ride is headed your way.
Z is for zealous, our attitude truly
If held to the end we will graduate duly.

A Lufthansa pilot reminisces…

Lufthansa Pilot to co-pilot, forgetting that the frequency was open: "We used to come up the Thames, and turn over here for the docks…."

Voice on frequency: "ACHTUNG SPITFEUR"