Folk were bemoaning the lack of archaeology related articles in FP magzine a while back (quite right to in my opinion, too many mindless vultures about these days)so has anybody looked here before http://www.arrowwarbirds.com/ ?
These chaps claim to have found some choice sites and seem to “play their cards close to their chest” however, I know people have to raise money to do this sort of thing but I’m blowed if I’m paying $100 for a 15min underwater video ! mind you that Wellington looks pristine.
Talking Wellingtons does anybody have any information regarding WW2 operations mounted against Axis forces in Greece flown from bases in Albania ?
I read a dog eared book many years ago written by a RN Swordfish pilot part of which described his time flying missions from a secrect mountain top airfield. They were told to make themselves fairly visible over the target area to give the impression that there was a carrier force operating in the Aegean (when in reality there wasn’t) and there was mention of a few Wellingtons being involved flown from the same base. Any of you clever chaps know the identity of RAF units involved etc ?
Attachments:
By: Tom_W - 10th January 2003 at 19:43
RE: Interesting website
There’s more on the airfield site at Paramythia and some of the goings on here:
http://www.users.bigpond.com/clardo/cfr_clark_part_v.html
nice photos and some interesting stories to go with them too!
Tom 😉
Attachments:
By: whalebone - 10th January 2003 at 16:44
RE: Interesting website
Thanks Zippo. In my defence I must add that it was a very very very long time ago when I read the book. Many thanks for the info though.
Phil.A.
By: JASE - 10th January 2003 at 13:17
RE: Interesting website
On the subject of recovery websites,have a look at this one www.airpirates.com ,they’ve found some fantastic finds.
By: whalebone - 10th January 2003 at 11:09
RE: Interesting website
[updated:LAST EDITED ON 10-01-03 AT 11:12Â AM (GMT)]Thanks Zippo that was the very book. Maybe it’s the length of time since I read it but if my memory serves me right they were based well inland in Albania high on a mountain plateau that was only readily accessable by air (or goatheards).
When on operations they flew huge distances to avoid areas on known occupation and then approached their targets from the seaward side. Once completed they then flew back out to sea and got well out of sight before turning onto the return leg thus giving the impression that the attack had been launched from a carrier. The small detatchement was completely air supplied and went to great lengths to aviod detection from the occasional enemy reconnaissance flights by brushing out tyre tracks and hiding the aircraft in caves or under overhanging cliffs.
I seem to remember that the locals advised them that the game was up and a heavily armed a patrol was making its way to attack the base so they left the place in a hurry. The author mentioned a Wellington that was unservicable being pushed into a cave and abandoned. If true I guess it must still be there.
I will check out the other book you mention to try and get some unit details. If successful a bit of digging into squadron records may reveal if one was left behind….
Anybody on the forum that speaks fluent Albanian, owns a Skycrane helo, has pots of cash and preferably good contacts with the Russian Mafia etc fancy an expedition trip ??
By: Ant.H - 9th January 2003 at 23:53
RE: Interesting website
Hi folks,
Tidy the that Wimpey might seem,but looks aren’t everything.I hope I’m wrong,but generally wrecks which have been immersed in salt water for 50-odd years are by now in pretty poor shape.The Loch Ness Wellington was in many ways in an amazing state of preservation when it was recovered (working lights etc),but you have to remember that it was immersed in fresh water,and the two aren’t comparable.
There are many forms of salt water life such as crustations and corals which actually eat away at a wreck,rather than just living on it.It can happen that the original structure is eaten away,leaving behind something which looks like the original component,but is in fact made up of organic and even living material.You could find yourself with a Wellington-shaped lump of coral!
Like I say,I sincerely hope I’m wrong and that this Wellington isn’t that bad,and looking at something like the Hurricane on Malta and the Ju88 that was dragged up from a Norwiegen fjord a couple of years back,there is certainly hope of something coming of this project.But we have to hold on to our horses and not jump to the conclusion that there’s an intact Wimpey down there.
By: Bluebird Mike - 9th January 2003 at 21:11
RE: Interesting website
Good God, that’s a tidy looking Wimpey!!! Quick, fetch the cranes and airbags!!! 😀
Sign In
January 9, 2003 at 4:06 pm