Is North Africa the 'Next Big Thing' in Historic Aircraft recovery?

Not a military aircraft and in a different area of the Sahara but a example of what can happen is the site of the crash of HP Hermes Horus G-ALDN. The aircraft crashed on 25 May 1952 in what is now Mauretania.

Planemike

Last I saw of the aircraft in an article, it was extensively stripped by locals, then buried by the sand. (Am I remembering that correctly?)

As such it’s probably a good example of the condition of any surviving aircraft in the region.

Pity, it would be nice to use parts to add to the fuselage at Duxford.

Is there a secret store of aircraft somewhere in Russia? With the Russians closing down many of their airbases and concentrating operations, one hopes that anything that has been in the back of a hangar since 1945 that comes to light is preserved.

Yeah? Saw some stuff i couldnt recognise and waiting for the broadband here to update is slower than the pony express, so what was there?

Apologies for butting in, but I think you misunderstood. I’m sure he means:

No, just Meteors, I looked.

My Holy Grail would be a Martin Maryland or Baltimore, preferably both.

DD

Yeah? Saw some stuff i couldnt recognise and waiting for the broadband here to update is slower than the pony express, so what was there?

Apologies for butting in, but I think you misunderstood. I’m sure he means:

No, just Meteors, I looked.

My Holy Grail would be a Martin Maryland or Baltimore, preferably both.

DD

I would think Norway is the focal point.

Just read in Flugzeug Classic about a complete scuttled Sunderland in a Fjord, stunning pics, with a Blohm & Voss 222 nearby. Of course the recently recovered He219, a complete Heinkel 115 is about to be recovered, the cockpit of the focke wulf condor has recentley failed to be recovered but perhaps a new attempt will be made, then think about the 109,s, 190,s, ju88’s, heinkel 111;s, junkers 52’s Halifaxes (all plural). During a visit to Bödo Birger Larsen told us that they know about 60+ junkers 88 crashsites, now that’s a treasure trove. And all in mostly cold storage. The mind boggles about what’s still down there. Some more Halifaxes may be lurking in the Fjords. Perhaps even a Stirling.

Cees

I would think Norway is the focal point.

Just read in Flugzeug Classic about a complete scuttled Sunderland in a Fjord, stunning pics, with a Blohm & Voss 222 nearby. Of course the recently recovered He219, a complete Heinkel 115 is about to be recovered, the cockpit of the focke wulf condor has recentley failed to be recovered but perhaps a new attempt will be made, then think about the 109,s, 190,s, ju88’s, heinkel 111;s, junkers 52’s Halifaxes (all plural). During a visit to Bödo Birger Larsen told us that they know about 60+ junkers 88 crashsites, now that’s a treasure trove. And all in mostly cold storage. The mind boggles about what’s still down there. Some more Halifaxes may be lurking in the Fjords. Perhaps even a Stirling.

Cees

No just meteors, I looked.

Yeah? Saw some stuff i couldnt recognise and waiting for the broadband here to update is slower than the pony express, so what was there?

No just meteors, I looked.

Yeah? Saw some stuff i couldnt recognise and waiting for the broadband here to update is slower than the pony express, so what was there?

For a long time I have dreamed of someone finding a broadly complete Bristol Bombay out there, but I somehow think it may be just that, a dream.

I seem to remember someone mentioning something about one (or at least the fuselage of one) in East Africa on the WW forum way back when.

For a long time I have dreamed of someone finding a broadly complete Bristol Bombay out there, but I somehow think it may be just that, a dream.

I seem to remember someone mentioning something about one (or at least the fuselage of one) in East Africa on the WW forum way back when.

No just meteors, I looked.

No just meteors, I looked.

I wouldn’t shout this too loud otherwise you will get a stream of spam e-mails saying ” my dear departed brother/husband/father left me this Old wartime fighter and I don’t know what to do with it, we are short of food etc, please send us your bank details etc.etc..”

Reckon most of those originate from a bit further south than the sahara !

It could be a fascinating source of finds, but as has been said the shifting sands of the desert will probably re-cover a lot of un-covered stuff before it is discovered.

But then there is another aspect to think about, what about all those classics that ended up in the hands of various North African and Middle Eastern countries just after WW2 ? I am thinking of those google earth images from ,was it Syria?, a while ago that someone posted here showing possible Spitfire and Meteor remains used as decoys. Wonder what else is out there in some of these former or still intact dictatorships ?

I wouldn’t shout this too loud otherwise you will get a stream of spam e-mails saying ” my dear departed brother/husband/father left me this Old wartime fighter and I don’t know what to do with it, we are short of food etc, please send us your bank details etc.etc..”

Reckon most of those originate from a bit further south than the sahara !

It could be a fascinating source of finds, but as has been said the shifting sands of the desert will probably re-cover a lot of un-covered stuff before it is discovered.

But then there is another aspect to think about, what about all those classics that ended up in the hands of various North African and Middle Eastern countries just after WW2 ? I am thinking of those google earth images from ,was it Syria?, a while ago that someone posted here showing possible Spitfire and Meteor remains used as decoys. Wonder what else is out there in some of these former or still intact dictatorships ?

Probably second behind the aircraft resting at the bottom of freshwater lakes. The Lake Jonsvatnet recoveries were stunning.

Probably second behind the aircraft resting at the bottom of freshwater lakes. The Lake Jonsvatnet recoveries were stunning.

Forget the desert, there’s quite a few projects to be had much closer to home. I still dream of rounding up all the bits of L7775 and a few others and giving the future a 3rd Wimpy… or persuading Kermit to part with the Tempest V at Booker… The Zagreb Technology Museum has the rear fuselage and tail plane of a Hurricane in beautiful condition, just begging for a trip to Moat Farm.

And that’s just some of the WW2 stuff, once you get into the jet age, I could go on and on…

Forget the desert, there’s quite a few projects to be had much closer to home. I still dream of rounding up all the bits of L7775 and a few others and giving the future a 3rd Wimpy… or persuading Kermit to part with the Tempest V at Booker… The Zagreb Technology Museum has the rear fuselage and tail plane of a Hurricane in beautiful condition, just begging for a trip to Moat Farm.

And that’s just some of the WW2 stuff, once you get into the jet age, I could go on and on…

a Wellesley would be my dream

a Wellesley would be my dream