P40

Well done Phantom Phil.

If you have some spare time, can you check the rest of the Sahara!:D:D

Try and find the ‘Spitfire’.

regards

Mark

P40 Copping

Hi Qattara,

I am in contact with the family. I have sent you an email.

It sounds positive but additional evidence can hopefully be obtained by DA Paul Collins at the embassy. I would hope ID tags, his watch (right wrist), band on his left wrist, shoes, aircraft clock?, First Air kit would be found near by??

Hopefully you are awaiting for the officials to undertake a more detailed search?

Confused by the parachute as the remains of the parachute were located near the plane? Also makes mention of red and white whereas I thought RAF parachutes were just white (someone knows different – please correct me).

Going on the B24 LBG crew, (albeit the time scale is different) I would expect a body against a protected rock outcrop to be mummified and complete but I am not an expert.

I really do hope it is F/Sgt Dennis Copping.

regards

Mark

Tarbitten

https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/search/record.asp?db=bc&id=57068&ref=dw

http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=3185537

Mark

P40

Getting to the site would be a start.

70th Anniversary coming up. 🙁

Mark

PS Interestingly, 28th June is the same day that the Bomber Command Memorial is officially opened in London. Though Dennis Copping was not in Bomber Command his P40 and 260Sqn did undertake sorties with a 500Ib bomb under the fuselage.

P40 / Copping

Dave

Don’t worry. Only the nephew know it was wrong and after it had been sent to the press by the family member dealing with the family photos. The pic was not captioned and they do look similar. It only relates to the pic of the pilot in the doorway. Still trying to find out who Walter is/was.

The cowling stencil is a great tribute to Dennis Copping. June 1942 was a horrendous month for the Desert Airforce and 260Sqn.

There are possibly six other Canadian pilots who may have flown ET574 in June 1942 and am gradually trying to find relatives though log books are like hens teeth if they were killed or POW. Stocky Edwards flew ET575 in July 42 and claimed a Bf109? He indicates he did not fly ET574 but does not confirm whether he flew a ‘B’ in June 1942. If so this would have been ET574 as this was the ‘B’ airframe for June 1942 having arrived at the end of May 42.

regards

Mark

Hurricane

Andy,

Fair enough.

Z5207 went new to 81 Sqn.

Assume it is Z2507 which was 601Sqn?

Is the spinner black or white? Seems Z25XX had black spinners? and Z5207 had white spinners?

Also Z5207 and Z5227 of 78IAP flew into a hill in fog so could be classed as high impact (on a slope).

Interesting.

Mark

spitfire/P40/Fw190

Andy,

If the P40 were to be restored, I can see no reason why a significant proportion of the structure could not be reused. This was the case with the Fw190A-5 and that was recovered from a ‘wet’ environment.

I think on the Fw190 only had 2/4 fuselage skins replaced (either side of the tail wheel opening) and possibly some others. The wings structure is nearly all original bar the new spares and sikns were also reused here as well. I am sure Bruce will confirm that the % of original material is probably one of the highest of any restoration.

With the P40, I would hope nearly all the fuselage frames and wing ribs etc would be reused with a new spar. I think even a lot of the skins could also be reused.

Saying that, as much as I would love to see her fly, I think she should remain unrestored and displayed as is. This was how I thought when she was discovered but as more and more damage is being undertaken that view is diminishing and the idea of restoring her increases.

regards

Mark

P40

Matt

Assume discussions are ongoing. We know who are talking from this end, just not who they are talking to at the other end due to Egyptian elections etc.

All the things you and I would do if we wanted to recover a plane from the desert are no doubt being readied.

Does not take into account any other interest parties and discussions.

Besides that, no more news.

Mark