Are the three stubs not mustang? they have different reinforcing on the tips as well.

All well and good, but the essential question, WILL IT BE A LEGENDS needs to be addressed, WHAT? oh come on, I’ve been a forum member for over 12 years and I’ve never asked that question once before……..

I have the tailwheel tyre from this A/C (removed before the crash I hastened to add) perhaps they are worried about a legal challenge over the identity?

The HSE have no control over activities in a foreign country, nor was it the RAFM recovering the A/C, therefore a mission statement, from them to include checking for fuel when in reality what hadn’t been used up in the flight, would have evaporated over the subsequent 70 years, was pointless; were the recovery team really going to give up because all of the criteria given to them (by the RAFM) could not be met?

Just seen your post Bruce, not a response to that as such!

To summarise my position; the p40 and Sgt Copping are inextricably linked, the harrowing and indeed perplexing story of both their final hours is what should be remembered, and the best way of achieving that would have been to display the A/C in the UK where his exploits and sacrifice would be best appreciated.

If a German aeroplane were found in a reservoir or lake, (as suggested) then I really don’t see why that couldn’t be returned to Germany, where they would (I believe) care for A/C and bury the dead pilot and honour him, as would we; clearly in this case that hasn’t happened .

Dave I think we’ll have to agree to disagree, what with you being a stalwart of the restoration community, and me ,well just an inhabitant of the couch….. but the comparison between the P40 and the P38 wasn’t one of condition, but one of safety, and at the moment the P38 is safest, as it is back under the sand.

Bruce, I don’t think we are looking for someone to blame, more the acceptance of blame (or the lack of) by the RAFM; fundamentally they should not have agreed to swap the spitfire (public property) for half the job,(and personally I think they should have paid in cash) clearly they have never heard of “no win no fee”.

“As for recovery – its in a dangerous part of the world -it would require government approval and a fair amount of money”.

From David Burke right at the beginning of this saga.

Just to add that I have now seen a decent resolution photograph of the P40, and the work is horrendous, forget about the colour or the sharks mouth or the roundels but look at the rad intake especially at the back where the vent flaps should be, and where it merges into the fuselage (or in this case doesn’t) the wing root is flat like it’d hit a pole, and the large characteristic fairing forward of the U/C leg is non existent, and you guys are telling me they’ve done a good job……… I’m off back to me couch.