WIX Archives

Re: Disturbed earth?

Posted by Ron Henry on Fri Aug 16, 2002 12:52:32 PM

In reply top Disturbed earth? posted by Chris Hinch on Thu Aug 15, 2002 06:17:49 PM

: This is an extract from an aerial photo taken of an RNZAF
: airfield five years after a number of crated p40's were ru
: moured to have been buried "out in the middle of the airfi
: eld" circa 1945.
:
: Three areas look interesting, expecially when compared wit
: h photos of sister airfields taken at the same time, which
: show no similar surface variations, which tends to exclud
: e natural variation on a grassed surface.
:
: Note the two "cricket pitch" shapes - one in the centre, a
: nd another in the 1 oclock position. The upper shape is le
: ss distinct than the centre, perhaps older? They are at gr
: ound level (no shadow), but I can't figure out the white m
: arkings surrounding them.
:
: Measured against the wingspan of a PBY in the original pho
: to, the dimensions of centre "cricket pitch" is approx 20'
: x 70'. Any ideas what these could be in the context of an
: air force base circa 1950?
:
: The other area of interest is the darker blob in the lower
: right corner. While there are other similar areas of dark
: er variation throughout the photo, this one is significant
: ly harder edged.
:
: Any thoughts?

Yes. I'm not going to say that there's no chance of any buried aircraft anywhere in the world, but I'm pretty sceptical in this case. Why? The kit that was available to dig a large hole in those days was just not convenient. Nowadays, the JCB-type tractor-based, hydraulic-powered excavator could quickly dig a hole useful for burying an aircraft, boxed or otherwise. They're very mobile and can quickly be brought to the work site. This type of excavator was not widely available before, say, 1960s. Before their availability, excavators were mostly much larger, crawler-tracked machines that could not easily dig a precisely-dimensioned hole, and could probably only remove earth more slowly.

Besides - in general - if an aircraft must be disposed of, what is to be gained by burying it instead of just cuttng it up and carting it away?


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