The Buried Spitfires of Burma by Andy Brockman
Rumours of buried Spitfires from the Second World War have spread around the world for seventy-five years, fuelling dreams of treasure hunting and watching the iconic aircraft fly again. In April 2012, the press reported that British Prime Minister David Cameron had negotiated an agreement with Myanmar President Thein Sein for the recovery and repatriation of twenty crated Spitfires, reportedly buried at RAF Mingaladon, Yangon, after the Second World War. Astonishingly the agreement came about through the single-minded determination of an ordinary Lincolnshire farmer, David Cundall. After months of negotiation, in January 2013 the excavation begins. Armed with a high-tech survey showing mysterious shapes under the sun-baked surface of Yangon International Airport, David's expedition is equipped with state-of-the-art JCB excavators, led by a team of archaeologists, and supported by Wargaming.net. Nothing can stop him from recovering the iconic aircraft because, as David tells the world's media, 'it's impossible to make up this story'. But instead of Spitfires, the team unearths a tale of fake history, highlighting the conflict between those want to believe legends and those who demand evidence and the truth. The Buried Spitfires of Burma explores what happened next as David Cundall's dream unravelled over the course of a historical 'whodunnit' that spans seven decades and three continents. In so doing, it follows one of the most bizarre, colourful, and off-the-wall stories since the sensational Hitler Diaries hoax astonished the world in 1983.
ANDY BROCKMAN specialises in the archaeology of modern conflict and heritage crime. He has directed excavations on the Burma spitfires, a Home Guard training school, and a WW1 anti-aircraft gun site in London. A historical researcher for documentaries shown on Channel 5, Channel 4, the BBC and Time Team, he also owns and edits heritage current affairs website thePipeLine. TRACY SPAIGHT is Director of Special Projects at Wargaming.net. He has developed interactive exhibits and augmented reality applications for museums, including an AR experience for the Kursk 75th anniversary, and the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Jutland for the NMRN.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780750993852 |
| ISBN 10 | 0750993855 |
| Title | The Buried Spitfires of Burma |
| Author | Andy Brockman |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | The History Press Ltd |
| Year published | 2020-06-01 |
| Number of pages | 336 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |