Lost RAF fight found in desert after 70 years

Stolly

Stolly

Stolly

Soldato
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Its been reported in the media today, but these are the original pictures that sparked the stories.

https://picasaweb.google.com/114682...&authkey=Gv1sRgCKjxkt6rkNTFKg&feat=directlink#

The exact identity of the pilot is not certain, but its probable he tried to walk to safety and died in the desert....

For those interested, the manufacturer's plate on one of the ammunition boxes lists it as a H87-A3, which was a P-40 E in USAAF naming convention and Kittyhawk 1A to the RAF

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtiss_Model_H87-A2
 
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That's depserately horrible :(

Just found this:

According to the press agency Bournemouth News & Picture Service, the pilot is thought to have been Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping, who was 24-years-old at the time of the crash.

Saunders speculated that Copping survived the crash because a parachute was found near the airplane. "[My] guess is the poor bloke used it to shelter from the sun," Saunders said, according to The Daily Mail.

"If he died at the side of the plane his remains would have been found," he added, according to The Mail. "Once he had crashed there, nobody was going to come and get him. It is more likely he tried to walk out of the desert but ended up walking to his death. It is too hideous to contemplate."
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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...p-40-sahara-crash-photos-video_n_1507828.html
 
does anyone know where it is on google maps?
just want to see how far the guy would have had to walk to find water or civilization
 
Poor man. Much respect to him - he risked his life to fight in the war, his plane got shot down by the enemy and he safely crash landed, and despite all odds survived all of that - unfortunately until off course the desert took him.
 
Ricochet J said:
Poor man. Much respect to him - he risked his life to fight in the war, his plane got shot down by the enemy and he safely crash landed, and despite all odds survived all of that - unfortunately until off course the desert took him.
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Apparently he was transporting damaged P40s back to a larger air base for repairs and crash landed, nothing to do with being shot down? Though not sure, as the serial numbers aren't there anymore, but I believe from research of where planes were travelling at the time, that's the theory.
 
DcD said:
Apparently he was transporting damaged P40s back to a larger air base for repairs and crash landed, nothing to do with being shot down? Though not sure, as the serial numbers aren't there anymore, but I believe from research of where planes were travelling at the time, that's the theory.
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Either way he contributed to the war effort, which is worthy of recognition.
 
Ricochet J said:
Either way he contributed to the war effort, which is worthy of recognition.
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Oh absolutely, I didn't mean anything by that, just saying what I'd read.

Seems a pretty dumb move sending a pilot to ferry a damaged plane across the desert, on his own. Would have thought they'd sent a wingman to make sure he arrives in one piece. :confused:
 
Antony101 said:
Really hope that hasn't been stripped down or anything, would be much better just left where it is.
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it will get sold to a private collector for big $$$ which is why the gps coordinates are edited out.

its probably been put on the back of a truck in parts by now
 
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