Briton heads for Burma to start dig for Spitfires

An archaeologist heading to Burma to seek buried Spitfire aircraft said today that it was one of the “most unusual and intriguing” expeditions of his career.

Andy Brockman and his team will fly out tomorrow to start a dig which could end the decades-old mystery surrounding the fate of the planes.

It is believed that up to 60 Spitfires are buried at three sites, after former pilot David Cundall investigated claims that unused aircraft were crated up and hidden by the RAF in 1945.

Mr Brockman, who is based in south London, compared his task to a missing person inquiry, with Burma as the “crime scene”.

“We will look at the trails of evidence and see where they lead,” he said. “The war in the Far East was bitter, bloody, very difficult and remains part of people’s lives through family connections. Conflict archaeology is a fascinating and exciting field to be in, but this story has the added element of mystery.

“It is unlike anything else I have ever done and is one of the most unusual and intriguing archaeological stories I have been involved with.”

Last October, Mr Cundall was given permission by the Burmese government to excavate the sites and the expedition is being sponsored by online game developer Wargaming.

Victor Kislyi, the company’s CEO, said that any salvageable planes could be brought back to Britain by the spring. He hoped that a squadron of Spitfires could one day fly again over London.

A Downing Street spokesman welcomed news of the dig but said the Government did not claim any rights to the aircraft.