P-40 found in the Sahara Desert
One of the guys involved with finding the P-40 has posted the coordinates. The post also contains a link to additional images.
Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums - View Single Post - P-40 from Sahara
Key Publishing Ltd Aviation Forums - View Single Post - P-40 from Sahara
From recent pictures I've seen on another forum the aircraft is already suffering; been shot at, plexiglas broken, bits torn off.
Sad. May not be much left to recover. It certainly doesn't seem to be being protected.
Sad. May not be much left to recover. It certainly doesn't seem to be being protected.
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The so called bullet holes are nothing of the sort:
That's clearly flak damage, the reason the aircraft was being ferried in the first place. That's unless someone got inside the fuselage with guns of varying calibre and shot out of it.
That's clearly flak damage, the reason the aircraft was being ferried in the first place. That's unless someone got inside the fuselage with guns of varying calibre and shot out of it.
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Google Earth anyone
come on really google earth get real 
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stepwilk
And you don't think a thousand of us, or more, haven't already tried that?
What are we, stupid?
And you don't think a thousand of us, or more, haven't already tried that?
What are we, stupid?
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PS
Since writing this small story, it seems that speculation as to the identity of this aircraft has settled around Kittyhawk ET574, lost while being ferried to a repair depot with the landing gear in a locked down position. Until this can be confirmed we will not speculate as to the identity and fate of the pilot until it is assured that his identity is positive and his family notified. Richard Allnutt and I have played with a couple of the photos to try to bring out the serial number on the back of the aircraft. On the right side, we were able to distinguish a letter “T”, a numeral “4” and part of the numeral “7”. On the left side, we can barely see the remains of a letter “E”. With these clues, we are quite certain that this will finally be identified as ET 574.
Since the discovery, the wreck has been seriously vandalized - a travesty the whole aviation world seems unable to stop. The perspex has been smashed out, bullet holes appear in the cowling and other forms of damage and theft seem to be underway.
PPS
Now that every news agency is mentioning Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping's name, we will now put it in this article. We have know since we first put this story out that is was most certainly Copping, a 24 year old son of a British dentist who went missing while ferrying this aircraft in 1942. Stocky Edwards mentions Copping in his book Kittyhawk Pilot. There are now rumours that the RAF and the Brits will try to find Copping's remains. This will undoubtedly be a difficult task.
Original Kittyhawk HS-B Discovered > Vintage Wings of Canada
Since writing this small story, it seems that speculation as to the identity of this aircraft has settled around Kittyhawk ET574, lost while being ferried to a repair depot with the landing gear in a locked down position. Until this can be confirmed we will not speculate as to the identity and fate of the pilot until it is assured that his identity is positive and his family notified. Richard Allnutt and I have played with a couple of the photos to try to bring out the serial number on the back of the aircraft. On the right side, we were able to distinguish a letter “T”, a numeral “4” and part of the numeral “7”. On the left side, we can barely see the remains of a letter “E”. With these clues, we are quite certain that this will finally be identified as ET 574.
Since the discovery, the wreck has been seriously vandalized - a travesty the whole aviation world seems unable to stop. The perspex has been smashed out, bullet holes appear in the cowling and other forms of damage and theft seem to be underway.
PPS
Now that every news agency is mentioning Flight Sergeant Dennis Copping's name, we will now put it in this article. We have know since we first put this story out that is was most certainly Copping, a 24 year old son of a British dentist who went missing while ferrying this aircraft in 1942. Stocky Edwards mentions Copping in his book Kittyhawk Pilot. There are now rumours that the RAF and the Brits will try to find Copping's remains. This will undoubtedly be a difficult task.
Original Kittyhawk HS-B Discovered > Vintage Wings of Canada
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I concur Jazz Hands.
Have seen many things online I know to be real that most write off as being simply impossible, CGI, or models, photoshop etc etc.
Perhaps if that sort of thing is the extent of ones experience perhaps that is all one expects to see....
Have seen many things online I know to be real that most write off as being simply impossible, CGI, or models, photoshop etc etc.
Perhaps if that sort of thing is the extent of ones experience perhaps that is all one expects to see....
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Well said Jazz Hands. It seems that whenever a photo of something that is considered relatively unlikely appears, the first assumption is that it's a fake rather than believe in what we are seeing. Not necessarily applicable to this thread but it is interesting to note that those that clearly believe something is a fake go terribly quiet when it is demonstrated otherwise 
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Video/stills of wreckage here.
WW2 Kittyhawk aircraft discovered in the Western desert after 70 years. - YouTube
WW2 Kittyhawk aircraft discovered in the Western desert after 70 years. - YouTube
Last edited by AdamFrisch; 12th May 2012 at 04:15.
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Pilot identified
He poses proudly in his RAF uniform and also looks down from the cockpit of his Second World War fighter plane, perhaps ready for a mission against the Desert Fox himself, Erwin Rommel.
These are the first pictures of 24-year-old Flight Sergeant Denis Copping, the wartime pilot who crash-landed his plane in the Sahara and then walked off across the sands to his death.
His story came to light last week when pictures of his Kittyhawk P-40 were published. The battered but well-preserved wreckage was found in the Western Sahara – 70 years after the plane came to grief. It was believed that Flt Sgt Copping had no surviving relatives, but The Mail on Sunday found his nephew, whose family album contains these poignant photographs.
William Pryor-Bennett revealed that, until now, the fate of his uncle had been a mystery because all the family had been told officially was that he was 'missing in action'.
Poignant: Flight Sergeant Denis Copping in his RAF uniform aged 24, just days before he went missing
My Uncle Denis, pilot of the plane time forgot: First pictures of the man who crash-landed in his plane in the Sahara and then walked off across the sands to his death | Mail Online
These are the first pictures of 24-year-old Flight Sergeant Denis Copping, the wartime pilot who crash-landed his plane in the Sahara and then walked off across the sands to his death.
His story came to light last week when pictures of his Kittyhawk P-40 were published. The battered but well-preserved wreckage was found in the Western Sahara – 70 years after the plane came to grief. It was believed that Flt Sgt Copping had no surviving relatives, but The Mail on Sunday found his nephew, whose family album contains these poignant photographs.
William Pryor-Bennett revealed that, until now, the fate of his uncle had been a mystery because all the family had been told officially was that he was 'missing in action'.
Poignant: Flight Sergeant Denis Copping in his RAF uniform aged 24, just days before he went missingMy Uncle Denis, pilot of the plane time forgot: First pictures of the man who crash-landed in his plane in the Sahara and then walked off across the sands to his death | Mail Online
Last edited by sharksandwich; 13th May 2012 at 06:09.
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I too, like most people, was interested in the human element to this story. Looking at the photos it's quite poignant to think that the last person to manipulate the flight control was the RAF pilot himself, and knowing that his situation was impossible is a difficult thought to contemplate.
I was keen to find a photo of the pilot so that in some ways its completes the story of this human tragedy and now we have some. Unfortunately the comments of some of the SUN readers shows that some people are truly ignorant of life.
"Maybe he should have used the parachute for it's intended purpose and not to make a tent"
"the plane should be left wehere it is, or be mowed to egyptian air museum. that is egypt history as well. or sell it for good money .....and what he was doing there in the first place. as far as i know from my geografy lesons egypt is not part of the "united kingdom"
"Out dated crappy aircraft in 1942"
There are some really sad t**ts in this world.
I was keen to find a photo of the pilot so that in some ways its completes the story of this human tragedy and now we have some. Unfortunately the comments of some of the SUN readers shows that some people are truly ignorant of life.
"Maybe he should have used the parachute for it's intended purpose and not to make a tent"
"the plane should be left wehere it is, or be mowed to egyptian air museum. that is egypt history as well. or sell it for good money .....and what he was doing there in the first place. as far as i know from my geografy lesons egypt is not part of the "united kingdom"
"Out dated crappy aircraft in 1942"
There are some really sad t**ts in this world.
"Maybe he should have used the parachute for it's intended purpose and not to
make a tent"
"the plane should be left wehere it is, or be mowed to
egyptian air museum. that is egypt history as well. or sell it for good money
.....and what he was doing there in the first place. as far as i know from my
geografy lesons egypt is not part of the "united kingdom"
"Out dated
crappy aircraft in 1942"
make a tent"
"the plane should be left wehere it is, or be mowed to
egyptian air museum. that is egypt history as well. or sell it for good money
.....and what he was doing there in the first place. as far as i know from my
geografy lesons egypt is not part of the "united kingdom"
"Out dated
crappy aircraft in 1942"
However, some of my university students speak and write just like that, and they are studying to be airline pilots!!!
Last edited by Lightning Mate; 13th May 2012 at 12:35.
Looking at his photo, it makes it all the more poignant to see the face of the poor soul who wandered off with little chance of surviving in that remote region. Also it's hard to believe that he was only 24 at the time, he comes across as in his 40's due to the style of the time.
P.s, shouldn't his wings be on the opposite side of his chest ?
SHJ
P.s, shouldn't his wings be on the opposite side of his chest ?
SHJ