RB-29 'over-exposed' crash site.

[TheTurbonator]

Someone at work was telling me about this:

http://www.jarrelook.co.uk/Urbex/B29%20crash%20sit...

I might go take a look myself but what puzzles me is why the plane was never recovered? The chap at work just told me it wasn't the done thing back then but it just seems odd to me, and a little dis-respectful, to leave something like that after it claimed 13 lives.

[TheTurbonator]

I can understand that they've become a memorial now but that's 60 years later. Just wondering what the thinking was back in 1948 and why they decided to just leave it.

ETA: Posted before I read the above post. I suppose accessibility would have played a big part in the decision.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Saturday 28th December 23:15

[TheTurbonator]

Streps said:

I watched a program recently where they recovered a crashed spitfire in France,
It was impressive just how deep it buried itself into the ground,

Probably in soft ground an aircraft of this size would make it impossible.
It's better to just leave all of it up there in peace.

I have seen people trying to sell crash debris on ebay though,.
I personally find this more disrespectful.
20 second search..
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/WW2-SPITFIRE-CRASH-WING-...

That's the reason why I find leaving it so disrespectful, it's just too easy for someone to help themselves to parts off of it or to move it about. I bet anything valuable has long gone. From looking at some of the pictures, it looks like the engine blocks are all that remain of the engines.

Edited by TheTurbonator on Saturday 28th December 23:17

[TheTurbonator]

mybrainhurts said:

Why would it be carrying 13(?) people for that?

huge American logistics airbase named Burtonwood. The M62 motorway runs slap bang through the middle of the base now and little evidence remains of the site other than a couple of hangers converted for use as industrial units. By comparison RAF Scampton's American presence was quite small so all mail and pay destined for aircrew based there was routed through Burtonwood and had to be collected on regular re-supply flights. On 3rd November 1948 Overexposed was tasked with just such a mission and although only a minimal flight crew would be required the rest of the operational crew chose to go along for the ride bringing the total personnel aboard the plane to 13.  This was not at all unusual - Scampton was rather short on creature comforts for the Americans, especially in view of the austerity measures in the post war UK where rationing was still in operation for the civilian population. But the vast logistics base at Burtonwood had just about everything a Yank away from home could desire - it was in effect a small part of America displaced onto English soil, even UK currency had to be converted into dollars for any none Americans visiting the base! No surprise then that the entire crew jumped at the chance of some quality leisure time just a 25 minute flight away.