-----Original Message-----
From: steven_e007 [mailto:Steven@...]
Sent: 06 September 2002 08:34
To: Whitley_project@...
Subject: [Whitley_project] Re: Whitley excavation

Hello Mike,

Sorry about the delay in replying. I tried earlier in the week but
Yahoo was playing up - or down for maintainance or something.

Thanks for the message.

As for my own opinion on excavations of this type:

Well, personally I beleive they need very careful planning and a bit
more common sense than some groups have been known to use.

If there is a chance that the wreck may contain human remains then I
beleive it is essential to consult with the famillies of the airmen
first (I mean before ANY disturbance is done, not after the bones
have been dug up...). Secondly if there is a chance of disturbing
live bombs again careful planning and consultation is neccesary.

I know of a 'certain' group who have done digs where they have found
bones - then called in the coronor who then contacted the famillies -
who were not too happy. The same group on another dig unearthed a
bomber with a bombay full of 500lb bombs. They immediately contacted
the military who had to come and do a controlled explosion. They were
not too happy either....

In both cases the group considered it had followed the correct
proceedure and done nothing wrong.

Personally I think these eventualities should be handled before the
dig - not after. With human remains; if it is handled properly and
sympathetically then many families are happy that there loved ones
can be laid to rest and their story told - but if they choose for the
crash to be left undisturbed then that should be respected too.

In the case of live ordinance I think the military should be involved
from the start if the airframe is worth recovering - and it should be
left alone if it isn't.

It also seems common sense to agree on what to do with the wreck at
the start, too! I can't see much sense in the 'lets dig and see what
we can find' mentality. Unfortunately a lot of wreckage has been
removed from many crash site by 'recovery groups' - then 'lost'.

Such a fate befell the rear turret from Whitley BD242 in Snowdonia.
It lay mostly intact for 40 years before being 'recovered' by
someone. No one knows where it is now!

Just my thoughts.

Steve Reynolds.





--- In Whitley_project@y..., "mikecoughlan2002" <mikecoughlan@e...>
wrote:
> Hello guys,
> I have recently come across the documented evidence of a dig, which
> took place on Whitley T1468 of 502 Squadron, which was based at
> limavady and crashed in Eire on the 24th of January 1941. There
were
> 4 bombs on this aircraft 2 of which exploded on impact. According
to
> military archives in Eire military personnel disposed of the other
2
> at the time. However during the dig one very live 250lb bomb was
> uncovered. Apparently a video record of this dig was recorded
during
> the excavation. The exciting news is that 2 Merlin X engines were
> recovered from the crash site. The bad news is that there was a
> difference of opinion between the recovery team as to the best
thing
> to do with the remains and they parted company on bad terms. This
dig
> is documented in a book called down in a free state (wartime air
> crashes and forced landings in Eire 1939-1945. I.S.B.N. 0 9525496 5
> 4. I would very much like a return e-mail with people's opinions of
> this type of excavation. Regards, Michael Coughlan.



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