CRASH! Spitfire Pilot Stranded in Crocodile-Infested Swamp! 4-Day Ordeal for Survival! (55 Min Doc)

1943: A Spitfire crashes in Australia's DEADLY Outback! The pilot fights for survival against crocs, extreme heat & NO FOOD! RAAF recovery mission 44 years later! MUST SEE Documentary!
Prepare for a WWII survival story unlike any other! In 1943, a British Spitfire pilot crash-lands in the crocodile-infested swamps of the Australian Outback. With no food or water, he faces a desperate struggle for survival against the harsh elements and prehistoric predators.
This gripping 55-minute documentary takes you on a thrilling journey:
The pilot's harrowing 4-day ordeal: Witness his fight against dehydration, scorching heat, and the ever-present threat of giant saltwater crocodiles!
A daring recovery mission: 44 years later, the RAAF launches a mission to recover the wreckage from the treacherous swamp. Experience the dramatic tides, clawing mud, and the courage of the recovery team.
A return to the skies: Join the WWII pilot as he flies a Spitfire again after 45 years! Hear his story of heroism and resilience.
This is more than just a survival story! We delve into the history of the legendary Spitfire and explore the fascinating world of Australian wildlife. Will the pilot survive the crocs? Can the wreckage be recovered?
Watch now and discover the answer! This is a must-see documentary for history buffs, aviation enthusiasts, and anyone who loves a thrilling adventure!
Love captivating historical documentaries? Subscribe to Storyteller for more incredible stories of survival, the power of human spirit, and the secrets of the past!
#WWIIHistory #Australia #Documentary #Storyteller
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[@jmccracken491]

Well, I will speak as a US Veteran of The USAF. I feel the pilot done the best he could. And the recovery crew is one brave lot indeed. These Blokes did a great job. So thanks guys and may God Bless you all.

[@craigjohnson8427]

Just Found this- I was one of the Two Cameramen on this trip, watching this has bought back many memories. Great job putting it altogether Mike Searle.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Craig! How ya doing. Are you in touch with any of the others?

[@craigjohnson8427]

@@Storyteller_Digital Hi Mike, A long time ago in a galaxy far far away....something like that. I kept in contact with a few of the guys at Laverton for a few years after the trip, but I left the Air Force in 1998 and had no contact after that. Sadly I did hear that Jim DeBomford passed away many years ago. Can't believe that adventure was over 30 years ago; The doco brings back many memories and I'm glad you were able to put the vision to good use.

[@shanekluin6568]

Hi Craig, any idea what happen to the wreckage after the documentary? With regards Shane

[@craigjohnson8427]

@@shanekluin6568 Hi Shane, it was many years ago but from memory, the wreckage was deposited in the fresh water pondage on the Golf Course at RAAF Laverton (Vic) to stop any further erosion, before most of it being moved to the RAAF Museum at Point Cook. Not sure how much of it actually made it's way into the display hangar.

[@PaulNurse1]

THIS is how documentaries should be made. Excellent production.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Thanks glad you enjoyed it.

[@colinpearce2536]

as an English man watching that, so proud of our Australian cousins.

[@felixcat9318]

I found myself with moist eyes as the narrator explained that the Pilot had survived and how he'd survived by climbing up trees to avoid the killers in the water beneath him, and how his use of his rescue mirror saved his life by signalling his existence and position to passing aircraft! I'm extremely happy that this resourceful and courageous man kept himself together and alive in such an inhospitable environment, without water, for four days! What an incredible story of survival amid the carnivorous wildlife that lurked below the waterline and of the unremitting furnace of the daytime sun, all without water! This is endurance on an astonishing scale and must have rewritten the books of extreme survival without water in the most hazardous environment imaginable! Edited to remove an error.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Felix Cat thanks for your thoughtful words. 👍

[@businessjetguru1298]

Fascinating documentary. There are presently close to 55 Spitfires in airworthy condition. Almost 25% of these are based at Duxford, South of Cambridge, in Southern England. A further handful of this magnificent aircraft are being restored to airworthy condition. In 1983 I was completing a Masters degree at Cranfield Institute of Technology, based at a major WWII bomber airfield, 75-miles North of London. Summer lectures were interrupted as a fully-restored Spitfire was rolled-out for engine runs. The test pilot, and my first flight instructor, Angus McVitie, started the engine and those of us who were within twenty feet of the aircraft felt our bodies vibrate in time with the Merlin engine. When the first flight took place, I was there, with my entire class. Angus had been instructed to do a simple, and short, flight, to test all systems and controls. He winked at me, as he climbed into the aircraft. We witnessed a thirty-minute display that was a wonder to behold!

[@elizabethtaylor9321]

Nice to hear the pilot survived, bloody luck up there in the back end of nowhere !

[@gomadnomad9621]

Blessings to all these boys. We shall remember them.

[@christrinder1255]

I’m from U.K. and have always been interested in the spitfire, but had no clue some of those planes and U.K. pilots went to Australia to fight the Japanese! Thank you so much for this fascinating and interesting video. These guys trying to recover the plane are awesome, and they accomplished so much under appalling conditions 👏👏👏 I live in Poole Dorset, close to Southampton where the spitfire was designed and built , and Poole is where our Royal Marines are still based and this style (although new) landing craft is still in use by them👍😊

[@wd2862]

All the best to our friends from Australia. Together with 303 squadron and other Polish squadrons they fought for Great Britain ... glory to the Heroes

[@PHM00]

The mud and barnacle encrusted Spitfire sections were taken to Broome on the barge, then flown by RAAF C-130 to RAAF Laverton near Melbourne on delivery to the RAAF Museum at nearby Point Cook. The remains were submerged in water at Laverton to commence an long conservation program to slow the salt water corrosion. By 2016 the remains of A58-51 are listed by RAAF Museum as being in storage.

[@Abby1952]

Thank you, for the update.

[@Irish_For_Life1842]

TYVM for the information. When you talked about the desalinate of the plane it reminded me of the same thing done for old sailing vessels. How long does the plane have to continue treatment? Does the RAAF Museum have to go through a budgeting process to get extra funds for the restoration? One thing that is really nice is that there is one gentleman's company who went through creating molds and blueprints for the Merlin engine(s). They are reported to be the world's experts on making parts for the Merlins. Those are still great engines.

[@robertduncan7618]

Not just English pilots , British, Inc Scottish, Welsh and Irish, and Rhodesians, South Africans, Canadians , Indians, Australian, New Zealander’s and many more.

[@markmitchell450]

Polish chech French Americans Norwegian

[@aujay]

The amazing achievements of the Polish 303 SQ were pretty much suppressed by the massive British propaganda machine and all but forgotten about within just months of the end of the war. Well worth reading about the incredible Polish 303's!

[@alexandergemmell664]

Absolutely the Poles, fearless, if somewhat indisciplined, with such courage and understandable determination for revenge. The pilots of the RAF came from a multitude of free and occupied countries.

[@mikeclark4416]

Fair Play top these Lads for doing this . The Spitfire still holds her Magic

[@alanshipton7827]

As one of the guys that worked on the salvage of the spitfire back in 1987 I believe that the intention was to salvage the wings to use as a pattern to make new wings for other spitfires that at the time where being restored here in Australia. The last I heard was the remains of the aircraft was eventually sent to Point Cook aircraft museum for work to be carried out, however that was nearly 30 years ago. It would be interesting to find out what happened to the aircraft and catch up with any of the guys that where on the salvage job.

[@jbuckley2546]

Why did you need a pattern when there are enough surviving Spitfires remaining to take accurate dimensions from?

[@aloysiusjones3985]

I tipping not much different.

[@craigjohnson8427]

Hey Alan, how are you mate. Nice to hear you're still around. I was the Videographer from CPE on the trip. Cheers.

[@kickit59]

Very interesting story, I am glad you posted this on You Tube! My Dad was a WW2 Marine Raider!

[@pokies100]

Very enjoyable. Well put together. Suspense all the way. Can we have a follow up on the restoration.

[@jacksainthill8974]

_Spitfire at Crocodile Creek_ Someone said, _Do me a documentary about a Spitfire - and make it snappy_. ;)

[@XXKXKX]

Jack Sainthill *slow clap*

[@jacksainthill8974]

SC Plays _slow clap_ Sorry to hear it -, but penicillin clears it up, I've heard, (Maybe you'll use a condom another time.)

[@sidcleaver1547]

Jack Sainthi

[@Peter-lm3ic]

From the UK: well done Team, you did a fantastic job considering the conditions and you did the best possible!

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Jack Sainthill Not quite. This was shot back in 1988. The tapes were recovered from our archive this is all we had to work with. It was this or nothing.

[@regeastwood1431]

it would have been nice if the coast watch crew had some recognition having spotted the plane and photographed with location. I know I was one of the crew members on the said day

[@Storyteller_Digital]

I remember being told it had been spotted by Coast Watch. But had no details. Good job guys.

[@stevewilson9154]

Hat's off from an american to the RAF and RAAF!

[@sueneilson896]

Now thats a real documentary. Real people doing a real task. No extra drama for the cameras needed. Before the invention of “reality tv”. And not a bikini in sight”.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Thanks. 👍👍

[@bbrut3332]

Well done story of the recovery of this once fine mighty aircraft. A great hurrah for the team that sweated blood and tears for its recovery.

[@slick4401]

1987 seems like ancient history now. Damn I'm old.

[@mikehawk4517]

lol no you're not

[@44R0Ndin]

If he was born that year, He's a year older than me. And I've got hair starting to turn white and fall out.

[@chriscarter5720]

For me the most interesting part of this film is the part about the RAF pilots. My father also flew Spitfires in Australia with 549 Sqn RAF based at Darwin. Like Derek Gray's son I have log books and photos but my father never spoke about his war.

[@1220b]

The moment you enter the water you enter the food chain.

[@spamtongspamton9192]

So tru thow

[@Nibby12]

Pilots don't get lost, they get "Geographically disoriented" lol

[@guycroft318]

a thoughtful film thanks...

[@indridcold8433]

The documentary mentioned 45° in the shade. These poor fellows do not seem to have any shade within a kilometer or two. Perhaps these poor blokes took turns shading each other with their own shadows to offer some releaf. This was definitely a labour of love for the Spitfire.

[@GTVAlfaMan]

I would hate to be in such a small raft with those big crocodiles nearby.

[@idpfilm]

enjoyed watching - thanks

[@patrickbishop446]

Thorouly enjoyed the history and the whole show ,I lived up there for a few years so I can relate to the heat and mud and flies and biting insects that are in such abundance up in the kimberlies crockadile creek was a place I went a couple of times in the ealry eighties amazing show thanks !!!

[@rjl110919581]

THANK FOR DETAIL VIDEO ON AUSTRALIA HISTORY OF WAR 2 IN TOP END AS VERY DETAIL ABOUT THAT SPITFIRE AND THE AIR FORCE BEHIND REMOTE AUSTRALIA BUSH

[@wheeler2581]

boys playing in the mud is as natural as home apple pie,we belong in the mud and being soldiers you have to have the tenacity and endurance to do this,congrates to these men of the mud.but playing in the mud with those man eating monsters,my hats off to yous boys.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Thanks Curtis. It was grueling.

[@derekstocker6661]

What a great documentry, these guys did the best with what they could get their hands on and taking the environment into consideration, only a lot more finances and equipment could have done better, possibly. Great to see the pilots son and the early photo's and the family home. Well done guys, a super bit of recovery and what a display and story associated with this recovery it will be, yet another Spit back on the register.

[@robertgarrett4046]

don't talk such a lot of fucking crap you bloody prick, it was a shit operation / recovery.

[@cindycampany2402]

The pilot never talked about this crash with his son. The crash wouldn’t have occurred if somebody had decided that delivery of a case of beer for Christmas wasn’t critical. Nice gesture that resulted in the loss of an aircraft, almost cost the pilot his life, and the cost of search planes.

[@davidewhite69]

who ever did the narration has a great voice for a documentary type report

[@mikeclark4416]

Incredible Story . Thank you for sharing

[@bratton1950]

Great stuff well done

[@davidtaylor5007]

You're probably not going to save much from a 50+-yr old salt-water wreck but it would have been great if they had more time to pull it out in one piece. I sure love hearing/seeing these old warbirds at airshows!

[@markgriffin3184]

i agree salt water soon erodes aluminium so their lucky they got that old bird in that state but it is a shame they had to break it up to salvage it.

[@raymondyee2008]

Last thing I saw online was “….by 2016 the remains of Spitfire MK VC A58-51 are listed by the RAAF Museum as being in storage”. Probably can be rebuilt for static display (unlikely she’ll fly again).

[@andrewerntell4775]

It's a shame when amateurs attempt to salvage something important and destroy it in the process.

[@maezzee]

I tip my hat to these gents......for their dedication....to this.....the Spitfire was an incredible unique aircraft.....and the American version for me would be represented by the Corsair.....

[@rosandy123]

Excellent documentary. These days the pilot would have been court martialed for using a warplane to deliver beer! Obviously they realized the importance of morale.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Thanks for your comment. I think you’re right on the money.

[@bfmcarparts]

About the only thing on this Spitfire that could ever be made to fly again is the builders serial number plate. Unfortunately these soldiers and sailors knew nothing about salvaging an aircraft and destroyed more than they saved. The Spitfire was probably weighed down with 10 tons of mud in the wings and fuselage!

[@davebrittain9216]

Exactly! They needed to to have a high volume/pressure hose to clean it all out and off. Still a very difficult job to face.

[@gunniebill8810]

If you paid attention you would have noted that they weren't "soldiers & sailors" but actually RAAF airmen, so they would have actually had a few clues about salvaging aircraft.

[@bfmcarparts]

Hello Gunnie and thank you for your reply,I apologize for not acknowledging the RAAF airmen in my comment. Their technique of airbag and rising tide to lift an aircraft might have worked for a structurally solid airframe and a recent belly landing situation but not on an aircraft that has its aluminum skin, steel nuts and bolts and magnesium rivets exposed to salt and humid air for 40+ years. This Spitfire had no structural integrity left. The salvagers would have had better luck picking up soggy tissue paper wearing boxing gloves. Their main purpose was to recover the guns and ammo in the wings and they were successful at that.

[@gunniebill8810]

Yep, totally agree with you re the structural integrity, but I think most of the commentors here miss the point that the guys deserve a medal for sheer determination and dedication in trying to get the aircraft out intact (which was never going to happen given the length of time in a salt water environment) not criticism. I would be keen to know what eventually happened to the parts as I've seen miracles worked with old aircraft bits here in NZ at the Air Force museum.

[@davebrittain9216]

My understanding is if they recover the identification plate with the aircraft that they can reconstruct all of the parts then that specific aircraft is considered to be whole with a build date the same as the original airplane So it would be worth it to get the parts together. Lets face it you can not rebuild nothing but if you have a destroyed hulk like that you can call it a rebuild. Someone that actually knows more could clarify thanks.

[@ianb4801]

Lots of “experts” commenting here. But heat, humidity, huge tidal flows, mangrove swamp, flies, crocodiles you mustn’t shoot, not much equipment... Welcome to try yourself.

[@DreamsAreLies]

Or they could’ve just left it... lol

[@tkelly411]

neat story,aussie tenacity blllessemawll, god save australia, ,& the wallabies too,

[@donlittle929]

great video, great story

[@murrayelliott6828]

From 19 February 1942 till 1944 there were 97 air attacks on northern Australia, 64 on Darwin alone. Wyndham, Broome, Port Hedland. Onslow and Exmouth WA and Horn Is QLD.

[@kurtschlesinger8257]

hundreds of spit fire dump in the Sydney ocean after the war

[@tripwire3992]

Even though they were being pushed to their limits they carried on

[@joecat4892]

loved the jag... saw one come out of the clouds really close to our aircraft when I was a cadet over oxford once :) ... they no longer fly jags these days either.... they were coming to their end when i was a cadet.

[@michaelwhite8031]

Wow...amazing the mark V had no fuel gage

[@KB-zq9ck]

I being from the USA love the beginning when he says: "Without water man will die in hours." Umm... I thought everything in Australia can kill a man in hours.

[@elizabethtaylor9321]

Frankly Frank You beat me to it !

[@babalonkie]

@Frankly Frank 2 hours? Being a bit generous... Just need to look at someone wrong nowadays...

[@rob4831]

who in there wright mind would go to war with a country that can produce men with the toughness and determination as these blokes

[@BradBrassman]

Only a race who thought they were above everyone else?

[@indridcold8433]

@@BradBrassman That is a great answer and the truth.

[@rob4831]

@@BradBrassman your reply doesn't make any sense?

[@deepscuba7384]

High pressure pumps... Use high pressure water to blow the mud off and out from under the aircraft. Thread the lift bags UNDER the wings. Idiots... I've done this before with cars, boats, and aircraft. Work smart... not hard!

[@53rmg]

and a ship with a crane that could help lift out of the water once it's floated....dragging it on board was a doomed idea

[@MrEvenKeel]

Top End of Australia where the plane was found didnt really allow for all these perfect solutions due to environment , Happen to know one of the guys involved and can vouch he is neither an amateur nor clueless .how it was salvaged and what was managed to be saved was a huge feat yet so many here seem to bag them for it ... unreal.... dont recall seeing any of those people here in the video assisting with these methods they suggest .......

[@southerneruk]

If any of them knew what they where doing, then they would of had at lest 4 riggers with them, riggers are called in when ever theres a marine salvaged to be done.

[@rickbognuda9954]

Did anyone notice that the narrator misquoted Churchill's famous "never was so much owed" ? 45:56

[@laurencebrown5374]

Reading through the comments I come to the sad conclusion that our offspring in these latter years was not worth the blood spilling and effort of WW2, commenting on the ability of others from the comfort of home. That tidal mud up there is thick, heavy, hot, sticky and seemingly bottomless. This was apparently unknown to the salvage crew ( and the armchair critics) I found out when I bogged a 4x4 Chev Blitz up there in 1948. Comments on political leaders of the time at miss guided as you do not understand our political atmosphere at that time, we were a country of 7 million and we had lost a lot in the first word war and now we are giving it away to our former enemy's, thanks to the generations born after WW2.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

+Laurence Brown Well put 👍👍

[@jbuckley2546]

The efforts and bloodshed of the participants of both World Wars are what gave the freedom to the following generations. If they then choose to use that freedom to make silly comments then, to me at least, it's irrelevant. The vast majority of young people in UK and OZ are pretty good kids from what I can tell.

[@arconeagain]

Agree. And we would have ended up with sushi bars on every second corner.

[@piet8803]

I was thinking the same. In this video Australia still had real men. Men that would have stood up to these nonsense dictators that we have today. Well after a weak generation will come hard times that will create had men. It is just a little to late as we are staring WWIII in the eyes.

[@c4nucksens8tion]

ugh, watching this guy with a hammer on the spitfire windshield makes me want to cry!

[@eldiablo4131]

This was a great story...!! How great would have been if the craft would have been brought back in one piece... Overall a great ordeal for the salvaging crew... Thanks for sharing..!

[@kennedysingh3916]

Very interesting

[@homefront3162]

Cool Video... Cool Music

[@joeysumulong8872]

im no salvage expert but should they be using pressure washers to loosen the mud, instead of buckets and bare hands?

[@slickstrings]

if anyone is interested, what was recovered is now at the airforce museum at point cook in storage. Not sure if there's any intention of restoring it.

[@barneymagee3285]

Probably beyond help due to the butchery involved in its recovery , I think it would have been better to leave it until a professional recovery could be made.

[@user-mj9fp6ox2j]

Spitfire AND Hurricane squadrons.

[@user-mj9fp6ox2j]

Number 504k show near the end of this vid was the first test Spit.😊

[@bsponge3656]

We're in Australia is crocodile creek cause now I want to go and see the spitfire

[@fredsalfa]

Well what happened at the end ? What happened to the parts ??

[@jackoswacko4189]

Maybe scraped but it’s rare and valuable so probably in a museum or something

[@edcew8236]

One video of "Spitfires" was actually P-40s...

[@andrewwilson8317]

Sounds a bit harsh but would of been better to leave it where it was until a much better equipped,trained and funded expedition could be put together? All credit to these guys,they went to hell and back and did way more than could be expected of them. These days it would be surveyed,prepared and underslung under a Chinook? Good effort guys.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Andrew Wilson I think one of the main points of this exercise was to push the men to their limits. Not just to recover what they could of the Spitfire. I was there. The conditions were harsh to say the least. The iron deck was red hot. This was a serious team building exercise.

[@jorgenelsonfelix52]

😃 Espectacular muy bien 😃 👍👍👍

[@rabwoody264]

Bring in the professionals every time lol...

[@douglasware3893]

Yeah Yeah, all well and good, but what happened to the Beer ?

[@Storyteller_Digital]

that too was rescued and was taken back to base in time for consumption on Christmas Day. Good ending all round.

[@vctrsone]

Except he killed the poor spitfire.

[@sandmanbub]

Awesome video.

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Thanks.

[@amandacovell9177]

Its true Spits got all the glory in the BoB, but they were an impressive plane. The only thing wrong I see was the puny .303 guns. Many a 109 flew black to Calais, struck bandaids on the holes, and had a drink. If the .303 had been replaced by 4-.50 BMGs, it would have been as different story from the start. What's made the Allison engine gutless was the lack of a supercharger. In the Pacific, the Allison had a superlative record in the P-38s with superchargers, especially after Lindberg showed them how to increase the P-38's range by 30-40%.

[@markgriffin3184]

trouble is though by the time Charles Lindberg show 8th army Air force P-38 Fighter groups how to fly that lovely bird it was to late as it was being phased out in favour of the mustang B,C and D's

[@GlideYNRG]

Pretty sure I remember reading about this in Australian Geographic many years ago as a kid.

[@davidbaker402]

where was the location on the story ?

[@isacchris1]

Those H.e round are not going to go off they aren't water proof. After 40 years in the water the primers and power are wet guarantee.

[@georgeh9967]

where would they be without drama, crocs ,live ammo.

[@dhss333]

CAN'T HEAR THIS GROWLING MUMBLE WITH ALL THE DRUMS AND CYMBALS IN THE BACKGROUND.

[@B.nanana]

47:54 that guys "s" my god

[@vivianbond7449]

Love this too

[@itstheoz1]

the piece of glass in the front might be good, was there any thing else?

[@jackschell5921]

Looks Like Your Going To Need Another Complete Team, Just For The East Coast Locos. Count Me In!

[@willboyd4607]

OK, but what about the beer?

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Will Boyd they also managed to rescue the beer. It was taken back to The base in time for Christmas.

[@bobadams179]

What was the fate of the wreckage? Did they end up scraping It?

[@jasonschofield37]

what was the short story after the one of the spitfire,a mutiny?anyone know where to watch that?

[@Storyteller_Digital]

Medicjas it’s called Malice or Mutiny. Our World - Malice or Mutiny | Storyteller Mediakzbin.info/www/bejne/eZTKcoSigLmXmaM

[@andressini3057]

omg!!! this particular plane will be restored to airworthy?? this is amazing !!!!

[@michaelnaisbitt1639]

No it won.t. It will be stripped of parts for other projects------------the narration is terrible very emotive and uses shots of 1st spit K 5034 and shots of hurricane II C 20 Mm cannons firing Plus the dearth of the poor young girl. My toddler can write a better narrative than this

[@andressini3057]

thanks Michael ! is very sad that this one could not see the air one more time but at least it will be helping other projects, anyway very sad!!! so you are helping with this project?? and others??,again thanks o lot for the reply Michael!!!

[@robertgarrett4046]

@@michaelnaisbitt1639 The 1st Spit was prototype K 5054 , NOT K 5034 , i should know as i had a member of my family working at the Supermarine factory in Woolston , Southampton during the war , and i have a MIN OWNERSHIP OF A SPIT MK 5B , based at DUXFORD AIRFIELD . I come from Southampton.

[@lioncross1849]

It was better off intact in its own grave than being pulled apart and raped for parts. What a shame.

[@radiogramgramophonetoons5802]

Brave young men

[@richardcline1337]

So, what became of the remains of the plane? Was there enough salvaged to even make a static display?

[@Storyteller_Digital]

No. The plane was used as spare parts.

[@sturgeonsqueezer]

Apparently 'The mud and barnacle encrusted Spitfire sections were taken to Broome on the barge, then flown by RAAF C-130 to RAAF Laverton near Melbourne on delivery to the RAAF Museum at nearby Point Cook. The remains were submerged in water at Laverton to commence an long conservation program to slow the salt water corrosion. By 2016 the remains of A58-51 are listed by RAAF Museum as being in storage.' According to Geoff Goodall. Which makes me feel at least a little bit better. Would make a great static.

[@derek-press]

I would be interested if any of these sunken ships carrying Spitfire kits could be located

[@andrewmorke]

Could there be a worse place to ditch than crocodile creek? A boulder field filled with venomous snakes perhaps?

[@edspencer7121]

Some things are just meant to be left to rot!

[@DNADirekt]

Oh dear no bear! GONE! :-)

[@nightwaves3203]

All that and the beer had been removed with none for them to recover. Must of been their punishment for failing navigation tests :)

[@hghhhffhfhfhf3401]

20:01 oh classic casio

[@themediaman100]

I think they should have used high pressure water lances to get under the wings and fuselage before attempting the lift. Also to remove the massive weight of mud inside the aircraft. Might have been better to leave it where it was rather than chop it up.

[@laurencegerrard8044]

The film maker doesn't seem to know the difference between a Spitfire and a P40.

[@purebloodheretic4682]

a fire fighters high pressure pump would have been handy to blast the plane loose, & possibly a concrete pump to move the excess mud away- rather than try to dig it out- i think the difficulty was under estimated

[@0e32]

Leave it and come back better equiped next time. Painful watching ...

[@MyRonnierocket]

His son must be really proud

[@bikerleo1966]

So many spitfires never got recycled they were dumped in the ocean. Spifire reef in Moreton Bay Queensland has many of them.

[@MrDaiseymay]

BEAUTIFUL ??? JEEEZUS, I SEE A BARREN BORING HELL ON EARTH.

[@Johnpugwash]

Typical Aussie Can Do attitude 👍

[@loll5708]

I have a theory that pilot bailed and landed right where crocs are