I FOUND A SPITFIRE WING ON A BEACH! (and other bits)

[@ussling]

Quite a find. If there are serial numbers on any parts, perhaps the RAF can identify the plane and mission, and contact the pilot, if he is still alive, or his family, for a memorial. The Spitfire is one beautiful, graceful lady.

[@ygtotbj]

Hi, tried to find any numbers with no luck. I have done some research, no pilot killed in this wreck as far as I know. Cheers

[@gaihowe5264]

Nice to see your beach combing is paying off...hope it is a long range spite fire...what a find.

[@ygtotbj]

🤫

[@thomaspratt2688]

I have worked on spitfires and everything you showed is consistent with the Spitfire MK XIX photoreconnisance version. I could easily be wrong, though. Great find.

[@ygtotbj]

Thank you for your information. I am currently doing some research and think I have narrowed down the history. Would like to say more but don’t want the site ruined. Will update you but pretty sure it is RAF!

[@thomaspratt2688]

@@ygtotbj good plan, keep it under wraps until you can find a salvage team to help you recover it properly!

[@ygtotbj]

Thanks mate. It is a 1944 RAF Spit. I have it down to one of four Spitfires that crashed in 44-45. The good news is there were no airmen lost in these crashes. Cheers

[@flyerjohn702]

Very cool

[@RCBuildaholic001]

Mani would bring that bad boy home in a heartbeat ! Awesome find man

[@ygtotbj]

Thanks mate.

[@davemihalic256]

In the U.S. even a military wreck from long ago is considered as still military property. Your best bet may be to see if that is true for UK military aircraft. It is amazing what can be done with care in recovery and a good restoration team!

[@ygtotbj]

👍

[@viking1236]

Yes it is, the Protection of Military Remains Act protects all crashed military aircraft and you need a licence from the MOD to disturb it

[@Swiftyon862]

I’m pretty sure that’s the uk or Europe

[@viking1236]

@@Swiftyon862 correct, apologies I forgot to add I was referencing the UK

[@Paul-ym4mz]

Nice find thanks for posting, greetings from England.

[@ygtotbj]

Hey Paul, thanks for the comment. Wish I had found one in a grease proofed packing crate…. Now that would make an awesome video.. not to mention the “who owns it argument “ 😀

[@DKikkert-u6c]

Nice one! 👍

[@ygtotbj]

Will update in next video. Intend to do a little more digging. Thx

[@BrianStafford-m8o]

A Spitfire without a doubt,the recess for the main wheel is evident as the wing appears to be inverted

[@lordofthemonkey]

You definitely have. Assuming by the accent you’re in Australia. It’ll be a Spitfire MK VIII, leading edge tank as standard. Give Cameron Roloh-Smith a ring at Performance Aero at Archerfield, he’s the Australian Spitfire man

[@ygtotbj]

Can he put it back together 😀

[@lordofthemonkey]

That’s what he does for a living!

[@lordofthemonkey]

And I’ve got a typo in my first comment, it’s Rolph-Smith

[@DF-uq2ir]

By all means, correct me if I'm wrong, but I think whatever it is, its flying days are behind it. 😂

[@XiiSliiKiiX]

You’d be surprised. Spitfires in worse condition than that have been rebuilt back to flying condition.

[@DF-uq2ir]

@@XiiSliiKiiXSTOP! ✋️ I'm beginning to have trust issues now. 😂

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

You should see if you can get permission to have it recovered. It will need some serious preservation and desalination to save it from the salt.

[@ygtotbj]

Yes, I’m looking for anyone with a few extra million they have in their top drawer 😉 It would be great to have it at least recovered.

[@ChickenNugget-dk9hp]

@@ygtotbj Only worth millions if you can prove it's exact identity ;) would be worth 10's of thousands to someone though :)

[@ygtotbj]

@@ChickenNugget-dk9hp Well , I know the squadron it came from, and I have down to one of 4.

[@PeterKanfer]

That is a now a religious find care for it always and search for some serial numbers. Well done

[@ygtotbj]

Thanks mate, no serial numbers or markings on wing left. Next time I visit this site I will try and find something for you. Cheers

[@matthewcuratolo3719]

Better contact the MOD before you get in trouble.

[@ygtotbj]

Who is the MOD, why should I care who they are, I’m NOT a naughty school boy. I know the meaning of the word respect when it comes to WW2 history. So you’re telling me Britannia still rules the waves? I don’t think so mate!

[@matthewcuratolo3719]

@@ygtotbj I meant no disrespect, nor did I intend to insult you. Based on some of the responses to this video, I believed there might be legal problems. I humbly apologize for any offense.

[@ygtotbj]

Thank you. Much appreciated. BTW, I know the history of this wreck, no pilot killed or injured. Cheers ​@@matthewcuratolo3719

[@RaggyAl1971]

That's not a spitfire wing,the "cut out" for the one of the main wheels doesn't have a recess for the undercarrige leg to go in.Its more likely to be a Curtiss P40 wing,the undercarrige retracted rearwards on those.

[@ygtotbj]

The view is from the top of the wing looking down. The wing is very corroded. The ribs and number of ribs match perfectly drawings I have studied. I’m 90% sure it’s from a Spitfire. I have been back to the site, the engine is definitely a Merlin block which P40 don’t have. Thanks for your comments.

[@davegoldsmith4020]

@@ygtotbj Having worked on spitfires I agree with you, I suggest its a starboard wing

[@LOKI-vk5hx]

My understanding is that all aviation wrecks on U.K soil are property of M.O.D and can only touched with appropriate M.O.D permit

[@ygtotbj]

That’s fine. But Spitfires were sent in packing crates all around the world and assembled and flown in some very remote regions.

[@flyerjohn702]

Classic British. Fill out a form, stand in a queue, to be told "Can't do that !"

[@ravusursi893]

It’s your lawful duty to report the find to the authorities, not mess about with it and make videos. You are so disrespectful and are acting illegally. Pathetic needy behaviour.

[@ygtotbj]

Richard Head

[@buxvan]

I think you're a bit jealous, by the tone of that reply.