Disposal pit

[MIflyer]

A friend of mine found some pictures from WWII and shortly there after that had been discarded. Take a look at the two attached shots.

My friend is hoping that the disposal pit is in the US and that the airplanes can be recovered. Given that there are numerous Amtracs in the pit and the type of aircraft tossed into it, I think the most likely location is in the Far East.

 

[Capt. Vick]

Well there are some B-29's in there so...

 

[BiffF15]

And B-17s, B-24s, F4U and I think a Helldiver.

 

[Crimea_River]

...and fully preserved Spitfires in crates....

 

[MIflyer]

I also see a TBM and what is either a C-45 or Amelia's Electra.

I can see no enemy aircraft, though.

One of my college professors was a US Army infantry Lt in WWII in the ETO, ending up in southern Germany. After the war they were brought 100 war weary B-25's and told to destroy them. The bombers were fully equipped and he planned to remove the radios and use them to set up a comm net for US forces in southern Germany. He was told he would NOT do that and a general officer came to him personally to make sure he understood.

So they wrapped primacord around the wings and aft fuselages of the B-25's, blew them apart, shoved them in a pit and covered them over with dirt. Presumably they are still there, radios and all.

 

[vikingBerserker]

Yea, I would go with somewhere in the pacific.

 

[Gnomey]

Certainly the Pacific is the most likely. Interesting shots.

 

[tyrodtom]

Iwo Jima maybe, a lot of heavily damaged B-29s landed there, and some crashed there.
That would also explain all the light armored vehicles being disposed of.

I'll bet most of that was dug up and recycled, by the locals, long before a lot of us was born.

 

[GrauGeist]

Can't help but noticing that is one hellova hole that they are shoving everything into...

 

[N4521U]

It's pretty apparent no one thought about recycling, or GLOBAL WARMING!!!!!!

 

[Shortround6]

I'll bet most of that was dug up and recycled, by the locals, long before a lot of us was born.

high grade aluminium mine

 

[MIflyer]

You know, I now doubt that is a hole, since it most probably was not in the US. I think they just tossed the stuff off a natural cliff, probably down by the ocean.

Does not look like Iwo Jima, which has volcanic soil. Maybe the PI or Okinawa, even Japan.

I see no clues from the codes on the airplanes. Anybody else see anything in that area?

 

[billrunnels]

You know, I now doubt that is a hole, since it most probably was not in the US. I think they just tossed the stuff off a natural cliff, probably down by the ocean.

Does not look like Iwo Jima, which has volcanic soil. Maybe the PI or Okinawa, even Japan.

I see no clues from the codes on the airplanes. Anybody else see anything in that area?

What a mess. Wonder if they exist today. Sad reminder of WWII.

 

[Timppa]

Lend-Lease...either return (expensive) or destroy (cheaper)

 

[Greg Boeser]

One of my college professors was a US Army infantry Lt in WWII in the ETO, ending up in southern Germany. After the war they were brought 100 war weary B-25's and told to destroy them. The bombers were fully equipped and he planned to remove the radios and use them to set up a comm net for US forces in southern Germany. He was told he would NOT do that and a general officer came to him personally to make sure he understood.

So they wrapped primacord around the wings and aft fuselages of the B-25's, blew them apart, shoved them in a pit and covered them over with dirt. Presumably they are still there, radios and all.

Sounds like when we had to turn in all our M151s in the 'Eighties. They all had to be fully serviceable when we drove them to the car crusher.

 

[Joel Dobson]

I've been working on the biography of Gen. Thomas Power, and found this similar photo, I believe from his archives at Syracuse U. It was labeled : "Making use of a coral pit at Guam." Lots of B29s flew out of Guam.

 

[MIflyer]

Very interesting! You can see both B-29's and B-24's in that photo, so it may well be the same Pit.

Thanks!

 

[mikemike]

Sounds like when we had to turn in all our M151s in the 'Eighties. They all had to be fully serviceable when we drove them to the car crusher.

I heard that they were also crushed by tanks driven over them. The Saudis, however, demilitarized them by painting them white. Which is why an enterprising guy from Germany was able to buy up about 500 of them and ship them to Germany. I think he still has about 300. The outfit will fully restore them on order, that's however not cheap (well, it's Germany). www.morlock-motors.de

 

[tyrodtom]

I think how the M-151s were disabled was up to the local commanders at first.
Back in the 80's I helped put one back together, it had only been cut in two pieces, across the floor at the door openings. I've seen them cut in 4 pieces.
It was a M-151A2, with the double u-joint half shafts on the rear end.
Made a fine 4 wheeler, I still see it around locally.

 

[P-39 Expert]

Dig 'em up and see if you can make one flyable plane out of all the parts. Could be part this, part that and create a new antique warbird. B-29 wings on a TBF fuselage. Or something.