British Spitfire airplane hunt begins in Myanmar

[NewsCaster]

Andrew Cowie / AFP - Getty ImagesDavid Cundall, shown here at London's Imperial War Museum, is leading a team that will search for surplus British Spitfire airplanes that were boxed up and buried in Myanmar at the end of World War II.By Aye Aye Win, The Associated PressYANGON, Myanmar — A search team led by a British aviation enthusiast arrived in Myanmar on Sunday  to begin a dig they hope will unearth dozens of rare British Spitfire fighter  planes said to have been buried in the Southeast Asian country at the end of  World War II.

The 21-member team, led by farmer and businessman David  Cundall, will start excavations soon near the airport in the main city, Yangon.

Cundall said the aircraft were buried in wooden crates as surplus, around 30 feet (10 meters) under the surface. He estimated that the project would take about four to six weeks to complete.

"We are expecting them to be in first-class condition," Cundall said  shortly after arriving at the international airport in Yangon.




NBCNews