Flt Sgt Copping's P-40 From The Egyptian Desert

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19 years 7 months

Posts: 41

Wing Commander James Francis 'Stocky' Edwards

W/C Stocky Edwards DFC& Bar, DFM, CD and 2 Bars MiD and Order of Canada

Stocky flew over 400 sorties during his 3 tours, He joined the RCAF In Oct 1940. During his service he flew with 94 Sqn RAF, 260 Sqn RAF, 417 Sqn RCAF, 92 Sqn RAF, 274 Sqn RAF and as Wing Commander lead 127 Wing at the end of the Second World War. His autobiography 'Kittyhawk Pilot' was written in collaboration with Michael Lavigne as was the limited edition book
Kittyhawks over the Sands' both books mention in part some of the events the day Sgt. Copping went missing. Stocky retired from the Canadian Air Force in 1972

For furher information on those events, the book written by RAF veteran Jack Sheppard DFC 'Some of our Victories' who served with 260 Sqn tells a compelling story of attempting to get Copping to turn around, he was not successful. Ron Cundy RAAF DFC, DFM, MID also a former 260 member also mentions the story in his autobiography 'A Gremlin On my Shoulder.

If this recently found Kittyhawk is the Kittyhawk that Sgt. Copping flew into the desert on June 28, 1942 then let us hope that we can solve a 70 year old mystery and put all speculation to bed.

During the recent CBC TV interview Stocky Edawrds said he has thought of those events for 70 years and has wondered what happened, I'm sure many former 260 Sqn pilots and ground crews had the same thoughts. Right now my thoughts are with Coppings family.

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12 years 5 months

Posts: 797

How Many?

Just out of interest, does anyone know how many P40's were lost in North Africa during the whole War...?

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19 years 11 months

Posts: 17

Snoopy

Define lost.......how many shot down, but recovered later, shot down and speared in (as in total loss), Shot up but returned only later written off, or my all time Favourite Shot up, damaged, destroyed and written off but later brought back on charge (if indeed the paperwork ever caught up). If anyone ever wants a lesson in frustration try tracking aircraft in North Africa - its good for the soul and changing your hair grey.

If you are after the total number of aircraft written off and never brought back on charge that can be arranged (as long as a date range is given).

Buz

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17 years 4 months

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"All quiet on the Western Front"...eh?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

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14 years 5 months

Posts: 282

P40

No news is good news?

Mark

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12 years 1 month

Posts: 442

Sadly, I can't imagine that in this case. No news is.. it's been pecked apart and there's nowt left?

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11 years 10 months

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Mark, Weren't you expecting a site visit and update a couple of days ago?

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13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

This aircraft was on T.V. two days ago, and showed the locals stripping everything and anything they could get.:(
Jim.
Lincoln .7

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19 years 11 months

Posts: 214

How sad and very disappointing.

I can't help but think that, given this news, it would be better to be completely reduced to nothing rather than it be displayed a shadow of its former self. Too much of a reminder of what could have been :mad:

The most important thing for me now is that the pilot is identified and if possible, a search conducted for his remains so that he can be finally laid to rest.

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17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,978

Jim sure it wasn't them just removing the guns and ammo?

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11 years 10 months

Posts: 2

Destination LAT/LONG ? Restore or as found?

What was the DESTINATION of this flight and the LAT/LONG of the destination? I noticed someone had said LG-85 as origination. I think
that should be LG-185 (LG-09) from what has been mentioned in this Thread.

I think I would want any Warbird to be flying.

Make a fiberglass replica of the as found condition if you want to display that.

Mike
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Several years ago someone found the remains of one of ~30 1938 prototyp
Volkswagen KdF-Wagens in Lithuania. ALL *WERE* supposed to have been destroyed... Many people thought it should be left as found - part of the original body which was then "modified" with a DKW hood and sitting on a Soviet Volga water-cooled car chassis. (very ugly)

It was found to be #6.

VW38 06 was completely restored within 12-18 months of returning to Germany. I'm glad it was RESTORED and not left as found.

It's an Amazing story/ thread 2.3 million views...

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How sad and very disappointing.

I can't help but think that, given this news, it would be better to be completely reduced to nothing rather than it be displayed a shadow of its former self. Too much of a reminder of what could have been :mad:

Bleeding savages :mad:. I found the position of the plane on Flash Earth and it is only about 45km from an oasis to the east. I wonder if the poor pilot had any idea of that?

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13 years 9 months

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Jim sure it wasn't them just removing the guns and ammo?

Tony. No, I saw the lads removing those.
Jim.

Lincoln .7

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13 years 9 months

Posts: 8,306

@954. Ralph, he may have been too injured to have managed 45 miles, as I understand it, he was taking it from "A" to "B" simply for repairs. Probably sods law dictated he may even have flown over the Oasis.
Jim.

Lincoln .7

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20 years 1 month

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scum

It doesn't surprise me one bit Jim, once they know we were trying to salvage it their hatred of us would drive them to destroy it.

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13 years 9 months

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Bruggen130. Guess it was a good thing they didnt get the guns and ammo, I would imagine they would soon have been enabled to be made into a working condition. As for the bits the were taking, it wouldnt surprise me to see them trying to sell the bits back to us.
Jim.
Lincoln .7

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18 years 6 months

Posts: 298

I wouldn't go on with calling the inhabitants, the people who actually live there, names. Someone must have attended those people to the interest that was generated in this Kittyhawk worldwide, in all kinds of internet forums and the press. At least some of them must have access to the www and spread the word that they repeatedly are called 'names' amongst others. That doesn't good to negotiations about the permissions needed to salvage what is left of the aircraft.

Tillerman.

Yes mate, you're quite right. They are fine upstanding young gentlemen. We should not denigrate them.

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24 years 2 months

Posts: 9,780

So until the aircraft was plastered all over the internet it was pretty much safe ?? I wonder why the people who found it didnt look up the price of a P-40 and then do a deal to get it out!