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

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Member for

15 years 3 months

Posts: 923

your lucky,mines not even sent the automated reply...

regards
jack...

.......or mine!

Tony T

I don't think there are "conspiracy theories" as such.

Either; he died at the scene and is buried close to the scene

he walked into the desert and was either found and buried, or is still out there

he was taken away by Bedoiun and died and is buried elsewhere

his remains are those found with a piece of parachute by the Italian team at the rock outcrop

Are there any other realistic possibilities?

The only thing that is certain is that he is unaccounted for. And that the family are anxious to know the circumstances and, if possible, to have him found, identified and buried.

No conspiracy theories as far as I can see?

The only thing I would add is that whilst the remains 5km distant were discounted as being Flt Sgt Copping by the MOD with the Defence Attache, Captain Paul Collins, telling the UK press that he was: "...satisfied the remains were not those of Flt Sgt Copping". He did not qualify why. Later, the MOD have had to retract the definitive statement that the remains were certainly not those of Dennis Copping, stating that in fact they didn't know.

That was the whole point of Pat1968's thread.

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

And once again I say that if we do not get hold of the "Italian" bones, or others, we shall not be able to confirm or deny that they are those of Dennis Copping.
No conspiracy, just a determined effort to get to the truth for the family's sake.

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 10,168

Not sure about ww2 but I imagine it is the same as post war in a forced landing, you were to secure the aircraft hence closing canopys hatches etc etc until help arrived. Regardless I do hope for the families sake that something is done and either those remains are tested and proven that it is Dennis or not once and for all for the family's sake!

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

I think the pilot was saved in the forced landing, then after a time he walked in search of safety.
Now the main problem is to understand in which direction he went !
At the time the P40 Kittyhawk were provided with water and food for survival as states pilot Pujji (1942 flying Kittyhawks in North Africa)

Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 1,020

I have today received a long letter from my MP. It doesn't add anything, but I quote :--

"As you are aware, some human remains have been discovered five miles from his plane. However, you will be pleased to hear that the Government is fully aware of this case. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has stated that its representative in the British Embassy in Cairo is in contact with the team which discovered the body and it understands that investigations are under way in Egypt to identify the human remains.

The MOD has offered its assurances that it is in close contact with Flt Sgt Copping's family and will continue to keep them informed of developments."

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

Welcome DKO I am of the same opinion as you, cannot see anyone removing a body and then closing the canopy, the pilot might though if he feels it can be salvaged for spares.

I have today received a long letter from my MP. It doesn't add anything, but I quote :--

"As you are aware, some human remains have been discovered five miles from his plane. However, you will be pleased to hear that the Government is fully aware of this case. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has stated that its representative in the British Embassy in Cairo is in contact with the team which discovered the body and it understands that investigations are under way in Egypt to identify the human remains.

The MOD has offered its assurances that it is in close contact with Flt Sgt Copping's family and will continue to keep them informed of developments."

Thank you for that, Peter.

We shall see. Either way, if we are to believe what we are now told then there may well be some progress in determining matters.

It is unlikely that if had not been for the tenacity of a few, and perhaps the pressure put on by letters to MPs as a result of this thread, then there would not have been this apparent volte-face by the MOD who had, initially, given wholly misleading and incorrect information to the family.

However, this is only the end of the beginning and the case needs to be monitored to ensure it is expeditiously followed through and without further shennanigans.

I am sure the family would want to thank those who have applied pressure through their MPs. I know the family, and have met them, but I know that Pat1968 is in regular contact and will doubtless feed news/information back and forth. We just need to make sure this does not fall off the radar.

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

I have today received a long letter from my MP. It doesn't add anything, but I quote :--

"As you are aware, some human remains have been discovered five miles from his plane. However, you will be pleased to hear that the Government is fully aware of this case. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has stated that its representative in the British Embassy in Cairo is in contact with the team which discovered the body and it understands that investigations are under way in Egypt to identify the human remains.

The MOD has offered its assurances that it is in close contact with Flt Sgt Copping's family and will continue to keep them informed of developments."

1. Who is this representative in Cairo? Capt Collins?
2. In "contact with" which team, the Italians or the Poles?
3. Who in Egypt is "to identify the human remains"?
4. How will they do that? Have they recovered the bones found by the Italians? Do they have control samples from family members of Dennis Copping?
5. Is the MOD really in "close contact" with the family?

Laurence

I do rather echo the sentiments behind your questions - and have far from taken the MOD's response via an MP totally at face value. I am afraid that, as we both know, their past performance in this case very far from warrants that kind of trust.

I think all we can do is plug-on and hold the MOD to account if they don't act as they have now stated. Sadly, I am not holding my breath but I think the questions you ask are valid ones to pose. I wonder if they will be answered?

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

It is true that 70 years have passed, and probably many visits to the wreck, but it is strange that was not found any personal item of Copping and around no trace of cards , tools or bottles ..... everything was in order and the canopy closed.
My opinion is that he waited maybe one night then took the voluntary decision to seek salvation on their own feet. Probably took with him everything that could be useful for survival and made a kind of backpack with harness to be able to walk better.

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

From the diary of the co-pilot Robert Toner LADY BE GOOD crashed in the Libyan desert
in April 1943 at a latitude of 26 42'45 "N (similar to that of Copping) shows that:
"They were able to survive for eight days walking up to 160 km in the desert."
(after 15 years all the bodies were intact, untouched by anyone!)

On 21 April 1941 the italian airplane SM79 falls in the Libyan desert,
the airman Giovanni Romanini walked for over 90 km into the desert to seek help.
(after 20 years the body was intact, untouched by anyone!)

Tradition is that the Bedouins do not touch the corpses unknown

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

Tradition is that the Bedouins do not touch the corpses unknown

This is not their tradition in my experience. See my post 95, above: in the case of Owen Watkinson they treated his body with respect and buried him close to where he died. I am assured by local friends that this is typical of their tradition, especially with regard to a fallen soldier.

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258

This is also my understanding. Bedouin have a reputation for being very diligent in this regard, for both religeous and humanitarian reasons. You are assuming that the bodies of the crew of the lady be good and the Italian aircraft were found by Bedouin and left. I don't think there is any evidence to support this? The search for the crew of the lady be good would have taken in any local knowledge available at the time. Had the Bedouin been aware of the remains they would have been found very quickly.
They don't just show respect to the dead either my great uncle fought in north africa and was saved from certain death by the Bedouin after collapsing with dehydration and exposure. He couldn't say enough In praise of them.

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

I have today received a long letter from my MP. It doesn't add anything, but I quote :--
"the Government is fully aware of this case. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has stated that its representative in the British Embassy in Cairo is in contact with the team which discovered the body and it understands that investigations are under way in Egypt to identify the human remains"

I have received news today to the effect that, in spite of what PeterVerney's MP says, the team that found the human remains has NOT been contacted by the British Embassy in Cairo, and that the bones have NOT been given to anyone for analysis.

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

In my post 158, I did not want to open an anthropological question about the Bedouins of the Sahara, but pointed out that a young person with a minimum of food and water could survive and walk many miles in the desert !

Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 1,020

I'm afraid my MP is one of Dave's blue eyed boys. I do not trust any of them.

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258


the airman Giovanni Romanini walked for over 90 km into the desert to seek help.
(after 20 years the body was intact, untouched by anyone!)

if he is untouched by anyone that includes Bedouin

Tradition is that the Bedouins do not touch the corpses unknown

I think both Laurence and i were referring to this comment. No offense meant just debating the possibilities!

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258

I have received news today to the effect that, in spite of what PeterVerney's MP says, the team that found the human remains has NOT been contacted by the British Embassy in Cairo, and that the bones have NOT been given to anyone for analysis.

This is absolutely disgraceful, it is bad enough that they make a complete hash of the whole thing now they are telling bare face lies!
I incidentally have not heard anything from my MP, other than an automated response to my email. I am looking forward to attending one of his surgeries and asking for an explanation. Maybe he is remodeling his duck pond or whatever these people actually do?
I would suggest re-contacting your MP and pointing out the fact that his information is clearly in error?