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

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Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

There is a tendency to close the search of the remains claiming that he died in the crash or the bones found are Copping!
Personally I think He is somewhere still unburied in the desert and we have to insist on demanding wide-ranging research.

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

The sincere wishes for a Merry Christmas to the family of Dennis Copping,
hoping that soon he will be back home!

Member for

19 years 11 months

Posts: 258

hear, hear. I will pass on your wishes

i will take this opportunity to wish everyone on the forum a happy christmas and happy and prosperous new year. While you are enjoying your christmas spare a thought for all our boys and girls out in Afghanistan and around the world who won't make it home and also those poor souls and their families who have lost loved ones in the service of their country.

Best wishes Pat

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

I echo the sentiments of the last two posts: I really hope that 2013 will show some progress in getting to the truth about what happened to Dennis Copping and being able to inform his family.
My best wishes for Christmas and the new year to all who have contributed to this thread.

Member for

20 years 5 months

Posts: 10,625

The whole story of this P40 just boils my blood.
I watched with horror as the plane was slowly picked clean by the vulchers :mad:

Then for it to go all out of hand and result in this mess.

Aaaargh!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 8,464

It hasnt been picked clean by anybody.

It is stored at the el Alamein museum, in a container, in much the same condition as it was when first found, but dismantled.

Yes, there was a bit of damage, but it was recovered before it got too bad.

Bruce

Member for

21 years

Posts: 1,746

I have received via my MP Adam Hollaway a letter from the Minister for Pension affairs that the JCC have now contacted all three of the family they have listed. One was out of the UK and had not checked his mail.
I have thanked my MP for his efforts and have expressed the hope that the M.O.D will have some firm information for the family eventually.
It is nearly a year since this sad story broke isn't it?
mmitch.

That is at least good to know. Further developments awaited.

I know from first-hand that Adam Holloway is quite passionate about military and veteran's affairs, having met him a while ago to discuss such matters both at the House of Commons and in Gravesend. He would be a good champion for the cause!

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

Remember on the other thread when we were looking at stuff found and one item was a polished metal? With a hole in and I said I thought it was possibly a signal mirror but there was debate over the hole in it? Well there is a 50's or 60's RAF signal mirror on eBay and guess what

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Heliograph-indicating-mirror-ejection-seat-pack-RAF-aircraft-/140899371196?pt=UK_CPV_Aviation_SM&hash=item20ce41c8bc

Member for

14 years 10 months

Posts: 1,020

Yes, standard fitting in the dinghy pack in the 50s. From memory one had to line up the object to be flashed at(!) by using the string and sighting through the hole.

Yes, from memory the other side is yellow with instructions and a little diagram. But I don't recall any discussion/images of such an item being found at the P40 site?

Member for

17 years 5 months

Posts: 8,980

There was a metal plate with a hole in it found near the body

Ah, yes. I remember what you are talking about. The copper disc from the a box of copper ore as I recall? There was also a key fob, I think.

Laurence Garey will remember.

I had thought you were talking about one of the purpose-made issue heliograph plates.

In theory, we should know more when Tim Manna gives his talk on 23 February to the Historic Flight Foundation - if, indeed, nothing has been made public by then although RAFM promise news this month.

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

Yes, I do remember that observation. Pity we cannot refer back to the thread!
But Tony, it was not "near the body" for regrettably we are no closer to finding that. I still have no news about the search for Dennis Copping's remains.

Member for

11 years 4 months

Posts: 93

Laurence
no new news about the search for Copping?

Did I imagine this? Or did RAFM promise news on the P40 during January?

Member for

18 years 1 month

Posts: 2,123

dko and Andy:
I really cannot remember what was promised and by whom.
The original thread was a source of information that has now disappeared!

Member for

24 years 2 months

Posts: 3,208

I don't think any information was promised, just that Tim Manna is doing a talk at HFF in Seattle soon.

Member for

11 years 10 months

Posts: 231

Why is the first news release since the RAFM recovery of a RAF Aircraft missing in action for 70 years being made in the United States of America? Have your news media covered the RAFM recovery mission to Egypt?