Most Intact Battlefield

[Spanish Freiwillige]

I guess that when it comes to relic finding its just luck and a bit of research

[Andy Harris]

I know a few people who've been to Pelelieu (sorry for the spelling!) and have come back with lots of stuff, mostly spent bullets and ordinance. The problem is that once word gets out that a place is full of treasures waiting to be picked up, collectors and scavengers flock.

My guess would be Iwo Jima, since travel to the island has been so restricted since the end of the war. It is possible to go there, but not easy.

[SurvivingPanzer]

Well anyone who goes to the battlefields to visit looking for relics in Europe will be disappointed. Everything is picked over pretty well and things are not just lying on the surface.

[ironcross1]

Hi Guys , Iv Been Reading This Thread And Injoyed It Emencely , Hope It Carrys On ,lots Of Interesting Stories And History Comeing Out , Iv Been To Estonia Twice To Digg , Most Thrilling Time Of My Life , Still Good Bits To Be Found , All Comes Down To Research And Contacts , Off To Russia In 2009 All Going Well , Keep Up The Good Work Guys Cheers From New Zealand , Ironcross1

[Simon O.]

Well anyone who goes to the battlefields to visit looking for relics in Europe will be disappointed. Everything is picked over pretty well and things are not just lying on the surface.

Really? Places that are populated and easily accessable, yes but take it from one that lives here and spends a lot of time walking the battlefields that if you know where to go then surface finds, untouched bunkers, positions and trenches are still out there. In fact i picked up an M40 lid on the surface at the side of a field just a couple of weeks ago.

If you're unfamiliar with an area then you are going to need lots of luck and often a fair bit of time searching\researching before you find anything. It all boils down to local knowledge.

[ironcross1]

Hi Simon ,any Chance Of A Photo Of The M40 , Cheers Ironcross1

[WenRan]

Poor lads ........ who ever they are.

Lets call "BONES" from the investigation program ,

Maybe she will find out ...

[K Bandow]

I remember seeing that at my late grandpa's house in the 90's sometime. It was such a shame! They put new engines, new electronics that were needed, new paint, everything on it. One guy was so devoted he stayed out there and caught hypothermia and died! Then the bomber was rolling along to take off and burst into flames. What a way to end the documentary. It was indeed great though!

"Whilst not a battlefield per se, weren't a number of US aircraft 'discovered' under the ice in Greenland?"

I saw an amazing documentary where they found a Superforteress that had landed near the north or south pole. It was so well preserved that the plan was to restore it over the summer period, then fly away with it before winter would come.
They actualy almost succeeded, but the thing caugh on fire during take off . It was one of the most amazing documentaries I have ever seen!

By the way Joachim_Nilsson, I really cant remember what part of the forum that link to the Finnish battlefields was posted, maybe someone else here will remember.

[Kartofelpreußer]

Great thread...

Check out the latest issue of Smithsonian magazine-- there is a good article on the controversy over the removal of the "Swamp Ghost" B-17 that crashed in Papua New Guinea during the war. Good pics in the article too.

As for the ice planes, I used to work with a guy who was a P-38 expert and consulted on the recovery/restoration. There was a whole flight that went down together, I think they removed all or most of them and got maybe three flying.

As for that B-29, the real tragedy (from what I heard) is that the generator that caught fire and destroyed the whole plane was an auxiliary, totally unnecessary for the removal.

Back when I lived in Wisconsin there was a big deal about a guy trying to recover training carrier-based Wildcats that went down in Lake Michigan during the war. Since the Navy never relinquishes rights to anything, he had to buy them-- I believe they negotiated to the 1945 surplus material price. Lake Michigan is fresh water and very cold, so they were well preserved. I think the planes are flying on the warbird circuit these days.

[Simon O.]

Hi Simon ,any Chance Of A Photo Of The M40 , Cheers Ironcross1

sure, i'll try and put it up tonight. Not much to see really, as it's been exposed to the elements there's no paint left, it's basically just a shell and is slightly squashed. Wish i had a camera with me when i found it so i could have taken a photo of it in situ. Got a photo of another surface find helmet from the mountains around Narvik i can also put up.

[scotty1418]

I believe one of those Lake Michigan trainers is at the Palm Desert Air Museum in California...

[Simon O.]

Here we go.

The M40 i picked up just two weeks ago whilst out walking the dog. I was walking along the edge of an old field near a dissused farm and just saw the familiar round top.




here's some other surface finds from the Narvik battlefields.

canteen cup, just as i found it.


Gasmask canister lying inside an old position


German used Norwegian krag ammo


Another helmet, blown to bits, again inside a position.




You can just make out the tricolor


A mortar position


A German shellscrape


and next to it, uniform remains.

[jotuntroll]

Hi Simon

Love your pictures! Are they from the Lyngen line?

My captain fron Alta batalion/Finnmark landforsvar told that a krigsskole buddy of him found lots of stuff including weapons in the middle/late of the 80`s...

[Simon O.]

Hi Simon

Love your pictures! Are they from the Lyngen line?

My captain fron Alta batalion/Finnmark landforsvar told that a krigsskole buddy of him found lots of stuff including weapons in the middle/late of the 80`s...

The M40 is from the Lyngen area the rest from the Bjørnfjell area. If your friend was talking of the Lyngen line area i can well believe it!

The really nice stuff has gone but many of the bunkers up there are still littered with bits and pieces, like this pair of bergschuh

[Graeme G]

Nice finds Simon- very nice ( on the lash tomorrow night with a couple of ADT oppos by the way ) . I have spent a lot of time, energy and money searching and digging in Europe as well as mixing with others who indulge. Its all still there, hard to find and sometimes so trashed it ain't worth keeping but its still there to be found. Yes as a hobby I often think we are 20-30yrs too late but with some luck great finds are to be had- which is what I try and tell myself everytime I dig yet another piece of shrapnel up