Link to Blog:  http://worldofwarplanes.eu/

December 7, 2012 — Wargaming is pleased to announce the launch of the Spitfire Project blog, which provides a first-hand account of the expedition to discover the fate of the lost Spitfires reportedly buried at RAF airfields in Myanmar at the end of WW2.

The blog—authored by team members Tracy Spaight, Director of Special Projects at Wargaming, Dr. Adam Booth of Imperial College of London, and the project's Archaeologist Andy Brockman—will take the reader on a journey from the Burma Campaign of 1942-1945 through the present day. The blog follows the team on their quest to secure permission to dig in Myanmar, the archival sleuthing to determine what happened in Mingaladon in 1945, and finally the blow by blow coverage of the geophysical survey and archaeological excavation, set to begin in early January 2013.

The expedition may unearth the planes – if they are indeed there – but it will also shed light on the Burma Campaign. The War in the China-Burma-India Theatre was one of the longest, bloodiest and least known theaters even at the time—not for nothing did the British 14th Army christen themselves “the Forgotten 14th”. The conflict involved thousands of military men from Britain, the US, Japan, India, Australia, China, and the people of Burma itself.

“This project to investigate the legend of buried Spitfires at Mingaladon Airfield is a chance to see a microcosm of that forgotten war and recover the historical and material traces of the people whose lives it impacted,” said Andy Brockman. “We hope to glimpse the material traces of the lives of the service men and women of the many nations who found themselves at Mingaladon, but also the traces of the war's impact on the local people.”

Joining the expedition are Martin Brown and Rod Scott, leading authorities in Conflict Archaeology, as well as Dr. Adam Booth and Dr. Roger Clark, geophysicists who have worked with David Cundall (who has led the project since the late 1990s). Dr. Clark and Dr. Booth will work in cooperation with retired Myanmar geologist Prof. Soe Thein. In the best traditions of CSI and a Police Procedural, Wargaming has given the team a completely free hand to follow all the evidence and for the first time investigate scientifically the legend of iconic military aircraft buried at Mingaladon at the end of World War II.  “We have a great mystery and a compelling story taking place in a beautiful and often troubled country which is now re-emerging onto the world stage in one of the most culturally rich places in the world,” said Tracy Spaight.

The team departs for Myanmar in January 2013 to begin the survey and excavation at Mingaladon.

About Wargaming

Wargaming is an award-winning online game developer and publisher and one of the leaders in the free-to-play MMO market. Founded as a privately held company in 1998, Wargaming has shipped more than 15 titles and employs over 1200 people across such key regions as North America, Europe, Russia, Asia, and Australia. Currently, Wargaming is focused on its team-based MMO war series dedicated to mid-20th century warfare that will include the company's flagship armored MMO World of Tanks, launched in April 2011 and currently boasting 45 million players worldwide, the flight combat World of Warplanes, named one of the most anticipated MMOs, and the naval World of Warships, scheduled for release in 2013. In June 2012, Wargaming announced the Wargaming.net Service, the epicenter of the online battle gaming universe that will gather the series under a single portal — www.wargaming.net.

Official website:

· www.wargaming.com

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