Relics from Loire valley

Wow that is a great find Skipper! It's amazing that these things survive this long exposed to the elements as they are!

Keep the photos coming, I love it!!

 

Keep lokking as I hav emuch more to post. Rust is the ennemy of the metal parts, fortunately there is a lot of alumium, but I have learned to handly even that with care because some parts combined to humidity and acidity can catch "the aluminium plague" which will affect the rigidity of the part and cause it to collpapse and crumble like a cookie when you touch it. The only solution would be to take a picture of it as such and forget about it.

 

Very nice.

 

Huh, never heard of that, but most of the items I find on Mom and Dads little farm are always steel, you know like and old skate or something. Anyway, they can't last forever can they! I just really like the bomb holder, you can clearly see the little arms that, I would assume grip the bomb. That's pretty cool. I'm anxiously awaiting more pics Skipper!

 

Aluminium won't be affected like iron. But put aluminium in acid earth combined to a certain degree of humidity and it won't resist. Check these pictures out. This is aluminium fixed on iron. The Iron is rusted but at least it's still solid. On the second pic yousee what happens to the alu when you touch it

 

Great pictures and finds!
I've got some findings from different German crashsites near my hometown, i'll see if i can start a thread about those findings soon, if your interested.

 

Wow! That's actually pretty amazing, that dirt can do that to alum.!
cool!!

 

It's all about humidity, oxygene and acidity. At some spots there was clay and the alum came out as if it was made yesterday, which the original paint on it. The alumunium was all shiny and did not have any defects. At other places the clay would even have surrounded the relics with a protective layer which would protect eveything , including the colors of electrical wires, which usually tend to fade. Acid earth alone is ok, but dump it into water and you may have a problem...

 

Today I'd like to share some more pictures with you. This is another WWII crash site I recently visited. It's amazing to see it's still exactly as it was as in 1944! The location is secret for obvious reasons. On the pictures you will see the propeller blade of a Lancaster and the Rolls-Royce Merlin engine is probably still attached to it. Te pond is the result of the explosion that created a huge crater. The crew was buried in the local cemetery in 1944.

 

very nice there skipper thankyou for showing us your good time
did you get your self a relic from this crash site
cheers krieg

 

hey skipper
what are the rules on metal detecting in france
some lovely relics you got there

 

Not I did not take anything. I went there as as a token of respect and take a few pictures to share with you. Besides I already had a piece of fuselage with some electrical wires on it from this aircraft .

Chrish: detector rules are the same here as in most countries: it's better to ask permission before you go anywhere.

 

Skipper, that lone blade standing there is like a monument, very nice pictures.

 

Actually it is considered as a monument. Noone has ever wanted to take it away. There is a small memorial right next to the crater, in the middle of this swamp full of deer and wild bore. It is actually a hunting area

 

Very fitting tribute, a nice serene setting.

 

Thanks , I just wish it were more accesible. On the other hand it would have been plundered long ago if the access was too easy

 

Unfortunately that's true, sad but true.