WW2 Treasure Hunters: TV host and historian Stephen Taylor on battlefield and aviation archaeology
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Stephen Taylor, used by permission Stephen Taylor, 51, based in Leicestershire, England, is a clinical pharmacist and when not at work he spends a lot of time not only researching WW2, but also recovering relics from the conflict. Stephen Taylor, along with Graham McPherson, also known as Suggs, from his time with Madness, […]
WW2 Bunker Archaeology: “Batterie Vara”, the coastal artillery fortress that never fired a shot
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos by Will Wangensteen Ponissi used by permission A nice example of a beautifully restored WW2 bunker complex is the giant Vara Battery in southern Norway. Mr. William Wangensteen Ponissi, recently visited the area and kindly submitted his photos and remarks to www.ww2wrecks.com “We are looking at a quite impressive bunker complex dating to […]
Battlefield Archaeology: An insider’s view on WW2 battle relics excavation
By Pierre Kosmidis Military archaeology, the research for battlefield relics dating to World War 1 and World War 2 is a widespread practice in many areas across the world. In Europe, the fierce battles fought on the Eastern Front during WW2, produced millions of dead soldiers, many of whom lay where they fell. Groups of […]
HMS Regulus: Sunk by a mine off Corfu island, Greece on 12 January 1945
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos: www.aegeantec.gr © Marinos Giourgas and Dimitris Haliasos published under license A Greek scuba diving team visited recently one of the known wrecks off Kerkyra island in Greece. The Algerine class minesweeper HMS Regulus was sunk by a mine on 12 January 1945, with one casualty. According to the Naval History website, HMS Regulus, while on a […]
Battlefield Archaeology: Searching for the Missing in Action aircrews in Yap island, by Patrick Ranfranz
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and videos by Patrick Ranfrantz, used by permission Yap island is located in the Caroline Islands of the western Pacific Ocean. It was occupied by Japanese troops in September 1914, and passed to the Japanese Empire under the Versailles Treaty in 1919 as a mandated territory under League of Nations supervision. In World War […]
Bunker Archaeology: The WW2 178 mm coastal artillery emplacement of Fleves island, by Konstantinos Kirimis
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and information submitted by researcher and author Konstantinos Kirimis, used by permission Author and researcher Mr. Konstantinos Kirimis, from Greece, has conducted extensive and systematic investigation and on site exploration of WW2 bunkers and other fortifications. One such bunker and artillery positions complex, located at Fleves island, still survives to this day, reminding […]
WW2 Bunker Archaeology: The 102 mm gun emplacements of Aegina
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and additional information by Konstantinos Kyrimis used by permission Author and researcher Mr. Konstantinos Kyrimis, from Greece has visited and documented the Northern Aegina Fortress, a complex of bunkers which were built between 1936 and 1940 by the Greeks, in view of the oncoming World War. “The Northern Aegina Fortress or BOA, […]
The story of Able Seaman William Patrick Young, survivor of three shipwrecks during World War 2
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Bob Young Millions of human stories from World War Two remained forgotten for decades and are slowly emerging, thanks to the memories shared by their relatives. One such case is the story of Able Seaman Bill Young, a British sailor who saw active duty during WW2 and was shipwrecked not […]
Bunker Archaeology: To Οχυρό των Γουβών στη Ναυτική Αμυντική Περιοχή 4
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos submitted by Markos Danezis and used by permission O αναγνωρισμένος καλλιτέχνης Μάρκος Δανέζης απαθανάτισε φωτογραφικά, πριν από 20 περίπου χρόνια, ένα ακόμα μνημείο του Β’ Παγκοσμίου Πολέμου, το οποίο παρά το ότι ήταν αφημένο στα στοιχεία της Φύσης και την εγκατάλειψη, θύμιζε τη στρατηγική σημασία των Γουβών για τον έλεγχο της ναυσιπλοϊας […]
Bunker Archaeology: The German bunkers of Thessaloniki, Macedonia, Greece
By Pierre Kosmidis Photos and research by Xenis Sofronidis, used by permission The history of Thessaloniki in Macedonia, Greece, is intertwined with the wars fought during the first half of the 20th century. A bunker complex overlooking the entrance to the city’s port facilities has a rich history, dating back to the 19th century. READ […]