eBay pond life - help please

Suppose you found the nose cone from a WW2 Halifax bomber.

You don't know if it is from a crash site where the crew were either killed or injured but you stick it on eBay for £1750.

If it was me I would either see if the RAF wanted it or an Air Force museum like Hendon or York. I most definitely not try and profit from something that might have come from what could be a war grave.

Sadly the seller doesn't see it that way. So if you think it is as disgusting as me, do an eBay search on "Halifax nose cone", send him a nasty email and report it as the sale of a prohibited item. Like I have.

And the reason for the rant, my uncle (aged 18 - think about it) is somewhere in the North Sea in the remains of his Halifax that came down in 1944 on a mission.*

I don't imagine he and the other 6 members of his crew would have thought their lives and the sacrifice made by the other 56,000 aircrew who were killed in WW2 should be desecrated by the sale of parts from an aircraft they fought and died in.

It's pretty unlikely that came from a crash site as the nose would have been smashed to bits, however I do agree with your sentiments. There were some parts from a crash site that appeared on eBay a little while ago and the ad was taken down very quickly when people started complaining.

I like having a general moan so I wrote this:

This is disgusting, this is most likely somebody's grave and you are attempting to make money from it.

I can only hope that somebody steals your grave stone breaks it down and uses the rubble as hardcore for their drive

Do the right thing and donate this to an appropriate museum.

I shall be reporting this to eBay.

However, I can't actually report it as the iPhone app doesn't appear to have this facility... Doh!


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I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=51.217237,0.245225
Member of the 1 litre club...

Sorry mate but unless he actually robbed a grave i don't see the issue-i visit many ww2 memorabilia sites and see everything from concentration camp clothing to full SS officer battle dress,clothing from the d-day beach landings even hitlers personal silver tea set-its important that people are allowed to buy these items as it ensures people never forget.Leaving insulting messages is only gonna get yourself banned from ebay.

Thanks mate I appreciate that.

And to the other guy who responded above, you are right, chances are it isn't a crash site but no one knows for sure. And that is the point.

If you don't know, treat it with respect and don't try and make money out of it. And thanks for your comments I hope EBay will withdraw it.

[Mr Speirs]

Yeah agree with husky. If you wanted to start accusing people of possibly trying to profit from tragedy then you could start writing to people who break cars or motorbikes because there is a slight possibility that someone crashed and died on those bikes.

The only reason you find this morally wrong is you have a personal bias.

In truth there's nothing wrong with what the guys doing and so won't be entertaining your request to berate the seller.

[fizzwheel]

The seller says he found it in some brambles in North Wales 35 years ago, he's also been asked a question where it came from and answered it with :

"Hello I found the nose cone about 35 years ago in woods on my parent’s land in North Wales, but I’ve never tried to find a record of a crash site in the area. I recently contacted the RAF Museum London Department of Research & Information Services who confirmed that the nose cone was off a Halifax bomber (Most likely a Mk III) The frame does have some numbers on it, but I don’t know if these can link it to an individual aircraft. Regards"

Now I'm sure that if it had come from a crash site, surely the RAF Museum would have told him that. Of course they might have and the seller is choosing not to disclose it...

Originally Posted by husky03

Sorry mate but unless he actually robbed a grave i don't see the issue-i visit many ww2 memorabilia sites and see everything from concentration camp clothing to full SS officer battle dress,clothing from the d-day beach landings even hitlers personal silver tea set-its important that people are allowed to buy these items as it ensures people never forget.Leaving insulting messages is only gonna get yourself banned from ebay.

Think we will have to agree to differ on that. I think it unlikely there will be anyone trying to sell WW2 memorabilia at the Cenotaph on Rememberance Sunday.

I wasn't suggesting sending EBay messages that would get you banned. There are plenty of ways of telling someone you think they are a total s*** without being offensive.

And thanks for taking the time to respond. Even if we disagree I do appreciate it

I understand where your coming from mate-your have a personal attachment to that particular model of aircraft due to your families loss and your uncles sacrifice.
I don't see the justification in your comment about Remembrance Sunday.

Originally Posted by Mr Speirs

Yeah agree with husky. If you wanted to start accusing people of possibly trying to profit from tragedy then you could start writing to people who break cars or motorbikes because there is a slight possibility that someone crashed and died on those bikes.

The only reason you find this morally wrong is you have a personal bias.

In truth there's nothing wrong with what the guys doing and so won't be entertaining your request to berate the seller.

You make a very valid point. And I have bought parts off peBay for my bike and it never occurred to me to think did someone die and that is why the bike is being sold in bits.

I guess the distinction, it is woolley and I do have a personal bias, is that the bikes weren't being used in the defence of our country. I don't think someone should profit from that.

But thanks for taking the trouble to respond and ai respect your views.