YANGON, Myanmar (October 18, 2012)--As many as 140 World War II-vintage Spitfire fighter planes, which would be three to four times the number of airworthy models known to exist, are believed to be buried in near-pristine condition in Myanmar and a British-Myanmar partnership says it will begin digging them up by the end of the month.

The go-ahead for excavation came earlier this week when the Myanmar government signed an agreement with British aviation enthusiast David J. Cundall and his local partner.

Cundall announced earlier this year he had located 20 of the planes, best known for the role they and their pilots played in the Battle of Britain.

On Thursday, however, a retired Myanmar geology professor who has assisted in the recovery operation said there are about 140 Spitfires buried in various places around the Southeast Asian country.