WHEN it comes to interests, Gail Lavigne's may seem a little unusual.
Gail, who lives in Tavistock, has been collecting momentos of the Second World War for the past eight years and has built up a collection large enough for at least two museums. But these aren't just small items such as insignias, helmets, weaponry and artillery pieces — we are talking about 450 military vehicles, including tanks, and around 150 aircraft, with the possibility of many more being recovered.
It was a chance remark from a penfriend in Estonia that started the ball rolling. He asked if she was interested in history, as there were relics of WWII lying 'all over the place'. On taking up his suggestion of going there for a holiday, Gail discovered this was true: there was a German Brussing Nag 4.5 ton truck abandoned just round the corner from where she was staying!
Gail has since organised the recovery of vehicles and planes from, mainly, the Baltic States and Russia — originally working on location herself, up to her knees in bogs or swamps or fighting her way through forests. She worked on archaeological digs in this country to train for the task.
In 1994 the non-profitmaking making Phoenix Recovery was founded and became a limited company last year. It has five local directors, including Gail, who are all unpaid and who have put a lot of money and time into the organisation.
The work abroad is very high risk. 'When you recover an aircraft or vehicle there may be live bombs or artillery aboard, so you have to know what you are doing,' said Gail. 'There might also be mines in many of the areas not yet cleared.'
It takes great expertise to lift an aircraft from a bog without breaking it in half, and these days Gail is happy to leave it to expert teams while she stays in the warm, away from mud and campsites 'with mosquitos as big as cows'.
The Eastern countries are pleased to offer assistance, as the recovery projects use local workers. But the workers do have to be trained in safety matters. 'I have seen some unbelievable sights, such as a worker hitting a grenade against a tree to see if it was live!' joked Gail.
A more sombre aspect of the work is the discovery of bodies. Around 500 per year are recovered, identified if possible and re-buried. Gail works with the Missing in Action organisation in Belgium, who trace the next of kin and advise them of the exact location of the new burial site.
Among the collection of aircraft are a couple of spitfires and hurricanes which took part in the Battle of Britain and were then given to Russia to 'keep them going while they sorted out their own craft'.
There are also around 60 U boats waiting to be recovered which were dumped off the coast of Germany in 1946, brought up again in 1948 when work started on them, then dumped again — this time off Estonia.
Gail said: 'There isn't a country that took part in the war we don't have something from, and we have some items that no-one else has in the West. We even have permission to recover Japanese tanks from islands to the north of Japan which were taken by the Russians in 1945.'
There are 50-70 British vehicles in the collection, and a Mathilda Mark II British tank has just been recovered from Russia.
It has proved impossible to find a site locally to create a museum — which would need an area of 400,000 sq ft. Gail drew up a feasibility and marketing plan about two years ago and contacted local councillors, but there was no interest shown.
The main collection will now be going to the United States. Gail's brother came up with the idea last year when he visited her after retiring from the American police. After research, the idea was welcomed with open arms by the Americans, who don't have a much of a heritage,' said Gail.
The Phoenix Foundation International Museum — called the National WWII Living History Museum — will be in Massachusetts and will create 350 jobs — including restoration work. It will include the best WWII Russian display outside of the home country and will include re-enactments.
Most of the vehicles and armour will be restored to full operational condition and one of each type of aircraft will be restored to flying condition.
Funding has always been a problem up to now, but that is not the case in the USA: 'In this country you have to work on a shoestring, but in the States there are federal grants and donations from big business. There is a lot of money over there for projects like this. We are expecting a £50 million dollar grant.'
The Phoenix Foundation was set up last year as a non-profitmaking organisation with the same five directors as the recovery company.
They will be renting a merchant ship, probably in spring next year, to take the artefacts to the States, calling first at Estonia - where they are purchasing a farm to store items - and then England en route.
Gail — who has lived in Tavistock for the past 25 years after previously living in France, Plymouth, the USA and Scotland — will be going to the States to live, together with her co-directors.
'There is still much to be done. Apart from setting up the museum, there is 15 years worth of recovery work in Estonia alone,' she said.
Following recent appearances on TV and radio, Gail was contacted by Derek Godfrey-Brown of Okehampton OK Ltd, who is now in negotiation with the Rural Task Force over a site in that area for a second museum.
Gail says there are enough artefacts to supply two museums, with the possibility of exchanging exhibits to give variety. But she is not sure if it is too late to do something here.
There is not a lot Gail doesn't know now about World War II but she said the whole project had gone beyond what she originally wanted to do.
'It started as a hobby that went a bit stupid! It has been hard work,' said Gail. 'I wasn't grey last year! But we're taking it one step at a time.'
l Anyone donating a large amount to the foundation in the USA will have the chance to go on a recovery operation. And Gail says that the same will apply in this country if a museum is set up here.
If you would like to know more, visit the website at http://www.the-phoenix-foundation.com">www.the-phoenix-foundation.com.