Battle of Britain Spitfire dig

Hello, I am Gerard John Drake-Feary, son of David Drake-Feary. Sgt Alan Norman Feary is my grandfather. I want to thank everyone for going to the effort of conducting the dig. What was uncovered laid to rest miss information that Alan had been flying a Hurricane at the time of his death and proved unequivocally that he was flying a Spitfire on the day he died, so thanks again. On a visit to England my father on a visit to the crash site was given this metal plaque that someone had retrieved from the crashed Spitfire. Upon learning my father was the son of the pilot that had died, he went and retrieved this piece of metal. I believe it was the farmer on who’s land the plane had crashed that gave it to him but I may be wrong. I was wondering if anyone knew which part of the plane it came from? There is one other piece of information I wish to discover. There is a story I heard about what occured when soldiers were dispatched to retrieve the body and the anger and ire of an RAF officer aimed at them after they attempted to move it without draping a flag over him first. I was very young when I heard the story and was wondering if any one knew of it because I am hazy on the details. [ATTACH=CONFIG]245410[/ATTACH]

Thanks for the extra info Dairwin and Anon. Much enjoyed your Flypast article Barry, will track down a copy of your book.

Thanks for the extra info Dairwin and Anon. Much enjoyed your Flypast article Barry, will track down a copy of your book.

The linkage is from the carb of an early Merlin.

Anon.

Agreed. Photo is upside down, but it is the linkage for the altitude capsule on the AVT32 carb.

DAI

The linkage is from the carb of an early Merlin.

Anon.

Agreed. Photo is upside down, but it is the linkage for the altitude capsule on the AVT32 carb.

DAI

Linkage

The linkage is from the carb of an early Merlin.

Anon.

Linkage

The linkage is from the carb of an early Merlin.

Anon.

I devoted a chapter on Alan Feary in my ‘Derbyshire Fighter Aces of World War Two’ (Tempus 2004) and a shorter but well-illustrated piece in my ‘Portraits of Heroes – Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in the Second World War’ (Amberley 2011. He also features in 2 articles I wrote in ‘Flypast’ July/August 2010.

Barry M Marsden.

I devoted a chapter on Alan Feary in my ‘Derbyshire Fighter Aces of World War Two’ (Tempus 2004) and a shorter but well-illustrated piece in my ‘Portraits of Heroes – Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in the Second World War’ (Amberley 2011. He also features in 2 articles I wrote in ‘Flypast’ July/August 2010.

Barry M Marsden.

I devoted a chapter on Alan Feary in my ‘Derbyshire Fighter Aces of World War Two’ (Tempus 2004) and a shorter but well-illustrated piece in my ‘Portraits of Heroes – Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in the Second World War’ (Amberley 2011. He also features in 2 articles in ‘Flypast’ July/August 2010.

I devoted a chapter on Alan Feary in my ‘Derbyshire Fighter Aces of World War Two’ (Tempus 2004) and a shorter but well-illustrated piece in my ‘Portraits of Heroes – Derbyshire Fighter Pilots in the Second World War’ (Amberley 2011. He also features in 2 articles in ‘Flypast’ July/August 2010.

The tragic personal life of Alan Feary and his unfortunate demise is featured prominently in chapter six of my book ‘Achtung Spitfire – Luftwaffe over England’ but for some reason the publishers did not see fit to enclude a photo of him of the ones in my collection. The son he never knew David Drake-Feary lives in Australia.

Thanks Andy, The Foote notes mention the piece of structure but not it’s removal to safety! BoBTaN says it was collected by the Wealdon group in 79. The notes also describe graphic detail the results of Feary’s low level bail out. Sobering reading. The MoD have put a three month time limit on compiling a report so you can have a lavishly illustrated version as soon as it’s done!

Well done, guys!

I recall sending Peter Foote off to see a local chap who was a witness and had a piece of wing structure he had kept as a souvenir. Peter duly obliged, bless him, and retrieved the souvenir which (the intention was!) would be coming my way. Of course…it never did! Makes me smile, looking back! I wonder where it is now? Dear old Peter!

Great to see the site located. I’d love an accurate map ref Ian.

Yes, burned to a crisp. There was a seam of corrosion and only a couple of alloy fragments which had presumably been thrown back during the final recovery operation two years (!) after the Battle. Will be investing in a bulk load of DeoxC.

The gun button outer would have been almost pure aluminum and (unless the aircraft burned) should have survived. Aluminum is very reactive, however, relies on its aluminum oxide coat to protect it, an alloy diminishes the protection afforded and hence corrosion. Team it up with magnesium (as in the spade grip) and voila it corrodes away.

Lovely finds, I am so jealous!

Well spotted Tony, under the mud I thought it was a trim gauge. The gun button must have been alloy as only the one little bit of brass mechanism survived. The following day was a very wet dig to recover the prop boss from a 1941 Mk IIb.

lovely bits….early flap gauge and the brake lever catch being a nice stainless bit. As ever, I would love a small piece for the collection please old chap!!!