new forest spitfire crash

I find it unusual that a Battle of Britain aircraft was found in the trees as late as 1981, without anyone discovering it sooner. But interesting/unusual stories turn up?

I should imagine it was in the ground amongst a group of trees or in a wood.

If you have remembered the account reasonably accurately and a body was discovered, then the Police would likely be called. So you could write to all the Police Stations in the New Forest area asking if anyone recalls dealing with the find, they may even have records on file, or direct you to the Dorset or the Hampshire County Record Offices, where some Police records exist as well.

If you find at the Records Office that the file is ‘closed’, then write to the relevant County Chief Constable requesting permission to view the record and a letter of authority to take to the Records Office when you go to view it.

I recently got several of these.

If you can get the Pilots name and a date when found, then you will have something to start from.

Do you know where the orignal report was? (i.e. Which newspaper?). Try Newspapers Local to the area at County Records Offices and Libraries around the New Forest. Make an appointment to view them usually on Microfilm, but hunting for your arcticle will likely be a lengthy process, so you will have to do it yourself. Of course remember that the story may not have been published or Published in another newspaper.

Try
Southern Daily Echo Newspapers
Test Lane
Redbridge
SOUTHAMPTON
SO16 9JX

see if anyone there recalls it, they may not, so you will probably have to search through old newspapers of 20 or so years ago.

From the Pilots name you will get other information I am sure from local newspapers.

If you have the Pilots name, then you will be able to write to the MOD AHB at RAF Bentley Priory and they may be able to assist. Someone there may recall the incident anyway.

Perhaps CWGC when you have his/her name, as they may be involved in his burial in 1981?

With a name you can trace date of death by ordering a Death Certificate (about £7.00) which usually gives details of the Squadron reporting the death to the Registrar (usually his own Squadron). The Registrar of Deaths may even recall altering the original Death Certificate to record the place of death. (Speak to your Registrar as I am not sure if they are amended or not from Missing to a place of death). If they had to issue an amended Certificate in 1981, then they should be able to find it in their indexes, but I am not sure if they have to amend or not, so ask the Registrars for all the New Forest Registry Districts.

He would have been reported missing, but if you then have a Pilots name and date of death, you should be able to trace a/c details in the Operational Records Books at the P.R.O.

Newspapers are a good source at Record Office and Libraries, but expect a lenghty hunt and then they may not have covered the story, or it may be covered in a regional newspaper, like the Southampton Echo Edition for that area, or one of their Reporters may recall something which will give you clues for your research.

Also try a piece in the Readers Write column of Newspapers.

Try the aircraft recovery/aviation groups, I never have, but they may recall something about it.

When bones are discovered the Coroner is usually called. Coroners Inquest Records are closed for 100 years but DIRECT RELATIVES and descendents can request copies on an Inquest if the document survives.

However its worth writing to all the area Coroners as I am sure they would release the Pilots name to you, even if they dealt with it in 1981. But you must write formally stating your interest as you have done on this website enquiry and a search fee of £6.00 is payable if they find any information for you, even though they may retain virtually all the details of the Inquest at the time.

The County Archivist may have been involved or contacted, if you are fortunate enough, the same Archivist may still work at the Council.

If you have remembered correctly, then you should be able to find out all about him, the aircraft, his squadron, but it takes days of searching sometimes through newspapers and a full account often takes many months, sometimes years, if you want to trace every detail.

I have been on my grandfathers 1940 RAF accident for 4 years and I am building up a fairly interesting picture of what happened, despite all the Inquiries, the Coroners Inquest and Police records being destroyed.

email me at:
mhoodATgalcom.fsnet.co.uk

Change ‘AT’ for the @ symbol (done to stop spam)
Let me know how you are getting on.

You should trace something even if there was an attempt to keep it quiet or cover it up after, as nearby landowners will recall it. Perhaps it is Local Authority land, try their Parks and Amenities section.

Mark