Hi, Thought I would share what turned out to be another great weekend digging.
This time was the result of an investigation that was started 10 years ago by my brother and I near Swindon of a P38 Lightning, this particular P-38 was thought to be under the M4 Motorway and we had all but given up, but recent information from a metal detectorist who had found some blue fragments of metal right next to the M4 Motorway, this information resulted in the discovery of what might perhaps be described as one of the best P-38 excavations in the.
April 6th 1944 a recce P-38 F5C 42-67245 was on a camera test from 7th PRG 27th PRS Mount Farm in Oxfordshire when it caught fire as a result of a fuel leak from the leading edge wing panel, the pilot Lt. Ernest E. Johnston baled out at 25,000 feet taking some 30 minutes plus to reach the ground due to being caught in a thermal. The aircraft was heard screaming down from 25,000 feet plunging into soft ground near Wroughton.
On Saturday 6th October the dig commenced and at a depth of approximately 5-6 feet the star and bar insignia was discovered, followed by two propeller blades, these were quickly followed by a mass of metal which was the remains of the rear tail boom complete with supercharger. The main undercarriage was found under this with a nice Goodyear tyre still in as good condition as the last time it left the main runway at Mount Farm in 1944. Lastly the Allison engine was found at the bottom of the hole with fuel and oil pouring from it as it was lifted from its tomb of thick clay. According to the official accident report by the USAAF the aircraft broke up just before impact and the other engine and boom was reported by an eye witness to be seen on the surface and was removed shortly after the crash.
The final deep reading was excavated which we believed to be the cockpit area and further excavation of this area resulted in the entire cockpit wrapped up in a ball of wreckage, not only did the rudder pedal still operate freely but the entire control yoke and column (in two parts) was still attached to the cockpit floor, with the crumpled but largely intact instrument panel and instruments. The dig concluded with the discovery of 3 cameras and the nose gear leg and tyre.
An excellent weekend had by all, both my brother and I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those that helped us with this recovery.
A few photos of the day below but I believe more will be posted on Simon Parry’s website.
The parts will now be cleaned and preserved and will eventually be displayed at the Wings Museum at Balcombe, in West Sussex which closes end of October.
By: Wyvernfan - 24th February 2015 at 21:03
Sorry this took so long! I promised a photo of the control yoke/column once cleaned, you may notice I made a bracket where there was a lot of damage to hold the yoke in place for display purposes only. Also the missing half of the Yoke has now been welded back in place, I still need to blend the weld in bit before I am completely finished.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216581[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]216583[/ATTACH]
Don’t know how I missed this first time around, but that’s an incredible find – well done Dan!
Rob
By: Arabella-Cox - 24th February 2015 at 16:18
A very quick update on this rather dated thread, the parts from this aircraft are now on display at the Wings Museum, including: engine, prop, undercarrige, cockpit controls etc.
By: Arabella-Cox - 15th May 2013 at 13:51
Sorry this took so long! I promised a photo of the control yoke/column once cleaned, you may notice I made a bracket where there was a lot of damage to hold the yoke in place for display purposes only. Also the missing half of the Yoke has now been welded back in place, I still need to blend the weld in bit before I am completely finished.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]216581[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]216583[/ATTACH]
By: Merlin3945 - 12th October 2012 at 18:37
That’s interesting seeing as it’s on my doorway. I was told a few years ago that there where 26 air crashes within a 3 mile air radius of Bassett by an historian. I often wonder whether this is true.
I would think that figure would be a decent ball park figure but could possibly be even more.
Mind you given that its only a 3 mile radius that is quite a high number.
By: DaveF68 - 12th October 2012 at 13:27
No complaints at all re the MOD License, in fact I was impressed with the turn around.
I’d imagine the fact that there was no aircrew and no ammunition would have helped that considerably.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th October 2012 at 13:22
Impressive looking dig. Looking forward to seeing that yoke cleaned up!
Yes, amazingly my brother found the other half which was very lucky.
By: ian_ - 12th October 2012 at 10:24
Impressive looking dig. Looking forward to seeing that yoke cleaned up!
By: beachcomber - 12th October 2012 at 09:46
P38 recovery
That’s interesting seeing as it’s on my doorway. I was told a few years ago that there where 26 air crashes within a 3 mile air radius of Bassett by an historian. I often wonder whether this is true.
By: volto71 - 12th October 2012 at 09:42
Some photos of your recovery would be great to see, but please I am sure I do not need to say but no photos of the human remains. 😉
Sure!!!
I will open a new post,with the story of the Baltimore and photos,but not human remains!! we have some experience,it’s our 25th excavation and we have recovered 12th pilots until today! 😉
I hope we can solve asap the problems with the autorithies so the pilot & observer can rest in peace forever.
Ciao
Alessandro
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th October 2012 at 08:21
Some photos of your recovery would be great to see, but please I am sure I do not need to say but no photos of the human remains. 😉
Congratulations…
the same day,in Anguillara Veneta (near Padua),Italy,we,Romagna Air Finders,have started the excavation of Baltimore V FW608,crashed in flames 26,april 1945,hitted by FLak.
We found the remains of a crew member,but we have to stop the excavation because of a 250lb bomb…now we are waiting for artificiers.
At the digging,we were honoured by the presence of Mark Mathias,Maj Mathias’s nephew. Maj Mathias & Lt Bullard perished in the plane.
Two survived the crash jumping the chute,Lt Tennant died some years ago and Cap Gould,who was killed,with an italian family, the day after by allied artillery,while was escaping from german troops.
As soon as possible i’ll write a report and post some pictures.
Alessandro
www.romagnaairfinders.com
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th October 2012 at 08:19
Hi Tony, Yes you are right thinking about it, it could have been arranged, we will keep it in mind for other things.
By: Arabella-Cox - 12th October 2012 at 08:18
Great pics…well done…just like the old days….did you get the license easily ?
No complaints at all re the MOD License, in fact I was impressed with the turn around. We caught the field at the end of a 3 year cycle before being returned back to meadow for another 3 years, also the metal detectorist who led to the discovery of the wreck who we met back in April died a month before the dig, a real shame as he was so excited at the prospect of witnessing the recovery. 🙁
By: 92fis - 12th October 2012 at 01:10
Interesting dig and some great finds.
By: xtangomike - 11th October 2012 at 23:59
Lovely stuff…..I would have loved to have come along….I dont live that far from it!
Hey Tony…thought you lived at….aaaah …yes….mmmmmmm…not the Baltimore !!!!
By: Merlin3945 - 11th October 2012 at 20:36
Well done that team.
Some really nice finds there.
By: Rocketeer - 11th October 2012 at 20:16
Lovely stuff…..I would have loved to have come along….I dont live that far from it!
By: volto71 - 11th October 2012 at 18:23
Congratulations…
the same day,in Anguillara Veneta (near Padua),Italy,we,Romagna Air Finders,have started the excavation of Baltimore V FW608,crashed in flames 26,april 1945,hitted by FLak.
We found the remains of a crew member,but we have to stop the excavation because of a 250lb bomb…now we are waiting for artificiers.
At the digging,we were honoured by the presence of Mark Mathias,Maj Mathias’s nephew. Maj Mathias & Lt Bullard perished in the plane.
Two survived the crash jumping the chute,Lt Tennant died some years ago and Cap Gould,who was killed,with an italian family, the day after by allied artillery,while was escaping from german troops.
As soon as possible i’ll write a report and post some pictures.
Alessandro
www.romagnaairfinders.com
By: FRANCISCO - 11th October 2012 at 18:12
Congratulations on the completion of a successful project. My late father was a resident of Swindon at the time of the crash and could vividly recall the prolonged rising engine note of what he described as the crash of a US Army Lightning in the woods near the Burderop hospital on Swindon outskirts. It helps to get the extra detail to add to his recollections.
By: xtangomike - 11th October 2012 at 17:46
Great pics…well done…just like the old days….did you get the license easily ?
By: Arabella-Cox - 11th October 2012 at 17:37
These didn’t upload…
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October 11, 2012 at 5:28 pm