I don’t know whereabouts the RAF were diving, but back in the 1970’s a trawler hooked its nets on a wreck just off Bracklesham bay about a quarter of a mile out.
They tried to unhook by going back and around, but with no luck. Eventually the skipper decided to try winching in the trawl and see what would happen.
The description I write is almost per vatum from one of the crew members on board. He said that a heavy strain came on the cable and the winch slowed under the strain, but kept turning. A few moments later, what appeared to be a wing of an aircraft broke surface at an angle and almost immediately he saw a cockpit canopy appear. The trawler was listing to port under the strain but the crew could see a large section of fusalage and wing from what he thought was a Spitfire (as always). He also described the canopy as closed with dirt,seaweed and growth making it impossible to see inside. Underneath the canopy rails he saw what appeared to be several black crosses painted on the metal. The winch had by now stalled and the trawler was listing heavily to port. The skipper ordered the winch to be slipped and the cables cut, thus saving the boat from a possible capsize.
I have no reason to disbelieve this story from this crew member as he had no reason to make it up. Calling it a Spitfire is common to all of us, and of course this aircraft could have been any single seat fighter from the war era, including a Typhoon/Tempest. Nearby were all the airfields such as Tangemere, Thorny Island ,Ford, Merston, Westhampnett, ect. so it could have been anything….but what a story….what an experience to have had. Unfortunately this all took place before satnavs and all things electrical and the pinpoint position is not known….but maybe…just maybe……

This dog ??

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGeKSiCQkPw

I think I need specsavers:D

Me too…jeez J31/32..you must have X ray eyes !!!!!!!!

What became of the wreckage?.

steve

Scattered far and wide..even some bits scrapped…… may even have gathered some ‘cloned’ look alike items….such is the way of most of early dug items
Oooooh you’re such a cynic Pete !!!!!!!!!!!!

Great pics !!….thanks…..did I notice a CASA 2 111B behind the 262 ?

Undo ’em, unscrew ’em, push ’em, lift ’em, anyway which way.
Where there’s a will…there’s a way.
More hands …less money…sometimes !!!

There is a story about the pilot of the 109 which crashed near Pilsey Island in 1940. Apparently he parachuted down onto the small muddy island of Pilsea and was stranded there by surrounding water and an incoming tide.
It is said that the local fishermen decided to leave him there for a few hours and waited for the tide to wash up to shoulder height , whence a police boat eventually put out, and brought him in like a drowned rat.
Its a great story which is very believable, bearing in mind the B of B was still happening, and Portsmouth had taken a severe pounding.
For those who wish to come down and look for any of the aircraft in and around Thorney Island, be prepared for acres of deep, thick mud, at low tide, the need of a sturdy shallow draft boat, the ability to dig in the most atrocious conditions and find twisted metal which would need a crane or similar to move.
To those who say ‘that’s OK…..it could be worth the effort’, then add up the time and costing of such an operation.
I’ll help by taking some pics for you…