Volunteers at Wessex Archaeology have recently finished processing finds from the Hurricane P3700 of 303 Squadron crash site at Saddlescombe Farm, West Sussex. The aircraft finds were given to Wessex Archaeology to process by Richard Osgood, Senior Archaeologist for the Defence Infrastructure Organisation.
The crash site was excavated as part of Operation Nightingale by a team of archaeologists and historians supported by Polish and British veterans of foreign missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. The Polish Embassy and Polish MOD have played an important role in this project as the aircraft was part of the 303 Polish Squadron.
Hurricane P3700 (RF * E) of 303 (Polish) Squadron was shot down on 9 September 1940 in the Battle of Britain, following air combat with the Luftwaffe over Beachy Head. Its pilot Sgt Kazimierz Wunsche bailed out successfully though suffered serious burns. Sgt Wunsche’s daughter Grazyna and granddaughter Joanna were both present at the dig site during recovery of the aircraft. If you wish to see a video about the recovery of the aircraft please follow this link.
The aircraft’s remains will eventually be displayed at the Polish Museum in RAF Northolt, where the 303 Squadron was stationed during the Battle of Britain.