Re: mysterious kent crash
 

I do not have the OS map for the area so cannot see how close these are but from B.of B. and Blitz Then and Now are these possibilities:-
1. Oct 5th. Hurricane of 1(RCAF) Sqd at Deering Farm Smarden F/O H de M Molson baled out wounded.
2. Oct 19th Spitfire of 92 Sqd. crashed Tuesnoak Farm, Smarden Sgt. Allton killed.
I assume north of Biddenden might also be south of Smarden.
Looking up the place index in Blitz Then and Now (Luft.losses) the only Biddenden ref was a complete outsider - Sept. 15th Bf 109 StabI/JG 52 crashed Dering (Deering?) Wood opp. Berry Court, Biddenden Green Lt Bertel baled out POW.
Hope this one can be solved,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Thanks very much,for everybody,s help. The crash I saw,and the site I visited ,could only be described as being on Standen Farm,or Newcastle Farm, Standen being the nearest Hamlet[?] I think that the reference to P/O D.K.MacDonald missing on 28th Aug is a possibility as the time of 16.45 is right.and a local mentions Hornchurch&a Mac/somebody so something might be in it ! Perhaps the mystery was solved years ago,and the MacDonald family knew?
I have written to Newcastle Farm,but got no reply.I think we will only solve it locally,but a bit difficult for me in Australia! Alf

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Alf, having looked at a map there is another possibility 'B.ofB.Then and Now' shows that on 30th.Aug. Hurricane L1965 of 253 Sqd. is beleived to have crashed at Monks Hill, Biddenden at 1115hrs.The pilot P/O C.D. Francis is shown as missing, the location looks about 2000m NNE of Biddenden altough the time is not as described with the number of crashes in the area memories can be blurred. Anyway I hope you get a final answer to this,

Regards

Brian Bines

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

RAF Cas Cards for this crash are very vague 'near Kenley' and he is still recorded as missing

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

...even though he is buried in Brookwood Cemetery!

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Is it not possible for someone to start up a website on a county basis,showing the exact locations of all the know crash sites,so that a catologue could be produced on line .In all the information given to me in answer to my problem,nobody has given me exact locations.For instance Monks Hill is only about 500yds from "my crash site" but the description Monks Hill could mean another 500 yds further on!!
With satelite technology you can state a site within a few yards.
My big problem is that I dont know the day,I dont know the month,I dont know the hour,but I know when looking by satelite ,its the place I stood at in 1940,and it was the only crash site I ever visited.
Alf

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Alf could you get someone to visit Maidstone library or make an online enquiry to see what records they hold. Sometimes the local history section has wartime Police or CD records which ofton record crashes/ bomb incidents. This might establish a date and give a location,although map references are on an older grid and Farm names have sometimes changed from those of 1940. There are some very detailed reports on wartime crashes from East Suffolk Police and a microfilm from Essex Police if the same exist for Kent in 1940 these may help your quest,

Regards

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

I have been in touch with the Centre for Kentish Studies They say Police records for the period have been lost or destroyed.He checked the War Diaries ,and gave me details of 3 crashes ,but none suited.
He did suggest a book called Aircraft crashes in Kent Part 1 1939-1940 by GGBaxter andKA Owen ,but I cant get that book in Australia.
Nobody can help it seems without a date.
Alf

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Apparantly from the location another researcher states this is a 1941 crash with the pilot Mac? from New Zealand killed. No other info. avallable at present.

Re: mysterious kent crash
 

Hello Brian,

Apparantly from the location another researcher states this is a 1941 crash with the pilot Mac? from New Zealand killed. No other info. avallable at present

Please supply the link re the information on this NZ pilot.

Thank you
Alex