[Andy Saunders]

This incident is a bit of a muddle between two incidents, I believe.

We know that the crash of a Hurricane took place at Cuckolds Corner on 30 August. This has been confirmed by excavation as V6548 of 43 Sqn, Sqn Ldr Badger although he drifted down by parachute to land some distance away at Townlands Farm, Woodchurch.

I believe that the witness confused the crash at Cuckolds Corner with the incident involving Sgt Dickinson who baled out but fell dead on the same date and at the same time as the incident involving Badger. I do not know where the spurious name recalled by the witness came from, but possibly a false memory or he was carrying something named to another individual.

My belief is that the Hurricane wreck exacavated in the 1970s at nearby Tanden Farm was the aircraft flown by Dickinson, although it has previously been incorrectly associated with Plt Off J E Marshall of 85 Squadron shot down earlier that same day.

A witness clearly recalls another crash site at nearby Green Lane (recently pinpointed on the ground and confirmed as a Hurricane crash site) and without prompting recalled that the pilot came to view the wreckage of his aircraft and was concerned because "he had left something in the cockpit". Again, without prompting, he stated that its pilot had been called Marshall.

Thus, I think there has been a bit of confusion about what happened and where on that day in that particular vicinity. I believe that Dickinson fell dead somewhere near Honeyfield Wood, Bethersden.

Hope that helps, but would be interested in Peter Cornwell's comment.