mysterious kent crash

[Alex Smart]

Hi Alf,

That is why I followed the link with a note .

"Just write in "Standen, Kent" and then click on satellite,and hybrid then keep enlarging until the fields at Standen are up close."

There is a dark mark in the field and from what i have read in threads on other searches this could and I emphasis "could" mean that that is where the aircraft crashed as it could be oil in the soil that spread from the motor.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alf,

I HAVE SENT YOU A PRIVATE MESSAGE.

Alex

[Alex Smart]

Hello Alf,

Nothing has changed in the 67 years since I visited the site,a few days after the crash,as a 10yo ,evacue .Still the same open field,very close to the road.

That was an earlier post that I thought refered to the crash site being in an open field still as it was years ago. I must have misunderstood.

Thought it was down in an open field.

So it was down in what is now (was it then ?) the driveway to a house.

Is that the house on the same side as Weeks lane or on the other side of the road ?

By the bye there are two weeks lane's shown, have you any idea as to why there are two lanes with the same name, was the original lane diverted at some time perhaps after the war ? One seems to lead just to a farm house while the other later joins another road.

But we drift from the main, so I will stop now.

I hope that you will follow up on some of the links that I sent in my PM to you as they may prove useful, if just for elimination.

All the best
Alex

[biddendenlocal]

Alex,
My appologies!! As my memory sees the crash site.
I am standing on the road,looking at the crash site among small trees,about 6 yards in front of me.All I see is disturbed ground,for the site had been cleared.Its quite possible that at that time sufficient bits would have been left to prove an aircraft crash,but I was there with other schoolboys,and we were quite happy that we were looking at the site where a Spitfire had crashed a few days before,and that they had only found bits of the pilot.
To the right of the trees was a large open field.At the time I could,nt see past the trees,but I realise now that the trees were planted as the driveway to the house,but I could,nt see the house from the road.
My map of the area only shows Weeks Lane where it joins Smarden Rd about 400yds from the Headcorn Rd .Opposite this junction,a little to the left is the driveway to the house where the crash occurred.
Perhaps the person living in the house remembers everything!!
Alf

[biddendenlocal]

Alex.
I now realise how difficult it is to describe an exact spot.!
[1] I would think the house was there in 1940.
[2] The house is opposite side of Smarden Rd to Weeks Lane.
[3] The south-east side of Smarden Rd.
[4] Crash site was on righthand side of the driveway near Smarden road
[5] Weeks Lane was probably not there in 1940 Maybe developed for Golf Course.
[6] The house on the opposit side of Smarden Rd from the crash site was probably there in 1940 ,and is possibly closer to the crash.
[7] Dont forget that I am writing this from Australia.!!
Alf

[Alex Smart]

Hi,

It has been a while since my computer crash back in August (again) !!! so what has been the news on this Spitfire crash if any please ?

Alex

[Leendert]

It appears that Hurricane P3869 of No 1 (F) RCAF Squadron made a crash landing at Biddenden on 26-8-1940.
But this aircraft could be repaired and the pilot was safe.......

Regards,

Leendert

[Alex Smart]

Thanks for update.

Alex

[Andy Saunders]

Alf

At exactly the location you quote I have "Sat 17 May 1941.British fighter down. Approx 17.45 hrs. Pilot Killed."

The location you describe matches exactly the wartime map reference I have for the above incident.

This was a 54 Squadron loss, Sgt Earl Joseph KEANE, RNZAF, who was 28 and lost on his 24th op. He is buried at Hornchurch. He was shot down after engaging two pairs of German fighters whilst on patrol over Maidstone.

I am pretty sure this must be your man.

Andy Saunders

[Leendert]

According the Tony Wood website E. Kean (see CWGC also) was flying Spitfire IIa P7833 on 17-5-41.

Interestingly, the spitfires.ukf.net gives for P7833 "missing off Clacton after engine failure" on 20-4-41!

Another mystery?

Regards,

Leendert
Brugge/Belgium