After posting that dramatic picture and commentary, more information has come forward from local residents. The first is the lecture notes for a talk given by Geoff Cox, the painter of that picture from a lecture he gave to the Teston History Society in the 1990s. This has all kinds of fascinating detail, including the description of the crash landing of a Hurricane piloted by a French pilot, who was taken off to the pub for a pint after his ordeal!
You can read Geoff Cox's notes here
But we also had a long term West Farleigh resident, Jack Martin, come forward. Jack's recollection - aged 3 - was very vivid. An aircraft came down and his Dad carried him down to see it. It was a Spitfire!
I published 4 articles about the material and in particular Cox and Martin's recollections in West Farleigh Lifeline. Here they are. The whereabouts of Cale's aircraft (or at least the engine) remains a mystery.
Stephen Norman
Aug 2021
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