Exercise Tally Ho!
Archaeological Project Report for the Recovery of Spitfire P9503 at Lidbury, near Upavon Wiltshire under the Protection of Military Remains Act (1986)
By Richard Osgood (Defence Infrastructure Organisation)
On 27 October 1940, towards the end of the Battle of Britain, Spitfire Mk1a P9503, piloted by Pilot Officer Paul Baillon, was shot down by return fire from a German bomber. The Spitfire crashed close to Lidbury camp on Salisbury Plain where it remained for over 70 years.
In September 2013, an archaeological team – as part of Operation Nightingale – excavated this site to recover the remaining elements to establish the nature of the crash, the survival conditions of materials, and to set standards for future excavations and guidance notes.
Contents
Introduction
Legislation, Policy and Plans
Background
Desktop Strategy
Project Aims and Objectives
Previous Work on this Site
Team Composition
Recording
Timings
Licenses Required
Fieldwork Methodology
Artefacts
Small Finds
Cockpit
Airframe
Labels
Pilot’s Equipment
Major Components of Merlin Engine
Miscellaneous
Additional Aims
Answers to Research Questions
Conclusions on Crash
Dissemination
Archive
Overall Conclusion
Acknowledgements
Bibliography
URLs
Annexes
Annex 1 Air photographs Obliques/Verticals
Annex 2 Small find Catalogue
Annex 3 Ammunition Catalogue
Additional Information
- Publication Status: Completed
- Pages: 43
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