Vickers Armstrong Wellington IC DV425 Investigation
Main image - A view looking out from the crash site at High Furze pictured (Brownless)
1991 Supermarine Seafire F.15 SR611 Crash Site Investigation & Recovery.
In 1991 the remains of Seafire SR611 were recovered under M.O.D. Licence 749 by The Booker Aircraft Museum (Aircrew Remembrance Society)
Location: Highmoor Cross, Nettlebes, Oxon.
1st May 1994 Remembrance Society for Aircrew
The concept for the formation of a remembrance society for aircrew was first brought together out of necessity for me in 1994 following the closure of The Booker Aircraft Museum.
At that time I had been involved for over twenty-five years in the research of fallen airmen, and the investigation into hundreds of crash sites, along with numerous major aircraft recoveries, many of these were at various stages of research and leads still needed following up, along with a number of other sites that we had earmarked for recovery and aircrew remembrance. So the Remembrance Society for Aircrew was born.
David King
1st May 1994 The Blitz Then and Now 3 volume set
Following the Museum closure numerous former members vowed to stay involved and in touch, one of these was Melvin Brownless.
Melvin had joined the museum in October 1988 and we had become good friends, I had been able provide him with some information on his particular interest the Luftwaffe, I introduced him to the best books available at the time, namely The Battle of Britain Then and Now and The Blitz Then and Now 3 volume set that I had been honoured to contribute to.
David King
1st May 1994 Anglo Deutsche Erinnerung Historiker (Anglo-German Remembrance Historians)
By 1994 Melvin had acquired considerable knowledge on his main interest the Luftwaffe which he also wanted to pursue further, so we decided to work together to this end, Melvin would concentrate on the Luftwaffe and I the RAF and USAAF. Melvin also worked under his own section heading, Anglo Deutsche Erinnerung Historiker (Anglo-German Remembrance Historians)
Melvin had also made a number of useful contacts, one of these was Udo Van Bock who working with Melvin and others would be part of the epic recovery of missing Lufwaffe pilot Herbert Blochburger in November 1996
David King
6th June 1998. Funeral service for Luftwaffe Pilot Uffz. Herbert Blochberger
On the 6th June 1998 members of the society gathered with relatives of former missing Luftwaffe Pilot Uffz. Herbert Blochberger, for his funeral service at the Deautscher Soldatenfriedhof Cimetiere Militaire Allemand 1939 – 1945 Champigny, St. Andre, France. Herbert was recovered in France along with the remains of Messerschmitt Me109 on the 23rd November 1996.
September 1998 Grumman Martlet IV FN142 Crash Site Investigation & Recovery.
The Society investigated the crash site of Martlet FN142 in September 1998. Alexander King can been seen holding propeller blade from FN142 In the gallery.
Location: Common 4 miles South West of Frome, Somerset
18th June 1999 Saint-André-de-l'Eure, Normandie, Airfield site visit.
On the 24th June 1944 Unteroffizier. Herbert Blochberger, (a veteran of over 170 missions) Took-off from St.Andre airfield. The mission for the day was reconnaissance of the Seine Bay area, especially noting the positions of allied troop movements and equipment such as tanks etc. Sadly Herbert would not return from this mission and he would remain missing until his aircraft was recovered in November 1996
Supermarine Spitfire I N3249 Crash Site Investigation
Many sites were investigated with Laurent d’Hondt including this Spitfire N3249.
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