This Couple Unexpectedly Found The Wreckage Of A WW2 Fighter Plane While Walking Their Dog

Published June 2, 2020

The plane crash-landed when both of its engines failed. The ammunition within the wreckage, meanwhile, remained live for decades — until last week's controlled demolition.

Bristol Beaufighter Wreckage

FacebookThe Bristol Beaufighter plane crash-landed mere moments after take-off from the nearby North Coates Royal Air Force base.

With decades of natural ebb and flow, the sands on Cleethorpes Beach in Lincolnshire, England just revealed the wreckage of a World War II fighter plane. According to Fox News, the Royal Air Force plane crash-landed in April 1944 after taking off from a nearby town called North Coates.

For locals Debi Louise Hartley and her partner Graham Holden, the receding sands made their routine walk with the dog something to remember. The pair snapped photos of the 76-year-old wreck and posted them on Facebook — which caught the attention of professionals in the field.

On Sunday, May 31, 2020, things finally came to a head. The Royal Navy discovered live ammunition in the bowels of the wreck, and swift action had to be taken. According to The Grimsby Telegraph, a bomb disposal team conducted a controlled explosion to neutralize the ammo on board the plane, still live after 76 years.

Bristol Beaufighter

Imperial War MuseumAn RAF Bristol Beaufighter TF.X of 254 Squadron, just like the one discovered at Cleethorpes Beach.

The plane is believed to be a Bristol Beaufighter, which served as a maritime attack aircraft by British forces during the war. Known as the “whispering death” to its enemies, the 300 mph speeds and relatively quiet engines meant certain doom for Axis units encountering these planes.

This particular craft belonged to the 254 Squadron, and was stationed at RAF North Coates a few miles south of Cleethorpes before its final flight — during which both engines failed after take-off.

Holden said he’s been walking the same stretch of beach for nearly 20 years, entirely unaware that a WWII relic lay right beneath his feet. Before the bomb disposal team ensured that no live explosives remained in the wreckage, he was rightfully wary not to disclose where exactly he found the plane.

Royal Air Force Fighter Plane Wreckage

FacebookThe wreckage contained live ammunition which a bomb disposal team had to neutralize with a controlled demolition.

“I never expected to find anything like this in my life,” said Holden. “It’s an amazing find. I went out there just last week and it wasn’t there. It could be covered up by the sand again soon. Who knows when it will next be uncovered — perhaps in another 80 years or so?”

Holden and Hartley made sure to give the Cleethorpes Coastguard their photos in order to ensure the wreck and site of discovery was correctly documented. That is, after inspecting the historic find with mouths proverbially agape for a solid 30 minutes.

“It is good to know it can now be logged properly,” said Holden. “It’s just not what you would ever expect to find.”

Bonnie In The Bristol Beaufighter Wreckage

FacebookHartley and Holden were merely walking their dog, Bonnie, when they encountered the historic artifact.

The RAF Museum in London explained that the aircraft’s crew miraculously survived the crash landing without injuries. Presumably, the fact that its engines failed so soon after take-off gave the pilots a fighting chance — as their altitude wasn’t yet fatally high.

Ian Thirsk, Head of Collections at London’s RAF Museum, confirmed the plane’s serial number to be JM333.

RAF North Coates was established after World War I, with a runway just a few hundred feet from the ocean. The base was a major hub for the Royal Air Force during WWII, with flying patrols regularly attacking German U-Boats and armament shipping vessels in the North Sea.

The base was operated by RAF Coastal Command, which initially deployed Bristol Blenheims before opting to standardize the Bristol Beaufighters. With around 6,000 Beaufighters built during WWII, it’s believed there are only five complete units remaining in the world.

Bristol Beaufighter Wing

FacebookThe Bristol Beaufighter was called the “whispering death” by its WW2 enemies, due to its rather silent engines and tremendous speeds of over 300 mph.

As for RAF North Coates and those who fought from its base, 509 airmen deployed there lost their lives during the war, and 95 others were decorated for bravery. It later became a Cold War hub for Bloodhound anti-aircraft missiles, but closed in the 1990s when it returned to private ownership.

In the end, it’s rather remarkable what a casual stroll on the beach can yield. One minute you’re chatting to your partner about the state of the modern world — when suddenly you discover a relic from a world long gone right beneath your feet.


After learning about the WWII Royal Air Force fighter plane wreck discovered on an English beach 76 years after crash landing, read about the 384-year-old shopping list discovered under the floorboards of a historic English home. Then, learn about the newly uncovered photo which appears to show Amelia Earhart alive after her crash.

author
Marco Margaritoff
author
A former staff writer for All That’s Interesting, Marco Margaritoff holds dual Bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a Master's in journalism from New York University. He has published work at People, VICE, Complex, and serves as a staff reporter at HuffPost.
editor
Marco Margaritoff
editor
A former staff writer for All That’s Interesting, Marco Margaritoff holds dual Bachelor's degrees from Pace University and a Master's in journalism from New York University. He has published work at People, VICE, Complex, and serves as a staff reporter at HuffPost.