Detectorist hunts for family of Spitfire crash pilot

An amateur metal detectorist who discovered parts of a World War Two Spitfire is searching for the family of the pilot killed when the plane crashed more than 80 years ago.

Danny Jones, from Henley-on-Thames, has uncovered thousands of pieces from the iconic aircraft since he first discovered a bracket in March 2021 near his Oxfordshire home.

Following the discovery, Danny identified the Spitfire's pilot as a Polish airman who had been killed when it crashed during a training exercise in 1942.

The father of five is now hoping to track down the pilot's family, and show them both their ancestor's grave - which he regularly visits - and the Spitfire crash site.

"This particular day, I was detecting in Henley-on-Thames and I came across a very small bracket," Danny said of his initial discovery.

"Being an engineer, I realised it wasn't just an average bracket - it had to be off of an aircraft."

Following his original find, Danny returned to the site and began piecing the story of the aircraft together.

A sign warning pilots not to recock their guns while in flight meant he could identify it as a British plane, and then the discovery of a part mark enabled him to confirm its make and model.

"I learned by research that the 'three zero zero' at the start of the part mark told me that the plane was a British Supermarine Spitfire Mk IIB," he said.

Danny has recovered roughly 1,500 pieces of the Spitfire since his initial discovery, and still visits the site regularly.

Having identified the plane's model, Danny then did "lots of detective work" to find out its individual story.

"I managed to find out which plane it was," he said.

"It was P8725 and the pilot was a Polish pilot flying for the 302 squadron, and his name was Sylwester Godlewski."

Danny uncovered that the then 27-year-old Godlewski had died after plummeting 22,000 feet during a training exercise, and crashing in Henley.

A Ministry of Defence report on the incident from the time said: "The pilot probably fainted from unknowns. The aircraft went into a spin, crashing into a wood, and was completely destroyed."

"I've got a connection to the pilot now, he was 27 years of age [which is the] same age as one of my sons," Danny explained.

"I'd love to bring him back to modern-day memory - so my goal is to try and get in touch with his descendants."

The 58-year-old said he had been in touch with the local Polish community in Henley, but had yet to have any success in finding relatives of Godlewski - who had originally been from Warsaw.

"Maybe his family in Poland know about him, but if they don't then hopefully I can now bring them [to the crash site and cemetery where he is buried]."

Holding a picture of Godlewski, Danny said he had been a "beautiful looking lad", before adding that he now takes the image to Remembrance Day events.

"Within my family, we now class him as family," he said.

"I still can't believe I've stumbled across this, and where it's led me to now."

"I've found so many interesting items in my time metal detecting, but this is by far my best find - and a story that I will take to my grave."

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