THE REAR WHEEL FROM A SECOND WORLD WAR CRASHED BEAUFIGHTER F...

Hammer

£110

THE REAR WHEEL FROM A SECOND WORLD WAR CRASHED BEAUFIGHTER FROM WHICH THE PREVIOUS OWNER RESCUED THE PILOT. A wheel from a crashed Beaufighter which came down in April 1944 in Guarlford South of Worcester. The rescue of the pilot featured in the Malvern Gazette on Saturday 27th May 1944. 'Guarlford Farm Workers Gallant Act: When an aircraft crashed on April 22nd at Guarlford, Malvern, and burst into flames, a young farm worker, Charles Richard Williams of Archer's Cottage ... forces his way through the flames, pulled out the pilot, who was severely injured and unconscious, and carried him clear of the wreckage. 'I twas working in a rickyard when I saw the plane overhead, apparently in difficulties. I saw it dive down and heard a crash and then saw a cloud of smoke. I raced as fast as I could across the fields for a quarter-of-a-mile and saw a RAF sergeant, who had a broken collar bone, near the plane. I asked if there was anybody i the plane and he said, 'Yes, the pilot.' I ran to the burning wreckage, crawled underneath, and dragged out the pilot, still attached to the seat. It was very hot as the whole of the machine was on fire and as I left the plane ammunition began to explode. The pilot's face was covered in blood, and I could see he was badly injured. I dragged him clear of the wreckage and then while I went for the ambulance my father .. carried him to a ditch'. Apparently the pilot survived with only a few cuts and bruises. *CR Good condition given the history of the item.