Dieppe Recovery 2 - Hurricane L1608

PublishedJanuary 20, 2026

Hawker Hurricane
RAF Serial: L1608
43 Squadron
Pilot: Sgt. P. G. Ottewill (survived)
Date: 7th June 1940
Place: Wanchy-Capval, near Dieppe

This is the second of three articles detailing a series of digs carried out in and around Dieppe, France, in October 2004.

A team led jointly by Simon Parry and Andy Saunders visited three crash sites near Dieppe in October 2004. All the aircraft fell in an engagement on 7th June 1940 within a few miles of each other. The Hurricanes of 43 Squadron were patrolling from Tangmere to Rouen (Boos) when they were attacked by Bf109Es from JG26. The Hurricane of F/O. J. D. Edmonds (L1931) went down at Puisenval, and he was killed. F/O. W. C. Wilkinson was killed at Bailleul Neuville in L1847, and F/Lt. Rowland was injured when he force landed L2116 at Sainte Agathe D’Aliermont. Sgt. J. Hallowes was shot down flying N2585, but, before he took to his parachute, he turned on his attacker and brought down a 109; for this heroic action, he was awarded his second DFM.

The remaining pilots landed at Boos and refueled, only to be attacked again on their return to Tangmere. This time, Hurricane L1608, flown by Sgt. P. G. Ottewill was shot down in flames, and he was injured. P/O. C. A. Woods-Scawen was shot down and bailed out safely from L1726.

Two Bf109s went down in the combats:
Me109E-3 of 4./JG26; Uffz Rolf Iberle killed at Pulcheux.
Me109E-3 of 4./JG26; Uffz Wilhelm Philipp wounded somewhere near Dieppe.

This series of articles focuses on F/O. Edmond’s Hurricane L1931, Sgt. Ottewill’s Hurricane 1608, and the Me109 flown by Uffz Rolf Iberle.

**S/Ldr. Du Vivier (3rd from right) and pilots of 43 Sqn with the Fighting Cocks emblem**

The Hurricane crash site at Wanchy-Capval was first believed to have been the mount of Sgt. Hallowes, but a preliminary excavation revealed parts from an early fabric-covered wing and a component bearing two digits of L1608. This identified the wreckage as that of Sgt. Ottewill’s Hurricane, from which he had bailed out.

The impact site was on the crest of a chalk hill, not a promising omen. As the excavation progressed, it became clear that the wreckage was buried deeply in a small area of clay and flints.

Despite crashing on the brow of a chalk hill, this Hurricane fell into a small pocket of clay. One of the first significant items found was a propeller blade, visible to the left of the yellow helmet

The crumpled remains of the tail and the tail-wheel were unearthed nearly two metres down, followed by the rest of the fuselage and the engine, all in the next couple of metres.