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| Crashed WWII Spitfire being dug up on Salisbury Plain | Crashed WWII Spitfire being dug up on Salisbury Plain |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| The remains of a buried Spitfire aircraft shot down over Wiltshire during World War II are being dug up. | The remains of a buried Spitfire aircraft shot down over Wiltshire during World War II are being dug up. |
| In 1940, Pilot Officer Paul Baillon baled out of the aircraft, and the wreckage has been buried in the earth of Salisbury Plain since. | |
| Now a team of archaeologists, injured soldiers and veterans have begun a project to retrieve the wreckage, which is not expected to be recognisable. | Now a team of archaeologists, injured soldiers and veterans have begun a project to retrieve the wreckage, which is not expected to be recognisable. |
| The pilot's daughter, Rosemary Baillon, is also on site to watch the work. | The pilot's daughter, Rosemary Baillon, is also on site to watch the work. |
| 'Enemy aircraft' | 'Enemy aircraft' |
| She said: "At the first threat of war, my father joined the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve and learned to fly at Sywell, Northamptonshire. | She said: "At the first threat of war, my father joined the Royal Air Force volunteer reserve and learned to fly at Sywell, Northamptonshire. |
| "It was on 27 October 1940 that my father was brought down by enemy aircraft near Upavon. | "It was on 27 October 1940 that my father was brought down by enemy aircraft near Upavon. |
| "This was a particularly worrying time for my mother who was expecting me to be born in the March of the following year." | "This was a particularly worrying time for my mother who was expecting me to be born in the March of the following year." |
| It is believed the 609 Squadron pilot baled out after damage to the plane's oil tank meant visibility was severely reduced, and he could not land safely. | |
| The project to unearth the wreckage, called Tally Ho, is being carried out by Operation Nightingale - an initiative established by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and The Rifles. | The project to unearth the wreckage, called Tally Ho, is being carried out by Operation Nightingale - an initiative established by the Defence Infrastructure Organisation (DIO) and The Rifles. |
| It helps injured personnel return to their regiment or prepare for civilian life. | It helps injured personnel return to their regiment or prepare for civilian life. |
| 'Sacrifices of airmen' | 'Sacrifices of airmen' |
| Richard Osgood, DIO's senior historic adviser, said the project had been poignant and moving. | |
| "Archaeology is all about people - whether they be prehistoric, Roman or Saxon," he said. | "Archaeology is all about people - whether they be prehistoric, Roman or Saxon," he said. |
| "This site has yielded traces relating to the sacrifices of airmen from the 1940s and it has been a real privilege to re-tell the story of Paul Baillon. | "This site has yielded traces relating to the sacrifices of airmen from the 1940s and it has been a real privilege to re-tell the story of Paul Baillon. |
| "The Protection of Military Remains Act protects these sites and it is important that they are considered properly. | "The Protection of Military Remains Act protects these sites and it is important that they are considered properly. |
| "This is avowedly the case in this instance and it is thanks to the hard work of the British service personnel and volunteers involved." | "This is avowedly the case in this instance and it is thanks to the hard work of the British service personnel and volunteers involved." |