A man has recalled the moment his son discovered a Spitfire buried in his garden.

Brian Sinden’s son Graeme lives in a converted barn near Camer Park, Meopham. While excavating for a swimming pool in his back garden, he came across aircraft wreckage.

Experts were called and they quickly confirmed it was that of a Spitfire and further research identified the plane and its pilot.

He was a New Zealander, Pilot Officer David Lindsey Malloch, just 21, who had newly qualified after training on Tiger Moths. The Spitfire had been given the name Who’s A Fear’d? and crashed on June 23, 1942.

Brian said: “It seems Malloch had taken off from Detling on a low-level flight for the purpose of training anti-aircraft gunners. The plane failed to pull out of a sharp turn over Camer Farm and stalled. It was too low for the pilot to pull out of the stall and it crashed and killed him.”

“This was an amazing experience. As a child I had watched these incredible aircraft shooting down German planes during the Battle of Britain. Now I was actually sitting at the controls of one" - Brian Sinden

The engine of the Spitfire had been removed shortly after the crash. The pilot’s body was also recovered. He is buried in Maidstone

“My son organised a commemoration to coincide with the 65th anniversary of the crash in 2007,” said Brian. “The New Zealand Air Attache attended, along with local dignitaries, and David Malloch’s niece came over from New Zealand and stayed with my son and his family.

“The highlight of the commemoration was a flyover and aerobatic display by a Spitfire, followed by a Hurricane. It was extraordinary.

“When we went to hire the Spitfire, I was offered an opportunity to climb into the cockpit, which was quite difficult because I am disabled.

Graeme Sinden has put a plaque in his garden in memory of the New Zealand pilot.

He has instruments from the plane mounted on a panel at his home.

The Spitfire had been paid for by money raised in the Dorset town of Blandford Forum. The name Who’s A Fear’d? is the motto on the county coat of arms.

It was originally suggested by Thomas Hardy, the poet and
novelist.

Brian Sinden, of Frindsbury, got in touch after reading a Memories piece in our sister paper, the Medway Messenger, about the bombing of Station Road, Strood.