Team want to dig up buried German bomber

Dec 23 2008 by Paul Glynn, Runcorn and Widnes Weekly News

A TEAM of military historians is seeking permission to dig up a World War Two bomber that crashed in Widnes in 1941.

Nick Wotherspoon and Mark Gaskell, of the Lancashire Aircraft Investigation Team, told the Weekly News they are interested in excavating the Heinkel 111 bomber buried in King George V playing fields and putting any unearthed relics on public display.

The news comes just weeks after enthusiast Paul Brennan, of Runcorn, expressed a desire to carry out recovery work on the same site.

However, Nick and Mark, who have worked with TV’s Time Team, now need the go-ahead from landowners Halton Borough Council before commencing work on the project in Widnes.

Mr Wotherspoon said: “We believe that all history needs recording and therefore propose to carry out an initial metal detector search to precisely locate the site, which would cause a minimum amount of disruption.

“We recognise that the site is a playing field and we would ensure that our proposals would tie in with the next re-soiling of the turf.”

A Halton Borough Council spokesman said: “If the gentleman writes to the council detailing his request we will give it positive consideration.”

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