On 24th April 1939 A Hawker Hurricane I L1599 of  No 56 (Punjab) Squadron Royal Air Force  North Weald

Crashed at

Newlands Farm, Margaretting, near Ingatestone, Essex, England

"Monday 24th April 1939, Sgt Sidney Victor Evetts climb's into his Hawker Hurricane and straps in, ready to do an hour of aerobatic practice, the aircraft bursts into life. As Sgt Evetts completes his vital pre-flight checks, temps and pressures ok, he turns the aircraft onto the then grass runway, the Hurricane takes to the air and heads to the east, the time is 13.55 hours.

By 15.15 hours, the Hurricane and Sgt Evetts had not returned, and was then reported overdue.

At approximately 14.40 hours over the village of Ingatestone, Essex near the main A12 road, the sound of an aircraft could be heard, the aircraft broke cloud at around 2,000 feet (600 metres) out of control and in a steep dive, it vanished towards the village of Margaretting. The Hurricane crashed into a meadow at Newlands Farm, Margaretting, killing its pilot Sgt Sidney Victor Evetts.

An inquest was held at the Shire Hall, Chelmsford.
Witness, Police Constable Gilder; " I was stationary in a motor car at 2.30 pm, and heard the roar and looked up to see an RAF monoplane dive slowly, spiral and disappear behind the railway line".

Witness, Police Constable Bland: "Parts of the aircraft were strewn over 200 yards".

Identification; Flt Lt Soden Of RAF North Weald, proved it was Sgt Evetts by his wallet and the number on the Gun Camera
VERDICT; Coroner, L.F. Beccles, recorded a verdict of accidental death"

In September 1977 the Essex Historical Aircraft Society excavated the remains of L1599 parts recovered included the spade grip, main engine reduction gear and two blade Watts propeller hub. Remains still extant