A Battle of Britain recovery team is on an archaeological dig in the hope of unearthing a rare MK 2 Spitfire.
Led by historian, broadcaster and television presenter Dan Snow the dig in Somerset is hoping to excavate a ‘Presentation Spitfire’ that crashed into a farmer’s field in 1942.
The Spitfire dig is being streamed live over the Internet and experts say the discovery would be historically important.
The airplane - one of the heroes of the Battle of Britain - is uniquely rare as it was one of the so-called "Presentation Spitfires"
The World War II aircraft were built after the British Government asked for donations to boost fighter aircraft numbers and the public and businesses were desperate to make any contribution to help stop Hitler.
As France fell to the Nazis, in desperate need of more aircraft and a morale boost for the nation, the British government launched a fundraising campaign for the air force.
For the sum of £5,000, fundraisers could name a Spitfire - these planes were known as Presentation Spitfires, and there were 1,500 of them.
These special aircraft were flown all over the world, by some of the best fighter aces defending King and country.
The ‘Presentation Spitfire’ that the team are digging for was paid for by the staff of Lloyds Bank in 1940, shortly after the Battle of Britain, and was named ‘The Black Horse’ after the company’s famous logo.
Staff and directors at the bank clubbed together to raise £7,000 and Sydney Parkes, Chief General Manager of Lloyds Bank, telegraphed Lord Beaverbrook, Minister of Aircraft Production, on 6 August 1940, informing him that ‘The Directors and staff of Lloyds Bank will give a Spitfire to our gallant Royal Air Force and would like it to be named "The Black Horse" after our sign in Lombard Street'.
It had taken just six days for colleagues to raise the money.
The plane, a Mk II Spitfire, was delivered to 72 Squadron RAF Acklington, in Northumberland, in May 1941.
It took part in patrols protecting naval convoys and in July it began sweeps and escorted bombers to and from their targets.
It was during this time that it shot down a Messerschmitt over Gravelines in northern France.
It was one of number of crashes during its lifetime - a belly-landing when its undercarriage failed to deploy, engine failure, and crash-landing in strong cross-winds - and was eventually retired in December of 1941, as a new design of Spitfire was introduced (the MkVb model).
After retiring the plane was redeployed to the West Country, where it came to be used to as a training plane for new young Spitfire pilots.
It met its end, however, on July 12, 1942, when it collided mid-air with another Spitfire but the crash site was located only recently after years of research by Spitfire experts.
If the investigations are correct this could be the best-preserved Spitfire crash site anywhere in the UK.
The Pilot
The recovery team will be hoping to uncover personal artefacts belonging to the Irish volunteer pilot, Sergeant William James Johnston who last flew the ‘The Black Horse’.
Some information is already known about the crash and pilot who was born on February 12, 1918, in in Goolds Cross, Co. Tiperrary, Ireland.
It is thought he enlisted at some point during between February and August 1940.
On July 12, 1942, bailed out safely after his training Spitfire - The Black Horse collided mid–air with another Spitfire - The Enfield Spitfire - over Draycott nr Weston Super Mare in Somerset.
Following the collision he flew in numerous squadrons and served in Nigeria, Sicily and France.
Two years after his Black Horse crash on June 30, 1944, he was listed "missing in action" after radioing that his oil pressure was dropping then called again to say he would have to bale out by a forced landing in Tunisia.
He hid from the Germans in a corn field until he made it back to his squadron on 6 June.
After the war he moved to Rhodesia for work after the war and eventually ended up in South Africa where he died in 1985.
Dan Snow said: “Presentation Spitfires have such a unique and personal history.
"They were paid for by the British public, organisations and businesses - to attempt to recover one and showcase it to people today is an opportunity I couldn’t resist.
"These aircraft played such an important role during World War II, and this excavation, at such a poignant time marking the 75 anniversary of the Battle of Britain, symbolises that we will never forget, and will continue to educate others and commemorate the efforts of those involved.”
Tom Clifford from the History Channel said: “By using our History Hit You Tube Channel, we are able to give the public a minute by minute update on what could be one of the last ever digs of this kind.
"It’s a moment in history that we want to share with as many people as we can and by using social media and instant broadcast channels, we are able to offer a unique viewing experience to commemorate an event which is fundamental part of the history of this country.”