Builder Caleb Watson has set himself the challenge of unearthing the remains of a Second World War fighter.

The dad-of-two, 44, who restored the Sharrocks Insurance windmill in Sheerness, has permission from the Ministry of Defence to excavate the mud off Leysdown.

The Bristol Beaufighter crashed into the sea on July 7, 1942, while on a training exercise shooting targets in The Swale.

The pilot, RG Walford, and the gunner, EH Whitmee, were both killed.

The RAF record at the time stated how little experience the pilot had from his training posting, remarking that he had never fired a machine gun cannon in the air.

Most of the plane was recovered but Mr Watson believes there are still pieces to be discovered.

He wants to put them on display in the aviation annexe of the Blue Town Heritage Centre at Eastchurch, managed by Peter West.

Mr Watson, of Southsea Avenue, Minster, has already unearthed one of the the aircraft’s propellers which has been donated to the museum.

He first stumbled across the wreckage as a teenager while visiting his grandparents’ caravan.

Mr Watson said: “I used to walk along the beach looking for fossils. I came across the site of the crashed plane on the mud flats.

“It must have hit the ground at terrific speed because every piece I found was crumpled and burnt.”

He returned on a cold February morning in 1989 and, while digging in the mud with his hands, unearthed a parachute harness and part of one of the airmen’s watches.

Mr Watson added: “Within minutes I was surrounded by thick fog and lost sight of the coast.

"I made a run for the beach but got lost. It became extremely cold and very eerie.

“When I got home I realised I had been digging in someone’s grave and decided never to return.”

But he said: “I never forgot about the crash site and recently, as an assistant helper with the 5th Sheppey Cubs, we visited the aircraft museum.

"Even some Islanders don’t know of Sheppey’s amazing heritage... We were the birthplace of British aviation" - Caleb Watson

"I told my story to Peter and handed over my artefacts.”

He has since applied for a licence to excavate the site officially on behalf of the museum.

The project, which he hopes could involve schools, will take off over the next few months as the weather improves.

Mr Watson said: “Even some Islanders don’t know of Sheppey’s amazing heritage.

"We were the birthplace of British aviation with some of the first flights and first aircraft hangars in the world.

"Hopefully, this work will go on display at the museum and encourage everyone to visit it.”