WW2 Hurricane fighter plane unearthed nearly 80 years after crashing during the Battle of Britain

A Second World War Hurricane fighter plane has been unearthed from 35ft underground almost 80 years since it crashed during the Battle of Britain.

Excavators spent years planning the removal of the plane from the site in Thurrock, Essex, and finally unearthed it on Saturday.

A specialist excavator was used to dig up the aircraft, which last flew on August 26, 1940, during the Battle of Britain.

It is now hoped that the Hurricane, which has been remarkably preserved during its time underground, could be rebuilt.

Gareth Jones, one of the excavation organisers, told Sky News: “Of all the Battle of Britain digs, this is one of a handful remaining.

“It’s quite unique to find one in these ground conditions where it’s almost all still there.”

The plane was flown by pilot Paddy Hemingway, then 21, who was based with 85 Squadron in Croydon but crashed that day.

Mr Hemingway, now 99, survived and is now living in Ireland, Sky News reported.

The plane was found at its crash site near the Thames Estuary using imaging technology and years went into planning its recovery, which was marked with a flypast on Saturday.

Parts recovered include the Rolls Royce plate on the plane as well as a machine gun.

It will now be cleaned and restored and could apparently one day be rebuilt.