A watching brief was carried out by Colchester Archaeological Group during the investigation, by The East Anglian Aircraft Research Group, of the crash site of a WWII P47 Thunderbolt, which crashed on a training flight from Boxted airfield on 2 November 1944. While carrying out an 'Immelman' manoeuvre, the poliot lost control, and the subsequent investigation concluded 100% pilot error. The American 8th Army pilot (56th Fighter Group), Lt. Wallace W. Knief, baled out and escaped. The crash site was detect by metal detector and an area c.5 x 5m was excavated. Traces of grey ash were seen below the topsoil, indicating the plane had burned fiercely on impact. A 'trailor load of material [was] transported away', for display at the 93rd Bomb Group Museum in Norfolk, including the the framework of the pilot's seat, the safety harness buckles, cockpit levers, and tailwheel assemble, and nose of the engine that was 4m deep.<1>