Possible WWII RAF Crash Site Discovered Near Świnoujście Could Reveal Lost Allied Aircraft
A chance discovery by a local berry picker in the forests near Świnoujście on Poland's Baltic coast has led archaeologists to what may become one of the region's most significant World War II aviation discoveries in recent years.
The discovery began when the resident noticed an excavated pit near Fort Gerhard and the historic Underground City complex. Scattered across the forest floor were fragments of aluminium aircraft structure, burnt ammunition, and other unusual debris. Recognising that the material appeared historically important, he recovered a loose fragment and delivered it to the Museum of Coastal Defence at Fort Gerhard.
Aircraft Wreckage Raises Immediate InterestImage Credit : Muzeum Obrony Wybrzeża w Świnoujściu
Museum specialists quickly realised the fragments were more than ordinary scrap metal.
According to museum researcher Wiktor Czeszewski, the aluminium construction, aircraft-style riveting, structural components, and burnt ammunition all strongly indicate the remains of an aircraft rather than discarded military debris.
A follow-up inspection uncovered a large debris field containing numerous aircraft fragments and disturbed ground, suggesting the site could mark the location of a wartime aircraft crash.
RAF Ammunition Provides an Important Clue
Among the most significant discoveries is a quantity of .303 British calibre ammunition, widely used in RAF Browning machine guns fitted to many Royal Air Force aircraft during the Second World War.
This finding has strengthened the possibility that the wreckage belonged to an Allied aircraft, potentially operated by the Royal Air Force or another Allied air force.
Researchers also recovered a section of seamless copper tubing carrying the identification mark "T7." After careful cleaning and examination, specialists determined that this designation matches RAF technical documentation for copper tubing used in aircraft oil, fuel, and gas systems.
According to museum researcher Kacper Stachula, the marked component provides another valuable piece of evidence linking the crash site to British military aviation.
Could It Be a Lancaster or Mosquito?
An earlier discovery from the same location included a numbered tube believed by some researchers to be associated with a Rolls-Royce Merlin engine.
Since Merlin engines powered several famous Allied aircraft—including the Avro Lancaster heavy bomber and the de Havilland Mosquito—researchers believe the aircraft may have been one of these types.
However, archaeologists stress that this remains only a working hypothesis until additional evidence is recovered.
"We cannot state with complete certainty what type of aircraft this was," museum experts explained. "However, all the available evidence suggests we are dealing with the site of a major wartime incident."
Investigations Will Continue
Researchers have urged the public not to disturb the site.
Experts warn that human remains may still be present beneath the forest floor, making professional archaeological and forensic investigation essential.
The Provincial Conservator of Monuments, the Międzyzdroje Forest District, and organisations responsible for military graves have all been notified, allowing formal investigations to begin.
A Strategic WWII Flight Corridor
The location adds considerable historical importance to the discovery.
During the final years of World War II, Świnoujście occupied a strategic position along the Baltic coast beneath major Allied bombing routes targeting Szczecin, Police, and numerous German ports, shipyards, and industrial centres across Pomerania.
The skies above the region witnessed intense operations involving RAF Lancaster bombers, Mosquito aircraft, American heavy bombers, Soviet aircraft, and fighter escorts. Strong German anti-aircraft defences resulted in numerous Allied aircraft losses over the southern Baltic.
Researchers hope the newly discovered wreckage may eventually identify one of those missing aircraft and provide long-awaited answers about the fate of its crew more than eighty years after the war.
If confirmed, the site would represent not only an important archaeological discovery but also a lasting memorial to the Allied airmen who flew dangerous missions over occupied Europe during the closing stages of World War II.