Generator from a Rolls Royce Merlin engine belonging to a Hawker Hurricane Mk1, serial number L1608, flown by Sergeant Peter Ottewill DFM and GM of No. 43 Squadron, RAF Fighter Command.
In June 1940, No. 43 squadron was based at RAF Tangmere, with a forward operational base in France at Beaumont-Le –Roger. On the 7th June the squadron flew two cross-channel sorties to cover the retreat of the remains of the BEF south of the River Somme. By this stage Sgt Ottewill was already an accomplished ace with four victories and two shared kills. On the second of the patrols, at approximately 6.35pm, in a skirmish with Me 109s of 1/JG20 and 4/JG26 the squadron shot down two of the enemy for the loss of three Hurricanes. South-east of Dieppe, Ottewill's aircraft was attacked by Leutnant Bildau of JG20. This resulted in the Hurricane's header tank exploding. Badly burned, Ottewill took to his parachute, landing behind German lines. Evading capture he was hidden by a French farmer in a cart of hay and delivered safely to a retreating British unit. Meanwhile he had been posted missing, believed killed, and the squadron were astonished when he turned up at Tangmere a week or so later.
Peter Ottewill spent a year in hospital being treated by a pioneer of plastic surgery, Sir Harold Gillies, the surgeon who trained the celebrated plastic surgeon Archie McIndoe. He never flew operationally again in WW2, but was commissioned in 1941. In 1943, whilst commanding No. 1490 fighter gunnery flight at Kirknewton in Scotland, he rescued two airman from a burning Bristol Beaufighter which had crashed into the airfield's ammunition store. This act of bravery resulted in him being awarded the George Medal.
In June 1940, No. 43 squadron was based at RAF Tangmere, with a forward operational base in France at Beaumont-Le –Roger. On the 7th June the squadron flew two cross-channel sorties to cover the retreat of the remains of the BEF south of the River Somme. By this stage Sgt Ottewill was already an accomplished ace with four victories and two shared kills. On the second of the patrols, at approximately 6.35pm, in a skirmish with Me 109s of 1/JG20 and 4/JG26 the squadron shot down two of the enemy for the loss of three Hurricanes. South-east of Dieppe, Ottewill's aircraft was attacked by Leutnant Bildau of JG20. This resulted in the Hurricane's header tank exploding. Badly burned, Ottewill took to his parachute, landing behind German lines. Evading capture he was hidden by a French farmer in a cart of hay and delivered safely to a retreating British unit. Meanwhile he had been posted missing, believed killed, and the squadron were astonished when he turned up at Tangmere a week or so later.Peter Ottewill spent a year in hospital being treated by a pioneer of plastic surgery, Sir Harold Gillies, the surgeon who trained the celebrated plastic surgeon Archie McIndoe. He never flew operationally again in WW2, but was commissioned in 1941. In 1943, whilst commanding No. 1490 fighter gunnery flight at Kirknewton in Scotland, he rescued two airman from a burning Bristol Beaufighter which had crashed into the airfield's ammunition store. This act of bravery resulted in him being awarded the George Medal.
Following several RAF training postings in the 1940s, Ottewill served with the Royal Australian Air Force in Australia and Korea where he won the AFC. Returning to the RAF, he retired in 1965 with the rank of Group Captain, commanding RAF South Cerney in Gloucestershire. He died on the 31st January 2003 at the age of 87.