Very Rare Deactivated WWII Crashed recovered 20mm Hispano Cannon Section - With Provenance

This is a very rare section from a 20mm Hispano cannon recovered from a British Typhoon that crashed into Pagham harbour, West Sussex on the 19th June 1943. RAF records state that Pilot officer K Clift NZ/404336 RNZAF of 245 Squadron took off from Tangmere at 19.00 hours on the 19th June 1943 to conduct air test gun target practice over the south coast of England in Typhoon DN293. After around 15 minutes he encountered a British Mosquito and entered into unauthorised mock combat, performing high speed turns, banks and dives which resulted in him loosing control of his aircraft and crashing into Pagham harbour. Sadly he was killed. However this is not the end of the story. Research done in 1983 revealed that Pilot officer Kenneth Clift had borrowed his identity from a New Zealander. His real name was infact Thomas Barker, an Australian who had "borrowed' his friends name to enable him to enlist due to marital problems. In 1983, and with the assistance from the United States Air Force, Tangmere museum recovered the engine and other parts including this barrel section from the crash site of Typhoon DN293. The impact forces caused by the the crash can be clearly seen. This forward section of the cannon along weighs over 10 kg and has been sheared off from the impact!

Pilot Officer Clift / Barker was 27 years of age and is buried in Portchfield Cemetery, Isle of Wight.

Comes with a current deactivation certificate.