The story behind a Manxman who died in a Second World War aviation crash has been revealed after a piece of his Spitfire was found in Wales.

A webpage about Sergeant David George Jones, from Malew, is now available to the public following a researcher’s hunt to find out more about a piece of Perspex he found belonging to the late airman’s Spitfire X4642.

Simon Gerrard, from Kent, was only a young Air Cadet when he discovered the fragment in Bryneglwys in 1979.

It was only after he rediscovered the material in his parents’ loft as an adult that Sgt Jones’ profile was pieced together.

Contacting Manx sources, including Isle of Man Newspapers, the story was later published on the website ’Aircrew Remembered’.

However, Mr Gerrard hopes to ’trace any surviving relatives who might have more information about this brave pilot’.

’RAFVR Sergeant Pilot George Douglas Jones, hailing from the Isle of Man, successfully escaped from his stricken Spitfire on August 11, 1942 but died later of injuries sustained,’ he explained.

The pilot’s family ran a greengrocers in Malew Street, Castletown, and he went to the old Douglas High School.

’Alas, no definite pictures survive of him at school nor in the RAF so far, and relatives in the island are still sought. Tentative relatives have been found in Bromborough, Wirral, but they are unable to help,’ he said.

’I understand his family’s faith background was with the Methodist community and they have been instrumental in helping me out as have all Christian folks with opportunity to assist.

’Ivor Ramsden, director of your Manx Aviation and Military Museum, also responded and his archives were invaluable.’

The X4642 was one of the 10 Falkland Islands Spitfires. The Perspex found by Mr Gerrard is now on display at the Falkland Islands Museum in the country’s capital.

Search: http://aircrewremembered.com/jones-george-douglas.html