Debi Hartley, a 51-year-old warehouse supervisor and her partner, Graham Holden, a 54-year-old truck driver, were walking their dog Bonnie on Monday on a beach in the town of Cleethorpes when they spotted the plane.
The couple did not realize when the wreckage left and spent 45 minutes exploring it and taking photos before identifying it, Hartley told CNN.
After returning home to begin research, they discovered that the aircraft dates back to World War II.
The British Royal Air Force Museum (RAF) confirmed to CNN that it believed the aircraft to be a Bristol Beaufighter TF.X, with serial number JM333, from 254 Squadron RAF.
Ian Thirsk, head of collections at the RAF Museum, said in a statement to CNN that the plane crashed on April 21, 1944 shortly after takeoff from nearby North Coates in Lincolnshire after the two motors.
"The crew were not injured and fled to safety," added Thirsk.
Speaking to CNN, Hartley said she was surprised to find the "incredible" wreckage since she and her partner had walked this stretch of beach several times before.
"(I had) never seen anything like this before in my life," she said.
"We took the dog on its usual walk and suddenly we saw this wreckage," she added. "It was an incredible discovery."
"My partner has lived in Cleethorpes for 30 years and has walked this same walk (all this time) and has never met him before."
She said that before this unique discovery, she "was not at all interested in history" but that she would now like to know more about those who flew the plane.
However, due to the danger posed by unpredictable tides on Cleethopes Beach, people have been warned not to search for the wreckage.
"We have also received reports that it is now covered with sand."
This story has been corrected to reflect that the craft is a propeller plane. Source link