The engine of a ‘proto-drone’ has been discovered on north Norfolk marshland - and later buried again. 

Ian Curtis, who has lived in Stiffkey for all of his 65 years, found the engine of a remote-controlled aeroplane in the marshes between the village and the coast.

North Norfolk News: The Rcat engine Ian Curtis found on the Stiffkey marshesThe Rcat engine Ian Curtis found on the Stiffkey marshes (Image: Ian Curtis)“I knew exactly what it was, because many years ago I had seen them there on the marsh," Mr Curtis said. "It was the whole engine of an Rcat.”

Rcats - Radio Controlled Aircraft Targets - were a kind of early drone. They had a wingspan of more than 12ft. A device called a whirlygig spun the aircraft around until it reached a speed of 85mph before launching it into the air. 

North Norfolk News: The Rcat engine, where Ian Curtis found it on the Stiffkey marshesThe Rcat engine, where Ian Curtis found it on the Stiffkey marshes (Image: Ian Curtis)READ MORE: Seal spotted 25 MILES from the sea in Norfolk's only canal

“Some went a long way, some went a short way,” Mr Curtis said. 

The US military launched many Rcats from the spot in the early 1950s. They were highly maneuverable and could fly at speeds of more than 200 miles per hour.

North Norfolk News: Ian Curtis with the remains of an Rcat previously found on the Stiffkey marshIan Curtis with the remains of an Rcat previously found on the Stiffkey marsh (Image: Denise Bradley)They were used as targets to train anti-aircraft gunners and gunners for B-29 Superfortress bombers, which were extensively used by the US and also loaned to the UK.

Mr Curtis said he remembered seeing around 50 downed Rcats on the marshes when he was a lad. 

North Norfolk News: The guns from a B29 bomber aircraft on Stiffkey marshes used to train B29 gunners by shooting down radio-controlled aerial targets (RCATs). The guns from a B29 bomber aircraft on Stiffkey marshes used to train B29 gunners by shooting down radio-controlled aerial targets (RCATs). (Image: Courtesy Ian Curtis)READ MORE: Remains of Second World War dummy aircraft to go on show in village

“There might have been more,” he said. “They were just left to lay there in the mud.”

Mr Curtis said he found the engine on Crown land - not part of the marsh in the care of the National Trust. 

After cleaning up the engine and taking photos to record the find, Mr Curtis said he put it back in the marshes in a spot next to where he found it, so it would not deteriorate as it may if left exposed to the air.

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North Norfolk News: Ian Curtis, from Stiffkey, on the marshesIan Curtis, from Stiffkey, on the marshes (Image: Ian Curtis)