The Examiner called for help to identify the wreckage, speculating it may have been that of a CAC CA-27 Sabre from RAAF Base Williamtown flown by Flight Lieutenant Ross Allen.

He crashed his aircraft on the beach on February 10, 1960, after he had over-shot his approach at Williamtown and suffered engine failure.

He ejected from the plane but struck his head on the canopy as he did so and died - something which reportedly happened to multiple Sabre pilots around this time.

The wreckage theory was proven wrong by Flight Lieutenant Allen's son, Dean.

"My father's crash site was about 800 metres south of Tin City fishing village," Mr Allen said.

"The wreck was uncovered in 1976, noted by the RAAF and was uncovered again in the mid-80s, removed and taken to the museum at Williamtown."

Mr Allen still believes his father's death could have been avoided had the Commonwealth Aircraft Company, or Royal Australia Air Force, completed wind tunnel testing on the CA-27 Sabre.

According to Dean Allen, the Sabres were modified to allow for new engines.

But during the process, the plane's aerodynamics were adjusted, causing problems with the aircraft's handling as well as its cockpit ejection system.

As for the wreckage, Mr Allen has a theory about its origin.

"I think the wreckage at Birubi Beach might be a Gloster Meteor that crashed there in the '50s," he said.

Other responses concentrated on the beach's previous use as a bombing range for target practice and as a dumping site for old aircraft.

Read the original story here.