The inquest on Miss Jean Chesterton , 17 , of Ilford , London , who was killed by a machine gun bullet fired from a Royal Air Force plane during target practice , took place at Minster , Kent . The tragedy occured at Leysdown in the Isle of Sheppey where Miss Chesterton and her family were on holiday . The girl went out in a boat with her sister to retrieve a child 's ball which had floated out to sea . Apparently their boat was mistaken for one of a number of target buoys at which planes were firing when Miss Chesterton was hit . During the inquest proceedings a model of the target used by RAF gunners for practice was produced in court . Photo shows ; The gunner who fired the fatal shots , Aircraftman Bohemia ( centre ) with head down arriving to give evidence at the inquest . 17 August 1933