North of England Valetta crash

[N707ZS]

I have a photograph taken by my father-in-law of a Valetta which belly landed in a field, undercarrige collapsed but aircraft looks in one piece.

I have shown this to a historian who said it was a Valetta T4 WJ467/K from 228 OCU, from Leeming and supposidly crashed on the 6th August 1958. (Forced landing Category 4).

But my father-in-law insists that he took it near Middleton-st George, has there ever been a Valetta crash at or near Middleton-St George/Teesside?

[forget]

I saw this on my way to London, on the A1. It looked as if a 'landing' had been made on the earthworks which were to become the north bound lane of the new A1 dual carriageway. If the photograph shows it in field then it had slid from the 'road' into the edge of the field. I remember it being further south than Middleton St George.

How about posting the photograph?

Just found this - with position. ASN Aircraft accident Vickers Valetta T.4 WJ467 Leeming

[diginagain]

The two are not that far apart.

[brakedwell]

06/08/1958 WJ467 K Valetta T4 228 OCU Written off in a forced landing three miles north of Leeming, Yorks following engine failure.

Middleton St George is twenty miles north of Leeming.

[N707ZS]

Father-in-law thought he was on his push bike with his box browny! Quite a ride from Darlington.

[T-21]

My late father was the pilot of this Valetta. WJ467 was a T.4 from RAF Leeming. I would welcome a copy of the photograph very much as the 2 small photos we had have disappeared with time.
I have a copy of the accident report. Basically my father was on assymetric one engine out and could not maintain height ,I believe it was a hot day in August and just managed to clear the A1. He had to boot the co-pilot to evacuate the aircraft he was in negative shock. Both got a severe bollocking from the crash crew as they were found sitting on a fence having a cigarette.
This aircraft seemed fated . My father said it later fell off the Queen Mary trailer and caused massive traffic problems in York !

[forget]

I saw this on my way to London, on the A1. It looked as if a 'landing' had been made on the earthworks which were to become the north bound lane of the new A1 dual carriageway.

I'd guess it was the same aircraft.

[N707ZS]

Hi can you pm me an e-mail address and I will scan and send a copy of the photo to you. Hopefully you might be able to say it is the right aircraft as there are no visable markings on the photograph to identify the aircaft.

Thanks.

[forget]

Here you are. My memory is that the aircraft was much closer to the road. Perhaps it had been dragged there for dismantling before I saw it. Who knows.

And I seem to remember a lot of orange; later found out to be DayGlo. Doesn't appear to be any on this aircraft.

[fustall]

I am the brother of T21 above,here is a copy of a copy taken from a chipmunk of the accident crashsite,you can see the A1 top left.
The Yorkshire Post does have the original photo in their archives.

[fustall]

In 1982 whilst living in North Yorkshire,I visited the site at a place named Holtby Hall,just off the A1 to the west,3 miles north from Leeming.
There was an old gentleman and lady at the hall who had an original copy of the Yorkshire Post and also told me they had parts of the Valetta in the shed!
The crash happened just after lunch(1pm-2pm).
My work took me to peoples houses and during one visit I noticed a strong aviation theme in the house(pictures of aircraft etc),the chap used to be a fireman at Leeming in the 50's!,this crash was the first he went to,he found out about it on a field telephone.
This story is related in a book,something like 'from the ground up',all about ground crew etc.......??

[fustall]

Valetta crash

Hi

After looking at the other photo I can confirm that this is WJ467 T4 Valetta,you can see the track to the right which leads to Holtby Hall just out of shot.
Brilliant photo as I and my brother only have photocopy of the aerial shot,thank you.

Roger

[fustall]

location of crash site

[fustall]

[fustall]

Valetta WJ467/K

Found this-Thanks to Air-Britain site and Photographer,Taken at Sutton-on-Hull,Fire Training airfield in May 1959.
Looking through all the T4 listings,this is the only one,who's demise is not accounted for,all the others ended up on fire dumps at other stations or smelted down at Birmingham,also you can just make out the 'K' behind the cockpit,so I think this is WJ467/K.

Roger

[N707ZS]

Father-in-law found the negatives from the crash unfortunately there was only one aircraft photograph. Another did have him posing infront of his first motorbike! so Leeming was in range.

[diginagain]

The photo taken at RAF Sutton-on-Hull ties-in with T-21's report of chaos in York.

[fustall]

Hi N707ZS
Would you mind if I post your photo on this thread,just to bring a closure to the story.
Thank you again for bringing this photo to me and my brothers attention,long time ago,but I can still remember my Father relating the story.

[N707ZS]

Yes please post the photograph. Are you able to post the incident report?

[fustall]

This is the original photo taken on a box brownie