Vickers Valetta T3 WJ474 of No 2 Air Navigation School, Thorney Island. January 6th 1954.
Image: William Schneider
I've not had sight of the Accident Report so the scene will be set by contemporary Press Reports and extracts from Hansard.
The Inquest opened at Berkhamsted on January 8th 1954
This last Birmingham Post January 9th 1954 (BNA)
The Inquest resumed on March 1st 1954
Birmingham Post March 2nd 1954 (BNA)
Acknowledgements to 'Warmtoast' for most of these extracts.
Hansard March 10th 1954
Bovingdon Airfield (535 ft) lower right. Tom's Hill, Aldbury (Impact at 680 ft) upper left. Departure R/W 04. Distance with the left turn approx 6 Statute Miles.
Northchurch and Berkhamsted (High Street at 374 ft ) lying in The Bulbourne Valley. Part of the Chiltern Escarpment which slopes down to The Vale of Aylesbury in the north-west.
I've not been able to find any RAF charts with Spot heights. However out of interest I've included a USAF chart from 1953. To this I have added a small red dot at Moneybury Hill 774 ft which is adjacent to Tom's Hill and not marked.
Incidentally the highest point in The Chilterns is at Haddington Hill (875 ft) south-east of Halton . It seems that the compiler of this chart has transposed his figures.....
It is hoped that a more permanent Memorial will be erected at the crash site.