We're very sorry to announce that Denis Clifton passed away late last
night (28th September 2007) at the age of 84. Denis – or Cliff as he
liked to be known - was the First Officer on the Viking flight in
1948. He was particularly helpful in aiding the survivors of the
Viking crash. Realising that the elements might take their toll before
search parties could find them, he made the correct decision that they
should make their own way to safety. He then led the third party of
survivors down from the crash site to safety.
We were fortunate enough to contact Cliff four months ago. Over the
past four months we talked with him by telephone on a number of
occasions. It was immediately obvious from the first call what a warm,
friendly, generous and unassuming man Cliff was. He was very positive
about our project and answered so many queries we had about the
accident. Cliff invited us both to meet and stay with him at his home
near London, which we had planned to undertake in November.
Only four nights ago we discussed with Cliff his long, varied and
fruitful aviation career. Stretching over four decades, he flew
assorted aircraft in a range of conditions all around the world. His
career started in 1940 when he joined the RAF at the age of 17. A year
later he learned to fly in Canada, training in sub-zero conditions on
Tiger Moths and then Harvards. Qualifying in May 1943, Cliff then flew
anti-sub patrols in Hudsons from near Halifax in Canada. In 1944 he
was quickly sent out to Burma. After a rapid conversion course, Cliff
did supply and troop droppings duties and glider towing in C-47s.
After being de-mobbed in 1946, his civil career began. Flying for BEA
and later British Airways, he flew a range of aircraft: Vikings,
Ambassadors, Viscounts, Vanguards, Tridents and Tristars. He then
became a Senior Training Captain with BA on Tridents and Tristars, and
later flew long haul flights all around the world on Tristars. In 1978
he left BA to join Gulf Air, where he served as a Senior Training
Captain on Tristars. During this time he was based in Bahrain and
later Hong Kong. After retiring in July 1983, BALPA awarded him a well
deserved BALPA Gold Star.
Other than the Viking accident, Cliff had another very close call in
September 1962. Just after taking off from Turnhouse in a Vanguard,
the aircraft was struck by 120 seagulls. Two engines failed, while the
other two were very close to failure. As Captain, Cliff particularly
distinguished himself by steering the aircraft back to Turnhouse. The
subsequent report read: "A serious and almost certainly fatal accident
was only narrowly averted. This was due to the exemplary manner in
which the emergency was handled by Captain Clifton and his crew: the
Captain displayed the highest possible standard of airmanship." For
his actions on this day, Cliff received a Queens Commendation medal.
Our memories of Denis Clifton will be of a man who achieved a great
deal through his aviation career, and as a man who could keep his
composure under the most intense circumstances. But we will remember
him also as a true gentleman.
Our thoughts are with his wife and family.
James Towill and Dougie Martindale