On Sunday, Remembrance Day, the Nation and the Commonwealth pay tribute to the many who have died in wars.
In his book "Broken Wings" James J Halley records that between the end of WWII and
the end of 1999, there have been over 6,000 accidents to RAF aircraft which have resulted in aircraft being removed from service. In a significant number of them aircrew and passengers died.
These accidents were in the main not caused by enemy action but in some instances caused or contributed to by design and maintenance failures. coupled with a lack of navigational aids and support, particularly in overseas operations.
This was no more evident than in Malaya during the 12 years of the Emergency when a number of aircrew and air despatchers were lost on supply operations over the jungle. In the case of Valetta aircraft of 48 (based in Changi) and 110 (based in KL) Squadrons, it was a recurrent problem. It was not just the RAF, a RNZA Bristol Freighter based in Changi, flown by the Sqn OC, crashed in bad weather in 1956, with 8 lost.
I will be thinking of the Service I attended as an 9 year old boy, at K.L. in 1957 for the three SNCO aircrew of 110 Sqn, one of whom was aged just 21, who died when a Valetta crashed into the jungle, not as a result of navigational or flying error, but an oversped engine.