Vulcan crash in Detroit 24 Oct 1958

[Yellow Sun]

I happened upon this request for information in another forum:

Hello all,

I am a magazine writer in Detroit, Michigan USA, just beginning work on a feature assignment on the tragic Vulcan crash of Oct. 24, 1958. I am gathering some info here in Detroit but thought it worthwhile to approach folks on the other side of the pond (do people still use that expression?) for any info on the six crew members who perished. The remains of those brave lads are buried in a small cemetery near my home and evidently someone plants the Union Jack flag on their graves every Memorial Day.

The six crew members were:

Flt. Lt. John Willoughby-Moore. Pilot.
Flt Lt. Brian Peacock. Co-Pilot.
Sqdn. Ldr. Harvey J. Scull. Navigator.
Flt .Lt. James D.Watson. Navigator.
F/O. Anthony D. Baker. AEO.
C/T. Edward C. Evison. Crew Chief.

The 50th anniversary of the crash is coming up, thus the article. Really, not much of anything has been written about this tragedy (at least locally) since it happened a half-century ago. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Richard Bak

This is the link to Richard Bak's original posting. (http://www.avrovulcan.org.uk/cgi-bin/ikonboard3/ikonboard.cgi?;act=ST;f=4;t=33) I wonder if anyone here might be able to help him?

YS

[Doppler High]

It was mentioned before:

http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?t=79263
http://www.pprune.org/forums/archive/index.php/t-261909.html

And it seems he has had some follow-up information on another forum:

http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/5/134190.html?1207433777

[mystic_meg]

On 24 October 1958, Vulcan B1 XA908 of No. 83 Squadron crashed in Detroit, after a complete electrical systems failure. The failure occurred at around 30,000 ft (9,100 m) and the backup system should have provided 20 minutes of emergency power to allow the aircraft to divert to Kellogg Airfield. Due to a short circuit in the service busbar, backup power only lasted three minutes before expiring locking the aircraft controls. XA908 then went into a dive of between 60–70 degrees before it crashed, leaving a 70 ft (21 m) deep crater in the ground. All six crew members were killed, including the co-pilot who had ejected. He landed in Lake St Clair and drowned. His body was never found. It is thought he was the only member of the squadron who could not swim :sad:

[Gainesy]

This accident was discussed in a thread on Pprune a few months ago, might be worth your while to have a look back in the Hysteria and Neuralgia forum.

[Cypherus]

Pictures of the crash site can be found here along with information on the poster who may be able to provide further details.

http://atdetroit.net/forum/messages/6790/36342.html

Looking on Google and using the above photo's gives a good indication of the actual point of impact.