Bill Jackson - Varsity/Vampire collision + WW2

[PeterJCJ]

I would be delighted to hear from any significantly mature aviators (and of course their younger brethren) who might remember my father, Bill (William Henry) Jackson, he died in July 1960 whilst flying a Varsity that was involved in a mid-air collision with a Vampire near Oakington; he had flown with Bomber Command during the war with 76 and 635 (pathfinders).
I would be delighted to hear from anyone who recalls him and for any details of the fatal collision that took many lives that day in 1960.

[Warmtoast]

Peter

The only thing I can add is two press cuttings that refer to the collision in which your father was involved.
It's possible others in the forum may have further details.

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/VarsityVampireCollision-July19601.jpg

http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/VarsityVampireCollision-July19603.jpg
http://i145.photobucket.com/albums/r231/thawes/VarsityVampireCollision-July19604.jpg

[henry crun]

Broken Wings shows the Vampire T11 to be XD549 from 5FTS, and the Varsity was WJ914 from RAF Tech. Coll.

[critter592]

Hello Peter,

In addition to Warmtoast's post.

You may wish to consult the Accident Cards (Air Ministry Form 1180) for the aircraft; you can obtain these from the RAF Museum at Hendon for a small charge. Details here (http://www.rafmuseum.org.uk/london/research.cfm).

The full Accident Report is held at the National Archives (http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/) at Kew, reference is BT 233/436.

Hope this is of assistance.

Don

[Fareastdriver]

IIRC the departure from Oakington from runway 23 was turn onto 190 at 500ft and climb on 190 degrees until overhead Oakhampton, about FL120, then turn North to the general handling area. The T11 cockpit could be described as 'snug' and with a central flight instrument panel for both pilots lookout on an instrument training flight would not have been the best quality.
Really bad luck, really, even when the air over East Anglia was a beehive the chances of two aircraft hitting each other were slight. My instructor, of East European extraction, insisted that if we saw another aircraft we flew straight at it as it wouldn't be there when we got there.

[Dan Winterland]

RAF Oakington is currently almsot intact with the exception of it's runways which have been broken up for hardcore. However, it's earmarked to be bulldozed for the construction of a 10,000 home new town on the site.

The local historic society is running a petition to save some of the buildings to create a small business park - one of which will house a museum of the airfield. The petition ends on the 14th of Jan 2011 and is at Help save the RAF Oakington buildings, bunkers and structures (http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/saverafoakington/) I urge anyone with any interest in saving a piece of the country's aviation heritage to spend two minutes to click on the link and sign.

It's a worthwhile cause and the historic society are also urging the local council to name some of the new town's roads after aircrew who died while flying from Oakington.

[grahamcslater]

Hi Peter,
I know this is eight years too late. But hopefully you will still get the message.
My Uncle was flying the Vampire (Jarvis Ball).
My Mother (Jarvis's Sister) is still trying to put any information together that she can, regarding the tragic events of that day.
I'm sure she would love to get in touch.
Let me know your thoughts?
Best regards,
Graham

[Peter92]

Graham hi
PM me at this my new user name as the old e-mail is defunct
Happy to discus events but so long ago now.
Peter