RAF Meteor 8 in flight explosion 1956?
I'll mak siccar
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Mr shack and A2, I did not challenge Mr crun. I have followed his contributions for years now and if he says something is so I accept it as so unless I have very good evidence to the contrary, which so far I have yet to find.
A year or two ago I was chatting with an ex-RCAF pilot of fairly recent vintage, and the topic of attrition came up. I was astonished to learn that in his time he had known two pilots who were killed.
I once idly made a list of pilots who had to my knowledge gone to glory, 1953 to 1957, in the RAF and FAA, all in conditions of peace. I stopped the depressing task at 34.
As I was being strapped into a hot pursuit ship, lukewarm anyway, at one of Mr shack's FTS during his years, the cheery airman offered the pensee: "About time again, Sir!". He and his mates, so he told me, reckoned on at least "one" per ten weeks, and we were now at week 9.
I have never seen the statistics on the Vampire 5 and the Venom, but I'd like to.
A year or two ago I was chatting with an ex-RCAF pilot of fairly recent vintage, and the topic of attrition came up. I was astonished to learn that in his time he had known two pilots who were killed.
I once idly made a list of pilots who had to my knowledge gone to glory, 1953 to 1957, in the RAF and FAA, all in conditions of peace. I stopped the depressing task at 34.
As I was being strapped into a hot pursuit ship, lukewarm anyway, at one of Mr shack's FTS during his years, the cheery airman offered the pensee: "About time again, Sir!". He and his mates, so he told me, reckoned on at least "one" per ten weeks, and we were now at week 9.
I have never seen the statistics on the Vampire 5 and the Venom, but I'd like to.
Thread Starter
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Meteor 8 Explosion, Filey
Dear Mr. Crun.
I've slept on it; I've racked my memory....but I cannot for the life of me reconcile myself to a 1953 date line for the above. Be in no doubts, my memory is not a patch on what it once was, so let me explain. I also witnessed an in flight collision between Meteor 7s from RAF Driffield FTS, at least 2 pilots were killed. But as best I can remember this incident preceded the Meteor 8 incident! One of the reasons I want to be sure about this date is because I want to get hold of a national paper that gave full coverage of this accident (done by the Daily Express, as I vaguely recall).Without a date to be sure of, it'll cost me a small fortune on buying wasted papers ! But the rest of what you said remains valid. Only the year still does not ring true.
Thank You
Voyeur
p.s. best wishes to you " no "who
I've slept on it; I've racked my memory....but I cannot for the life of me reconcile myself to a 1953 date line for the above. Be in no doubts, my memory is not a patch on what it once was, so let me explain. I also witnessed an in flight collision between Meteor 7s from RAF Driffield FTS, at least 2 pilots were killed. But as best I can remember this incident preceded the Meteor 8 incident! One of the reasons I want to be sure about this date is because I want to get hold of a national paper that gave full coverage of this accident (done by the Daily Express, as I vaguely recall).Without a date to be sure of, it'll cost me a small fortune on buying wasted papers ! But the rest of what you said remains valid. Only the year still does not ring true.
Thank You
Voyeur
p.s. best wishes to you " no "who
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Voyeur: Although I think it unlikely, it is possible Broken Wings has the wrong date.
Rather than approach the Express would it not be easier to check with a local newspaper ?
An event like that would almost certainly be given prominence, and you are more likely to get a prompt reply from a small local paper than a national daily.
Edit to add, In the period Jan 52 to Dec 1957 I can find only two references to collisions involving Mk 7's.
The first is between a Mk8 and a Mk7 at Bllackmore, Essex, on 3/4/54 when one pilot was killed.
Second was two Mk 7's of CFS who collided at Upper Heyford on 28/7/54, the four occupants where killed.
The is one entry involving a Mk7 at Driffield in that period, when on 9/4/53 WL413 (type not given) landed on top of Mk 7 VT240. No fatalities involved in that accident.
To return to the Filey location, there is another entry on 27/8/54, 2 mls south of Filey, aircraft abandoned in a dive after a tailchase, but that was a Mk 7, not an 8.
Rather than approach the Express would it not be easier to check with a local newspaper ?
An event like that would almost certainly be given prominence, and you are more likely to get a prompt reply from a small local paper than a national daily.
Edit to add, In the period Jan 52 to Dec 1957 I can find only two references to collisions involving Mk 7's.
The first is between a Mk8 and a Mk7 at Bllackmore, Essex, on 3/4/54 when one pilot was killed.
Second was two Mk 7's of CFS who collided at Upper Heyford on 28/7/54, the four occupants where killed.
The is one entry involving a Mk7 at Driffield in that period, when on 9/4/53 WL413 (type not given) landed on top of Mk 7 VT240. No fatalities involved in that accident.
To return to the Filey location, there is another entry on 27/8/54, 2 mls south of Filey, aircraft abandoned in a dive after a tailchase, but that was a Mk 7, not an 8.
Last edited by henry crun; 8th Mar 2007 at 04:08.
Buzz off with BAF!!
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Following my post about a Meteor that crashed at Westcliff on Sea, the details confirmed by henry crun, a friend of mine told me of another
that he says he and his brother actually saw crash in the early 1950s at
South Benfleet in Essex.
I had never heard of that accident, does anyone have any further details?
that he says he and his brother actually saw crash in the early 1950s at
South Benfleet in Essex.
I had never heard of that accident, does anyone have any further details?
Yes, Him
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It appears that those who didn't see a Meteor accident are in the minority. I saw one do a wheels up at Finningley in or around 1953-55. It was later jacked up and towed away so I presume the damage was slight.
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Thankyou henry I will pass those details on.
My friend and his younger brother took off on their bikes and arrived
at the scene within a few minutes, but the police had already secured the
area. I believe it is now part of a housing estate.
My friend and his younger brother took off on their bikes and arrived
at the scene within a few minutes, but the police had already secured the
area. I believe it is now part of a housing estate.
Gnome de PPRuNe
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Gainesy, that's me - I was lucky to be at Mildenhall the day before the Meteor and Vampire collided...
I notice Henry's figures 1953-56 prove a year to year reduction in accidents. Luck, improved training or diminution of available airframes and drivers?
I notice Henry's figures 1953-56 prove a year to year reduction in accidents. Luck, improved training or diminution of available airframes and drivers?
