RAF helicopter crash Cyprus 1957

[Gordon7000]

Is anyone able to provide details about this chopper crash -- date of accident, any info on cause, etc., and names of crew?

The helicopter was either a Sycamore or a Whirlwind. It crashed into the Troodos Mountains, North of RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, sometime in 1957, killing the crew of two.

A contact of mine (ex RAF Mountain Rescue) is seeking information on this accident, including crew names. Any help would be much appreciated.

Many thanks

Gordon

(Air Crash Sites Scotland)

[T-21]

Could be Bristol Sycamore HR.14 XJ896 of No 284 Squadron. Flew into high ground 2miles WSW of Makheras,Cyprus 19.2.58 Cause not known.

[Gordon7000]

Hi T-21,

Many thanks for that info. I'll pass this on to my contact. I'm sure it will be very helptful to him.

Regards,

Gordon

[QuePee]

If it was definitely in 1957 then a more likely candidate would be XJ516 which I have recorded as

Sycamore HR14 of 284 Sqn. Written off at Platres in the Troodos Mountains, Cyprus after the rotor blades hit a tree on landing. Both crew were killed.

The date was 18th February 1957.

[QuePee]

I must have hit the submit button a little too quickly, I have just found another couple of possibilities. ie

31.05.57 XG546 Sycamore HR14 of 284 Sqn. While engine running at Platres, Cyprus, ground resonance set in causing the main rotors to strike the ground. Flying debris killed one person. I do have the name of the person killed but I have deleted it from this post. Please PM if you need the details.

26.07.57 XJ383 Sycamore HR14 of 284 Sqn. Rolled over attempting to take off, 3 miles NW of Ayios Nicolaios, Cyprus.

[Gordon7000]

Hi QuePee

Many thanks for that info. Very much appreciated. I'll pass this on.

Sorry for the delay in replying. I was away for a few days.

Thanks again.

Gordon

[Gordon7000]

Hi,

It seems that the aircraft my contact was looking for was Sycamore HR14 XJ516 (listed above). At the time of the accident, he was with the RAF Mountain Rescue Team that was involved in the recovery operation.

Thanks again for all your help.

Gordon

[newswatcher]

Gordon, I think a typo has crept into this thread. XJ516 was a Sea Vixen, the Sycamore was XG516.

The usually reliable Britains-Smallwars site has no RAF fatalities showing for 18/02/57, the date of XG516 accident. It has two showing for XJ896 (10/02/58), and a Royal Marine killed in the XG546 accident (31/05/57).

A Sycamore(XF268) "rolled down" Mount Olympus on 08/07/55, but no fatalities shown.

Four RAF fatalities (1 x Flt Lt, 2 x FOs, 1 x LAC) shown on 08/07/57, but I have yet to find an accident reference.