RAF Changi 1950s
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: scarborough uk
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
zerofeetaboveground
Hi
I have only recently seen your question about the disappearance of the Valetta on a test flight out of RAF Changi on the 11 11 1953 and the very sad loss of your grandfather.
My father Alfred Thompson was the pilot. He died in this terrible accident on his 31st birthday.
My mother and I were due to leave the UK join him in Changi in just a few days before it happened.
I'm afraid I haven't any more information about the cause other than that given on this forum, and in letters to my mother saying that there was bad weather and radio contact was lost suddenly. No wreckage was recovered.
I just thought though that it might be some comfort to know that in the letter from the Squadron Leader he wrote that tireless searches had been made for days and that everything that was humanly possible had been done.
I understand there was to be a Court of Enquiry and any additional
information from this would be sent to my mother but I haven't found any letters about this.
Please just get in touch if there is anything I can help with.
Very best wishes.
I have only recently seen your question about the disappearance of the Valetta on a test flight out of RAF Changi on the 11 11 1953 and the very sad loss of your grandfather.
My father Alfred Thompson was the pilot. He died in this terrible accident on his 31st birthday.
My mother and I were due to leave the UK join him in Changi in just a few days before it happened.
I'm afraid I haven't any more information about the cause other than that given on this forum, and in letters to my mother saying that there was bad weather and radio contact was lost suddenly. No wreckage was recovered.
I just thought though that it might be some comfort to know that in the letter from the Squadron Leader he wrote that tireless searches had been made for days and that everything that was humanly possible had been done.
I understand there was to be a Court of Enquiry and any additional
information from this would be sent to my mother but I haven't found any letters about this.
Please just get in touch if there is anything I can help with.
Very best wishes.
Interesting re. the date ('56) and the total disappearance of the aircraft. It was around this time that a) a Valetta out of one of the Canal Zone airfields (Abu Sueir?) folded its wings in turbulence and b) all our Squadron aircraft were grounded and found to have spar cracks and wrinkled mainplane skins on 12 out of the 14. Particularly interesting in that (apparently) the civil version had had spar plates incorporated some time previously as the problem was known about.
Cunning Artificer
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: The spiritual home of DeHavilland
Age: 76
Posts: 3,127
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Just to complicate things, when I joined up in '63 the rank structure still included the "upside down" technical ranks and these were based upon time in post plus passing the technical examination. This established your pay grade and technical competence. A Junior Technician could sign for his own work but not that of anyone else. A Corporal and above could sign for his own work or that of a junior rank who he had supervised. The Technician ranks had no disciplinary authority perse, only trade authority.
The right side up chevrons were "command" ranks and carried disciplinary authority. These ranks were earned on the basis of performance assessment. So, it was possible to be, say, a Senior Technician on the basis of technical qualification and then be promoted to Sergeant on the basis of your annual assessments - or from Corporal [or even Junior] Technician to Corporal etc. Corporal Masterson therefore appears to be a tradesman at either the J/T or Corporal Technician level holding the command rank of Corporal.
The right side up chevrons were "command" ranks and carried disciplinary authority. These ranks were earned on the basis of performance assessment. So, it was possible to be, say, a Senior Technician on the basis of technical qualification and then be promoted to Sergeant on the basis of your annual assessments - or from Corporal [or even Junior] Technician to Corporal etc. Corporal Masterson therefore appears to be a tradesman at either the J/T or Corporal Technician level holding the command rank of Corporal.
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: CA USA
Posts: 7
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
someone with no qualifications but who had worked as a secretary or clerk for two years before he started National Service (after basic training and training for being a Clerk in the RAF)
Which rank/rate would most likely once training was done
a leading aircraftman
a senior aircraftman
a Junior Technician
a Senior Technician
What about at the end of 2 years of service
a senior aircraftman
a Junior Technician
a Senior Technician
a Chief Technician
please move more approbate thread if this really isn'i the right one
Which rank/rate would most likely once training was done
a leading aircraftman
a senior aircraftman
a Junior Technician
a Senior Technician
What about at the end of 2 years of service
a senior aircraftman
a Junior Technician
a Senior Technician
a Chief Technician
please move more approbate thread if this really isn'i the right one
Last edited by spusa; 28th May 2013 at 06:19.
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: Surrey Hills
Posts: 1,478
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I had no qualifications when I did my two years NS in 1959.
Wound up as a J/T Ground Wireless [Mainly ILS Systems] at RAF Benson/Sylt
Plenty of interesting events and time erases the oft encountered guard duty/bullshine that came with being on camp where Queen's Flight were based.......
Watching the QF techs polishing that Dakota for weeks before it staged out to Nepal?? was fun...... it is now hanging up on wires at RAF Cosford........not as shiny as when it left Benson in 1961
Wound up as a J/T Ground Wireless [Mainly ILS Systems] at RAF Benson/Sylt
Plenty of interesting events and time erases the oft encountered guard duty/bullshine that came with being on camp where Queen's Flight were based.......
Watching the QF techs polishing that Dakota for weeks before it staged out to Nepal?? was fun...... it is now hanging up on wires at RAF Cosford........not as shiny as when it left Benson in 1961
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Why oh why would I wanna be anywhere else?
Posts: 1,305
Likes: 0
Received 1 Like
on
1 Post
spusa Would have kicked off as an LAC after training and would probably have made SAC if he'd kept his nose clean and was good at his trade.
After training as a Boy Entrant from Sep 63 to Apr 65 I graduated as an LAC but qualified to SAC; a rank to which I was promoted after 6 months satisfactory service. After that I was promoted to Corporal in 1974!! - the promotion system was pretty much clogged up. However, after 2 years I then became a Flying Officer and onwards and upwards at a much faster rate!
After training as a Boy Entrant from Sep 63 to Apr 65 I graduated as an LAC but qualified to SAC; a rank to which I was promoted after 6 months satisfactory service. After that I was promoted to Corporal in 1974!! - the promotion system was pretty much clogged up. However, after 2 years I then became a Flying Officer and onwards and upwards at a much faster rate!
Particularly interesting in that (apparently) the civil version had had spar plates incorporated some time previously as the problem was known about.
In 1953 a Viking (E.A.A IIRC) lost a wing over Pangani ( Tanzania). The loud bang was heard by the locals whose precise recall of the sound sequence was of use to the BOI.
The occupants are buried together in Tanga Christian graveyard. Included are some members of what could have been a slip crew - it appears to have been a positioning flight to Dar Es Salaam. There were also a couple of other occupants who were probably hitching a lift ( including an Israeli).
I think there were corrosion issues involved ,but which sort I don't recall.
In 1953 a Viking (E.A.A IIRC) lost a wing over Pangani ( Tanzania). The loud bang was heard by the locals whose precise recall of the sound sequence was of use to the BOI.
The occupants are buried together in Tanga Christian graveyard. Included are some members of what could have been a slip crew - it appears to have been a positioning flight to Dar Es Salaam. There were also a couple of other occupants who were probably hitching a lift ( including an Israeli).
I think there were corrosion issues involved ,but which sort I don't recall.
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: N Yorkshire, UK
Age: 76
Posts: 484
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Haraka - thought I new EAAC crash history, so googled and a/c was Central African Airways - result the same
see http://planecrashinfo.com/1953/1953-18.htm
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
see http://planecrashinfo.com/1953/1953-18.htm
PZU - Out of Africa (Retired)
Join Date: Oct 1998
Location: Kalgoorlie, W.A. , Australia
Age: 86
Posts: 458
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Main Spar
There seems to be history of main spar failures in the Viking, Valetta, Varsity family. After the loss of Varsity WL640 max fuel was reduced in 2 stages by 260 imp gallons and twice all main spars were inspected.
A wrong type of grease used when fitting press fit bolts to the booms caused corrosion, thus weakening the lower starboard boom at the outboard bolt hole
The Valiants suffered corrosion at Station O which is where the wing spars were mounted onto the fuselage truss. They had one rear spar fracture in flight but the other spar held the wing together. The crew were lucky as there was quite a split on the wing's skin.
Last edited by Fareastdriver; 31st May 2013 at 18:16.
Nemesis of the Proot Dynasty
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Somewhere in Hampshire
Posts: 289
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Fareastdriver,
Was that the Wyton Valiant which because the main spar cracked and the undercarriage wouldn't come down, did a wheels up landing at Manston on the foam strip?
I recall that the squadron was grounded for some months and eventually disbanded.
Was that the Wyton Valiant which because the main spar cracked and the undercarriage wouldn't come down, did a wheels up landing at Manston on the foam strip?
I recall that the squadron was grounded for some months and eventually disbanded.
The spar failure was WP217 that happened at Gaydon in August 1964. They heard a worrying thump on the climbout and the OCU crew decided to bring it back. When they starting lowering flap the aircraft started to roll. They realised that only one flap was going down so they retracted it and landed it flapless.
The flaps on a Valiant had a single drive motor in the fuselage but, luckily, independent flap indicators. The spar had separated sufficiently for the flap drive to disconnect which led to the single flap failure.
The Valiant that did the wheels up at Manston was eventually a manufacturing error. They had a failure to lower on the starboard undercarriage and eventually they had to retract the gear fully and do a wheels up on the foam strip at Manston.
The aircraft was on a display tour and at one stage the starboard undercarriage had closed outside the door. I saw it at this stage and I was subsequently invited to the B of I.
The Valiant had three lowering systems; A main electric screw jack on the legs and doors, a secondary piggy-backed screwjack and a system that blew the doors and uplocks explosively and then used the main motors to lower the leg. The crew went through the checklist and came to the point where they would have to blow the door. There were two switches by the co-pilot; one for the port and one for the starboard. The co-pilot selected the appropriate switch but unfortunately, unknown to anybody, the switches had been cross wired at manufacture. Apparently having no effect on the faulty undercarriage the decision was then made to belly land it.
The flaps on a Valiant had a single drive motor in the fuselage but, luckily, independent flap indicators. The spar had separated sufficiently for the flap drive to disconnect which led to the single flap failure.
The Valiant that did the wheels up at Manston was eventually a manufacturing error. They had a failure to lower on the starboard undercarriage and eventually they had to retract the gear fully and do a wheels up on the foam strip at Manston.
The aircraft was on a display tour and at one stage the starboard undercarriage had closed outside the door. I saw it at this stage and I was subsequently invited to the B of I.
The Valiant had three lowering systems; A main electric screw jack on the legs and doors, a secondary piggy-backed screwjack and a system that blew the doors and uplocks explosively and then used the main motors to lower the leg. The crew went through the checklist and came to the point where they would have to blow the door. There were two switches by the co-pilot; one for the port and one for the starboard. The co-pilot selected the appropriate switch but unfortunately, unknown to anybody, the switches had been cross wired at manufacture. Apparently having no effect on the faulty undercarriage the decision was then made to belly land it.
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Hintlesham
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
RAF Changi - Air accident
My Mother in Law is the sister of Francis (Frank) Wood who died along with his colleagues in in the tragic accident involving the Valletta out of RAF Changi on 11. 11. 1953. She has prepared a document to upload onto this site but, for some reason, I am barred from attaching documents etc on to the forum. I can say that the names of all the crew and passengers appear on the memorial at the National Arboretum and are also named in the 'Roll of Honour' in St Clement Dane Church, The Strand, London. If I can work out how to get permission to upload document etc. I will do so in due course.
Join Date: May 2008
Location: Devon
Age: 85
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
It is a long time ago, and I am very late in posting, but on the subject of technical trade ranks I was a J/T AWF at Abingdon (47 and 53 Sqdn) in 1958 and was promoted to Corporal - note NOT Corporal Tech. My position and work schedules remained intact and I never understood the change unless the staff structure at Abingdon was short of Corporal grades. At the same time and in the same Radio Servicing Bay I recall Corporal Tech Del Rampling being promoted to Sergeant outside the Tech structure, so there are some anomalies here......!
I do en passant recall Changi quite well, being there when we ferried the first Beverley from UK to the all-new 34 Squadron. What a trip that was, at 100 knots flat out and the usual sequences of unreliability - and the accidental filling of the oil tanks with avgas at Calcutta.
I do en passant recall Changi quite well, being there when we ferried the first Beverley from UK to the all-new 34 Squadron. What a trip that was, at 100 knots flat out and the usual sequences of unreliability - and the accidental filling of the oil tanks with avgas at Calcutta.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
The original enquiry by 'zerofeetabovefground' was about an accident in 1956 involving a Valetta. There was in fact a Valetta lost over Malaya that year.
02/03/1956
VW861
Valetta C1
48 Sqn
Hit trees during a supply drop over the jungle in Malaya. Seven on board were killed.
UK Military Aircraft Losses
RAF - 48 Squadron
48 Sqn was based in Singapore.
I know something of this accident and when my memory cells start functioning I will post what I know.
02/03/1956
VW861
Valetta C1
48 Sqn
Hit trees during a supply drop over the jungle in Malaya. Seven on board were killed.
UK Military Aircraft Losses
RAF - 48 Squadron
48 Sqn was based in Singapore.
I know something of this accident and when my memory cells start functioning I will post what I know.
Last edited by roving; 14th Jul 2013 at 19:41.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
In fact 48 Sqn lost three Valettas in 1956. In two instances with loss of all aboard.
This provides detail about the November 1956 crash.
New Page 1
This provides detail about the November 1956 crash.
New Page 1
Last edited by roving; 14th Jul 2013 at 19:50.
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: over the rainbow
Age: 75
Posts: 562
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
This was another Valetta crash, this time 110 Sqn flying out of Kuala Lumpur. I recall this one, because as a boy aged 9, I lived on the Station and I attended the full military parade at the Royal Air Force Station in K.L. with my parents.
I can see now in my minds eye, the coffins being carried and a young (probably National Service) airman feinting in the heat and falling over as he stood to attention at the parade.
Very sad.
My late father told me he was once in full dress uniform for three days attending funeral services.
'22/08/1957 VX491 Valetta C1 110 Sqn
The aircraft was on a leaflet dropping sortie and was attempting to overfly a 5,300ft ridge at Raub, Central Malaya when the port propeller oversped. It crashed into the side of the ridge at 4,100ft, caught fire and was destroyed. The 3 crew and 4 Army dispatchers were killed'
UK Military Aircraft Losses
I can see now in my minds eye, the coffins being carried and a young (probably National Service) airman feinting in the heat and falling over as he stood to attention at the parade.
Very sad.
My late father told me he was once in full dress uniform for three days attending funeral services.
'22/08/1957 VX491 Valetta C1 110 Sqn
The aircraft was on a leaflet dropping sortie and was attempting to overfly a 5,300ft ridge at Raub, Central Malaya when the port propeller oversped. It crashed into the side of the ridge at 4,100ft, caught fire and was destroyed. The 3 crew and 4 Army dispatchers were killed'
UK Military Aircraft Losses
Last edited by roving; 14th Jul 2013 at 20:04.