Salamanca Puma Crash Site Memorial

[keith egan]

Hi All
Just to let you all know i had a phone call form Lt Col R Lindsay (Belize) today as Belize is being scaled down The Cairn at Salamanca will be relocated in the next 2 months so it can be looked after and not lost to the jungle. he also informed me a new memorial will be built for all those who lost their lives in Belize.

[keith egan]

Hi All a copy of an email from Belize
Dear Mr Egan

You contacted me a few months ago about the issue of memorials in Belize – especially that of your brother. I am pleased to be able to attach some photos of what we have done in Price Barracks – centralising the 3 locally located memorials and then, in conjunction with the RBL, constructing one large memorial.

Your brother’s original memorial is the Cairn on the left of the pictures, while his name is also on the main Memorial at the back. It is located within Price Barracks close to the BATSUB Head Quarters, which will allow for much easier maintenance.

I hope that you, your Mother and Family will be relieved to know that your brother’s memory will continue to be properly and formally acknowledged here in Belize.

Many thanks

Rob

Lt Col RH Lindsay | Comd | HQ BATSUB, Price Barracks,

[ewe.lander]

Hi Keith, sorry for the late reply.

Our Crews were tasked by the Det Cdr at the time to carry out 'Training flights/pracise Medivacs' from Salamanca. It didn't happen at that time, I don't really know/remember why (I was a young Crewman then, and at the end of the 'comms chain')

We handed over to the new Crew, I joined my family on holiday in UK, then within a day or 2 the accident happened. Our Crew then returned to Belize after the Funerals.

As to NVG's, I doubt we had them? This was before the NVG family came into use? PNG's as issued to ground forces were available, but like looking down 2 dustbins into a glass of lime juice.

75/76 was a very busy period in Belize for the AAC/RAF, lots of Medivacs - but all due to training accidents/incidents. The AAC at the time operated a flight of Sioux, and we had 2 Puma's in station.

I'm still trying to find my other Det photo's of that time - all Black & White. The Regiment Lads were a great bunch on 230 - but took great delight getting the Aircrew on Jungle Survival/Warfare courses at Sibun and watching us suffer!!

[ShyTorque]

As to NVG's, I doubt we had them? This was before the NVG family came into use? PNG's as issued to ground forces were available, but like looking down 2 dustbins into a glass of lime juice.

I concur with this. I joined the Puma force (230 Sqn) in 1979 and that Squadron was still using PNG (awful) at that time. The worst thing about PNGs was that they came fitted into to a faceplate so there was no peripheral vision.We used to have to focus one eye tube on the outside world and one inside, on the instruments. This could be very disorientating. NVG (not so awful) came in a couple of years afterwards.

During my time night vision aids were not in use in Belize.

[keith egan]

Colins original memorial is the Cairn on the right of the pictures, while his name is also on the main Memorial at the back. It is located within Price Barracks close to the BATSUB Head Quarters, which will allow for much easier maintenance.

[sada1731]

Puma Crash

Hi Mick and everyone else out there.

Don't know if you will remember me. I am Nigel's sister, Sheena. I met quite a few of you on a few occasions when I visited Nigel and June. For years and years I have been trying to find a site like this to meet up and chat with people that knew my brother and finally my daughter Sarah found it. Like all of you I am getting on now and technology is beyond me - thank God for the youngsters. I am reading all the comments and names are jumping out at me that I remember well, not just meeting you before Belize but also at the funeral and also Craig's christening. I am trying to work out who is who - ewe.lander - is that Al Hudson, Punchrock - Chris Woolley? and I always remember "there's no F in McArdle" - what is his nickname.

Please, please get in touch with me. I would love to hear what everyone is up to now. I live in Weston super Mare with my husband, and have 3 children and 2 grandchildren. I try to get to Odiham as often as I can. I am also very proud to have gone to the War Memorial at Alrewas to see the guys names on the wall. Very moving.

Someone mentioned a memorial at Odiham - is that in the camp itself. Also the memorial at Salamanca doesn't look anything like the photo we have. Is there more than one?

Please get in touch.

Just realised that as my daughter is the one that registered for this site is gives her age, not mine. If only I was that age again. I know a girl lies about her age but there is no way I could get away with pretending to be 25.

LOL


Sheena Jeffrey
[email protected]

[sada1731]

photo

Hi,

When was this picture taken? and was Nigel actually on the crew at this time?

Sheena (Nigel's sister)

[brianf51]

I came home from one detachment to APC in June 76 so the crew out there at the crash time must have taken over from us. I remember hearing about it at Odiham and being a Nav Insty at the time took particular interest in the details. As I remember it the fingers were all pointing at a pitch channel runaway in the autopilot as the system was prone to that. Even had a protection unit fitted eventually to prevent it happening.

The following year I was 'volunteered' to be part of the working party which disposed of the Puma's remains and those of the Harrier which also came to grief at around the same period. Two hours out into the Carribean on a navy landing craft and over the side with the lot!

[keith egan]

Hi All
i have found this after about 10 years of looking for one

Can anyone tell me if this is the same as the one that Crashed apart from the number before i buy it .

Westland Puma HC Mk.1 ,XW219, 230 Sqn,
Brand: Corgi Product Code: COAA27001 Scale: 1:72
£52.99

Thanks for your help
Keith

[Fareastdriver]

Check the engine intakes of the kit. At the time of the accident Pumas had plain open intakes. From 1979 on they were fitted with the large filters in front of the engines.

[keith egan]

Hi Fareastdriver
Thanks for that it has the filters on front of the engines. it is die cast so i mite not be able remove them

[Airborne Aircrew]

Keith:

Search E-Bay for combinations of Matchbox, 1/32, Puma,SA330.

It is exactly the airframe you are looking for. I picked one up a few months ago. It has the direct intakes without the PIPS Farestdriver is referring to.

[jaedmunds]

Puma crash

I was serving with the Royal Engineers at Salamanca camp 1976/77 and I was a witness to the crash. I was facing east toward the landing pads with my back to the accommodation huts, the the puma was facing north, it lifted off and immediately turned east over the tree line (which was much closer to the pads then) gaining altitude. In less than a minute (approx) the engine noise suddenly quietened considerably and it began a banked left turn, I guess to return to the pads. The angle of the bank became more acute and the aircraft appeared to 'slide' across the sky, over shoot the camp area and crash into the jungle. The impact site from where I was standing was to the west side of the track and about 250yds north of the fuel hut. There was a very large explosion and fire on impact. We collected tools and hacked our way into the dense jungle from the road. I will gladly answer any questions about this sad event. BTW Airbourne Aircrew's drawing is almost as it was however the landing pads and fueling hut were 100yds further and the jungle started where the fuel hut is indicated.

[Craigyfish]

Old 230 Squ - 1975/76

Hi All,

Not sure who is still viewing this thread, appreciate it is fairly old!
Just wanted to say hi and thanks to all of you who mentioned kind words about my Dad on this thread.

My Dad was Nigel Storey, I'm Craig. I was not even 1 year old when the accident happened. I see there are a few on here who actually knew my Dad, it would be great to hear from you and find out how you are getting on and here any old stories of my Dad's exploits! :-)

For those interested and knew us, my mum and I are doing well, still not far from Odiham.

Keep well and stay safe. If you want to get in touch, my email is [email protected]


Craig Storey

[Punchrock]

Craig.

I check back every once and a while, any 'Rock' that served on 230 at that time would remember your dad. He was one of the more likable characters of the Aircrews. He did save my bacon once! I will email direct more details.

[Punchrock]

Jaedmunds: Puma Crash

Did you by chance serve with a Mike Hanchett? He tells the same story. Cant tell you his rank at the time, I am still in contact.

[sheshe]

Puma Crash

OMG didn't know this link was still going. Is there anybody out there still that remembers Nigel and the family. Would love to hear from you.

[jacobite66]

Salamanca Camp Belize memorial cairn

Sir's.
My name is Nommy Fraser, i served with the 1st Bn Q.O. HLDR's S coy Mortar platoon. I was in Salamanca camp from April to October 1987. I thought it might be of interest to you to let you know that it was our Mortar section that built the memorial cairn in around the july/August time of 87. I have the press and journal newspaper of Morayshire Scotland cutting and can post with names of men that built it. Also stones for the cairn were collected from the little burn that ran past the camp. When the memorial was dedicated, the padre of the battalion Ivan Warrick of Rothes Scotland performed the ceremony which was attended by support coy and head of BFB. Regards.
N. Fraser

[Hickatee]

Salamanca Camp

My name is Ian Morton and I live 20 miles from the Salamanca Camp which is now the Toledo ITVET campus.

I was out that way recently and was intending to pay my respect to the service men killed in the Puma crash which is still remembered by locals and with gratitude to all the servicemen who came to Southern Belize.

Although the cairns (for the Puma Crash and the Truck crash) have both been moved to Price Barracks in Belize City I had hoped that I would still be able to find the memorial sites. However the bush has grown so much that this was just not going to happen.
I was able to tour the camp and to take some photographs which I have posted to my Flickr page here – https://www.flickr.com/photos/hickat...57658654199734
Although some of the camp is in serious disrepair many of the building have been converted to classrooms and offices.
I have tried to identify the use of each building but would welcome corrections.
Salamanca Camp 2015 - Gate - 69 by Ian Morton, on Flickr

Salamanca Camp 2015 - Barracks - 37 by Ian Morton, on Flickr

[keith egan]

I can't believe it's been so long the last time I visit this site but have a bit of news I will be in belize for the 40th anniversary for a small service and laying of a wreath