Superb effort by all, it does truly show We Will Remember Them. I seem to have got some dust in my eye.

That dust seems to get everywhere........top job guys. Best thing I have seen come out of Pprune. :ok:

To IX Sqn and batman01 - well done guys, well done.:ok::ok:

Stupendous and emotional. Congratulations to all involved.

Wonderful.

I'm so pleased for all concerned, and wanted to express my thanks to all involved on IX Sqn, in what looked to be such a memorable event :ok:

And a :ok: for Danny for allowing Pprune to bring together all these good people. I hope it gives him a good feeling and is a nice antidote to some of the digital napalm occaisionally dropped in this forum. Thanks Danny.

I'd simply like to say thank you to all concerned with this event.

For my own part, I'd like to convey my heartfelt thanks for allowing me to attend, and also say what a privilege and honour it felt to be there to remember fallen comrades.

I must admit, even I had a tear in my eye as the Tornado climbed away into the air, almost as if the crew of '604 were with them.

Humble thanks again, for allowing me to pay my respects to a fine band of men.


Flipflopman

I'm just very grateful that you have all managed to get together through the auspices of PPRuNe and remembered those who have given their lives whilst serving our country. It is a very moving story and one which I am as proud of as I am sure those of you who did so much more are.

I hope that should you have any more reunions in the future that I may be able to come along and meet you all. Just happy to have been of service.

Sarah, sara and all, thinking of you today.

41 years and not forgotton.

Rest in Peace.

Many thanks
Sarah

PS How very different the weather is today compared to what we were graced with this time last year!

Dear Sarah, the dust seems to have made it down to here in Australia, I feel something in my eye.

As an ex RAAF aircrew member, I too share the sorrow of these sad events, and wish there was a way of reversing all these sorts of events.

As I have said before the bravery of those who chose to fly, in no way up stages the bravery of our ladies, who stay at home and pray that fate will not come knocking on your door.

I as my father would have said "I dips my lid to you all."

Another sad note to close on, shame your man was not with you, to see the lovely lady you have grown into. A lady dare I say any man would be proud to have on his arm.

May God bless you all.

Regards and thoughts from down here

Col

Sarah and all

A very moving thread.
Thoughts are with you all from the comfort of a commercial seat.

Rgds

CL747

I was on the crew
 

Sarah, Al was our nav radar from 1966 to 1968, and I remember very well 'the day'. I am very keen to make contact with you and would welcome any assistance from anyone to do that. I presently live in Australia.

I learned about this thread from the IX Squadron Association magazine today.

Robert Jackson's book "AVRO Vulcan". A contibuter to the book complete with pics was one late AVM Ron Dick, He told me what he supplied to Jackson was not what was published. He refers to NEAF Bomber Wing trip to New Zealand.Page 145 shows the shadow of XH562 flying over the Kingston Flier a narrow gauge railway loco outside of Queentown Sth Island.
Ron was playing cat & mouse with the flier, then finally sapped it. The flight was to show the flag over South Island.That night back at RNZAF Ohakea he recd. a cable for the driver,'Your aeroplane is beautiful but you have a fly spot on your wing. This was the begining of a friendship with the loco driver Russell Glendening. Later Ron when visiting NZ called on Russell. He said "We have never met but we have been very close", Russell replied in his NZ accent "You are that bloody Vulcan pilot".
Russell was upset when we told him Ron had passed away.
Another picture is the Crew Chief Bill Pearsey supposedly seeing the KIWI superimposed on the roundel. He was P.O. awaiting for the crew for the return leg.
I know it is 25 years since the book was published-- he was the first to do it.
Turbo542

Thought you'd all like to know that Sarah Bennett who started the thread will be attending the reunion at Newark next year www.vforcereunion.co.uk . I hope that anyone who remembers her father Al Bennett and who is attending the reunion will make themselves known to her before the event, as it would be nice for her to meet up with them and have a chat over the weekend.

Does anyone remember my dad, Vernon Burkard, XM601?
 

Hi, I am trying to locate someone who knew my father as well, Vernon Burkard, who was on the XM601 Vulcan and died in a crash on October 7th 1964 at Coningsby. If anyone remembers him or knew him please reply, I would be very grateful.
Thanks Jane

Vernon Burkard
 

Jane
I remember your Dad well - we were on the same crew but I didn't fly with them on the fateful night.
Do email me: [email protected]
Nigel Baldwin

Al Bennett
 

Sarah

I saw the East Midlands TV programme re your father but have only just discovered this site. Yes I knew Al. In fact I last spoke to him as he walked out of Ops Block to fly on that fatal day. If you wish anymore info please e-mail me.

'Tony' Wright

Yes. I'll be there. It was good to meet up with a number of old faces at the last Reunion.

XM604
 

I do not know what made me think of this today, but I did.

I was at Cottesmore at 13.00 hrs on January 30th 1968 when it crashed near Exton.

I was on guard then from late that afternoon and through the night.

I actually was also a member of the honour guard at the funeral of the 4 crew who died.

Vulcan B2 XM604 - 30/1/68
 

Hello. I'm new to this site today. Sitting here, perched on the edge of old RAF Docking in Norfolk, I was just thinking about the crash of the B2 Vulcan, at Cottesmore (I didn't know which aircraft it was) back in 1968, when I was a 14 year old in Leicester (Evington). Later, in 1972 as a junior serving police officer of the Leicestershire Constabulary, I was told a bit more by older guys who had been at the incident.
I was surprised, and saddened by the omission of this tragedy in the Wikepedia listing of accidents and incidents, allegedly relating to these aircraft. Perhaps, even though 'Wik' isn't necessarily everyone's favourite, it is commonly used by many as a starting point to research old memories, facts etc. Not everyone digs deeper, and I was gratified to find THIS site and thread, and see how much more inormation was here. It seemed particularly important to me that so many people were able to share real feelings and support with the family of one of these brave men.

Although I realise, of course, this thread has been going some time !! ...Perhaps someone could edit the Wikipedia article on the Vulcan type, and put the event of XM604 into another part of the public domain. These men will never be forgotten anyway, but at least this incident will be made known to others who may not read beyond that source of information.
Special thoughts to Sarah Bennett and family.

A day late, but just checking in to see how all the "class of 2008" are doing? Surprised to find myself unexpectedly back in the military world after 30 or so years, well, on the fringes anyway, with Airbus Military. Hope everyone else is well.

It's been 5 years already! Crumbs...

To add a little more to this story, Sarah came to the IX(B) Sqn association reunion back in 2009 and met up with a couple of surviving members of her dad's Vulcan crew, one of whom (Captain Crusty above)made the journey from Australia with his wife to be there.

It was a memorable weekend! Also amusing to hear them all poking fun at the junior squadron, banter never stops I guess!

I may have the odd photo somewhere....

Hi All,
The 50th anniversary of the accident is approaching and my family have started planning to remember my uncle and the rest of the crew that died, I’m sure their families and friends will also be thinking the same so it would be good if you can contact me to discuss.
Thanks
Matt Sumpter.

Just stumbled across this thread. Did anything happen yesterday?

Al. Bennet