Jaguar Aircraft Accidents
 

I am updating a book dealing with RAF aircraft accidents and would appreciate help from the Jaguar community please. In essence, I am trying to trace the names of three overseas pilots who were killed in accidents whilst flying the aircraft.

The summary details are;
1 Nov 78 XX759 near Selkirk from 226OCU - pilot was Ecuadorian
2 Apr 82 XX122 in the Wash from 54 Sqn - pilot was Norwegian and name may have been Bjornstad or derivation of same.
27 Nov 86 XX732 near Hawick from 226 OCU - pilot was USAF exchange student David Buhto but the name is being spelt in different ways, so need to get it right

Co-incidentally I was browsing today and came across a site that lists losses going back to the '50s. (www.ukserials.com)

It is astonishing how many accidents there were then in comparison to today. Presumably a combination of a much larger armed forces then, and hopefully vastly improved flight safety and aircraft reliability today.

Sorry for not directly answering the OPs q.

USAF Pilot correct spelling was Buteau - see link:

1986 | 3366 | Flight Archive

I completely agree it is astonishing. Funny how in a different thread we are weaker pilots now who have lost an edge and back then it was all about the pilot and his machine:yuk:

Well according to the roll of honour within a booklet that was produced for the Jag's retirement (The Cat's Bow Out, Royal Air Force Jaguars 1973-2007), two of the pilots killed in your list were Capt T Bjornstad RNoAF and Capt D Bateau USAF. The first accident is not listed, though not surprising given the time constraints that the list was complied in.

Pilot of XX122 was Capt Thor Bjornstadt. Details at 1982 | 1090 | Flight Archive

Accidents In General
 

My original note has obviously spawned an interest in accidents in general. First, however, thank you for responding, I now have two of the three names I seek.

Between VE-Day 1945 and end-1998, the RAF lost 9330 aircraft and 6200 lives as the result of accidents and the occasional operational loss - seems incredible now. For the last 55 years, the figures are 2600 and 1950 respectively. However, in addition to the reducing numbers taking to their parachutes, 'assisted abandonments' (ejections) to the end-1996 were over 700. Accident rates, set against flying hours, has fallen exponentially.

All of those accidents are mentioned here: Target Lock: Jaguar : Squadron Service : Royal Air Force

Just looking at that potted history of the Jag Force and came across the following:

Anyone know what this 'incident' was?:confused:

A Sgt, a JT and 4 SAC's killed in a RTA while on a deployment (in Germany if memory serves), there was a memorial to the 6 outside the JRM at Coltishall.

Full details, 5 RAF personnel from 41 Sqn's RIC were killed when a bus carrying 40 personnel overturned near the small town of Sasbach-Walden in the Black Forest, while the Sqn was on exercise with the Canadians at Baden Sollingen. A sixth airman not from 41 Sqn was also killed, and many of the other personnel on board were injured.

Thanks Mainjafad, hell of a blow to a squadron, especially if all from the same section.:(

I remember the XX122 incident well, we were out recovering the aircraft on Easter Monday, with it being the lowest tide of the year. Sad to see, especially after Capt Thor Bjornstadt and his fellow Scandinavian pilot (Dane) were part of the mad 3 Sqn Xmas hoolie in the NAAFI a few months earlier.

I remember the two of them 'riding tandem' on a commandeered bike, hardly maintaining balance all the way up from an earlier Sqn beer call :)

I think the other guy also hit some power cables in Germany (and survived) a year or two later, but the mists of time......

Cheers,

Kokpit.

The Memorial to the guys killed in the Coach crash was 6 trees with a Brass plaque mounted on a stone. It was mid way between the the NAAFI and the JRM. When I left Neat when it closed it was still there. Not sure if it still is.

Correct name ??
 

From the target lock website:

Jaguar GR.3 XZ363/FO, assigned to 41(F) squadron RAF, crashed in Alaska on July 25th 2001 during a routine training sortie from Eielson AFB as part of exercise Cope Thunder. The pilot of the aircraft, Flt Lt Jason Hayes of 54(F) squadron, was unfortunately killed in the accident.

Was he not Justin Hayes ??

(Knew his father from Puma days - apologies to all concerned if this is wrong)

The 41 Sqn Memorial was relocated to the Scottow Cemetery in 2005. Photos on the 41 Sqn Retro site Here

Flt Lt Hayes
 

His full name is: Jason Lawrence Hayes

I stand corrected.

The correct name of the norwegian pilot killed in Jaguar xx122 is, Capt Tore Bjørnstad.

Does anyone recall a non fatal incident where the aircraft hit a radio/TV mast in cloud causing heavy damage to the aircraft?
Time has moved on and the details abit thin, happened in UK, emergency landing at Bedford?