It was terribly sad: OF Ops was a family friend and my mother taught one of OC8's children at that time. A huge loss for a squadron that despite its machines seemed invulnerable. I walked passed a few of their graves t'other week when up in Lossie.

I know what you mean. I was driving back from the Lincolnshire coast when across a cross roads in the corner of a field by the field gate I saw a memorial and instantly recognised the 12 Sqn badge.

It was commemorating the crash site of a Lancaster crew that had crashed there on a training flight. Another car had stopped and the two young men using the memorial for another purpose were very embarrassed when Mrs PN and I stopped.

Yes, you can find such small memories everywhere. This one commemorates Mike Andrews and Steve Todd at Shap

I was sat in my office at RAF Spadeadam thinking about lunch when I got a call from my wife telling me that an RAF aircraft had crashed in the Outer Hebrides with 10 on board. Something told me it was an 8 Sqn Shack a Squadron I had left 2 years before. So sad to lose so many friends and the RAF to lose 10 good men. RIP guys.

Pontious,

PM sent as requested.

O-D

IIRC the OC8 Squadron was the brother in law of David Sole, the then Scotland rugby union captain.

Jacanda, gaggers?

rolling 20,

Correct.

OC 8 had a Nimrod pedigree and had ejected from a JP during training. It might have been that the injuries sustained in that accident did not permit him to fly on an ejection seat but this is just my musing and I have no evidence for that.

O-D

OD, he was our co on Nimrods. His size might have ruled out FJ.

There will be a memorial service for Gambia 08's crew at the Alpha Hangar, RAF Waddington at 1000 tomorrow 30th April. Names need to be with the Sqn Assn Secretary by tonight. (Sorry for the late call - I only just found out myself).

BBC Scotland news article. More lazy journalism( Maritime Patrol,8 Sqd.)

Uncanny.
 

Hi everyone,
Uncanny and tragic. My father was on that plane. Squadron Ldr Jerry Lane. I was 14 at the time, and still feel a slump in my day to day life approaching the date. I have so many questions about the accident, but not sure I want or need to know more. I know my Dad was doing a job he loved and with people (as far as I know) he was bonded to.
I loved those aircraft too, and am glad for vids of those engines starting up or flying over. Really makes me feel like a happy/sad kid again.
Love and Respect to all involved in 8 squadron and RIP Dylan crew.

Just tried to PM you without any luck....

Hi.
 

Just tried to PM you without any luck....[/QUOTE]

Apologies, I’m new to this forum.
Not sure where I would receive a PM? My email, or does my user name have an inbox?

No independent Fatal Accident Inquiry carried out because of the Scottish system. Similar accident over England or Wales would have resulted in an inquest. BoIs and SIs are simply MoD in-house inquires; much like marking your own homework.

DV

Is it really 28 years since this happened?

I have kept quiet about this accident for a long time, as Jerry had been a good friend and mentor of mine. He was the nav 1 on the first crew I joined on 205 Sqn in Singapore, and for a brief period he was my Captain (or I was his 1st Pilot) on 8 Sqn. In my own opinion the seeds of this accident were sown when 8 Sqn formed, and despite the best efforts of the front end crews - almost all ex maritime - all the old Coastal Command/Maritime SOPs, which had been produced through experience and trial and error (and accidents) over the previous decades, were rejected by the AEW side of the Sqn as unnecessary (they were used to flying in the Gannet at greater heights without any of the 'peculiarities' of the Shackleton); not only unnecessary but on AEW Course 1 the new AEW leader (ex RN) with no Shackleton experience stated that his operators would not apply any of them nor recognise them.
One of the major ones was the SOP for the radar operator to call 'land on track' (normally at 4 miles) just in case the Nav was otherwise occupied - this was deemed an unnecessary distraction by him and WOULD NOT BE DONE, Besides, AN/APS 20(i) was not configured to see land!! However. all the guys I flew with seemed to be able to do so, even at relatively short range.
However, this did not mean it was not done - a quiet agreement on a crew normally led to it being called, although never when he was on board - but as it wasn't policy, with new crews it slowly died out anyway.
Of course, although an SOP similar to this might have prevented it, this was never mentioned at the BoI. There was criticism certainly of some of the ways the Sqn had evolved, but in the end most of the blame went towards the crew.

I should stress this is my own opinion, but as a founder member of the Sqn I was deeply saddened by the accident and the loss of some good people.

screws4jets if you wish to get in touch please PM me.

Screws4jets, Condolences for your loss and the hole it has left.

Intuitively I would advise you to let sleeping dogs lie, but I'm no counsellor. If you do feel the urge to do a little digging, maybe talk it through with a trained professional first?

Shackman,

Check your PMs.

CC

Hi shackman,
Thanks for your reply. Your opinion is an interesting insight, and nice to hear you worked with my father. I was recently visiting my Mother in the old family home near Forres and I visited Kinloss air museum with my daughter. Home is enough to trigger memories, but the air museum, especially the smell, and chatting with the guys working there really brought memories flooding back.
Thanks again I might just PM you.
All the best.

Hello Old Fat One,
Thanks for your advice. I agree but it seems I can’t help poking that old black dog from time to time! I’m fine really (honest!) It was my wife, who is a mental health nurse, that noticed my behaviour and joined up the dots. She may have a point, or perhaps I just hate spring!
Thanks again, all the best,
Jeremy