General Chat

Dear Barry

Hello

I had not heard of this incident and loss of life before.

I do feel that it would be have been appropriate and respectful for this anniversary to have been mentioned on the news.

Dear Pat.......remembering your former neighbour and friend, Mr John Stollery.


Take gentle care all
Sincere wishes
Elizabeth, EOS
xx

Fortunately today British military air crashes are much rarer that they were in 1965.

This is a list of such losses, thankfully not all fatal:
http://www.ukserials.com/losses-1965.htm

As Barry says the Hastings was a good workhorse. It was old fashioned, being a tail-wheel aircraft, but lasted in service much longer than its nose-wheel sister, the Hermes.

I used to live in Newark, the last few houses of the side nearest to the museum. Went to the museum with the children so saw that Hasting, :-)

Hello, Pat. So very sorry to learn your former neighbour died in such an appalling manner while on holiday!

Thanks for the information, Elizabeth.
I really thought there would have been a mention somewhere in the press today.
I am very saddened there is not!
I see there was a service yesterday in the local church near to the crash site.

Rollo, the old Hastybird was a very good workhorse.
A four engined Douglas DC-3 Dakota, effectively!
I did a lot of clambering over various Hastings way back when!
Upon reflection these days of yesteryear were 'fun times'.

As the result of a memorable occurrence months after this accident, there is one aircraft with which I feel particularly associated - TG517. This kite rests in the Newark Air Museum.
Perhaps one day before I peg it - obviously! - I'll see the old girl once more and pat her fuselage for the very last time!

Thank you all for your replies.

The Anniversary of the 1965 crash was covered on a BBC news over the weekend-but I cannot remember which one -it may have been South Today

Two of my rellies flew this plane before going on to fly for BOAC. It didn't have the greatest of service histories.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Handley_Page_Hastings

<3 Remembering Those who have Died in All conflicts & peace time xx

Remembering all those who have died in peacetime. When I was stationed at RAF Benson an argosy went in at an airfield in Libya. The plane and crew were on detachment from Benson. It took off to come home full of paras who had been on exercise, they all died. It makes such an impact doesn't it Barry?

I wasn't in the WRAF in 1965 so I don't know of the crash but have checked. The local church still holds a service in memory of the crash on the first Sunday of July.

Also remembering my ex neighbour from 1995 - 2005 John Stollery who died on the beach in Tunisia as well as those of 7/7.

<3

... of a terrible air crash on 6th July 1965.

A Hastings transport aircraft of 36 Squadron, Royal Air Force, took off in the afternoon from its base at RAF Colerne and landed at RAF Abingdon, (then) Berkshire.
(RAF Colerne was midway between Bath and Chippenham where I had recently been stationed; I was in Yorkshire on the above date.)
At Abingdon there boarded 30+ parachutists for a practice jump at nearby Weston-on-the-Green.
The aircraft took off and almost immediately there was a technical problem with the elevators (flying controls on the tail).
They did not respond to the pilot's input and subsequently this uncontrollable aircraft rolled and ploughed upside down into a field, killing all 40+ luckless souls on board.
Such a huge and tragic loss of life!

I do not know if the 50th anniversary and huge loss of life in this disaster - possibly the worst for the RAF in peacetime - will be recalled in the press today (Monday). I truly hope so!
I know this dark day many decades ago will be sadly remembered by the loving families and friends of those who perished helplessly 50 years ago today!

The follow up rectification regarding this incident for the Hastings in service had an immense impact upon my career as an aircraft engineer.
I have never forgotten this disastrous day!

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Tomorrow - 7/7 - we remember the huge number of souls who also lost their lives 10 years ago in London.
However, these attacks were carried out in a cowardly manner ... by genuine cowards!

Satchmo sang "What a Wonderful World."
I truly wonder!

Barry