Date Posted:28/02/04 15:13:12 Author:B. Valentine Subject: vulcan accident
Between 1959 and 1964 whilst stationed at 71MU RAF Bicester we were tasked to recover a Vulcan aircraft which seemingly had been on a round the world tour and crashed on landing in the UK. I cannot find any reference to this accident anywhere. Can anyone help?.Ta
[> [>
Re: vulcan accident -- John Holloway, 29/02/04 11:13:11
The only Vulcan crash I know of was as follows-
It was in October 1956 and I was walking along the Crescent in Aden when all of a sudden this Vulcan roared very low doing a beat-up over Steamer harbour frightened the locals to death.It was returning to UK from Oz on a record breaking flight,The next day we all heard the tragic news that it had crashed at Heathrow with most of the crew being killed;I think there were only two survivors as they were the only crew members with ejection seats.
That is correct John, but that was 1956, I had a similar email from someone else today re this incident with Harry Broadhurst, there were several Vulcan accidents at home and abroad, if we could narrow the date to a specific year we might be nearer the target
I remember the Vulcan accident but for the life of me I can't remember the year. Certainly Sir Harry Broadhurst was on board as co-pilot. The aircraft was returning from a round the world flight and it was attempting to land at Heathrow (of all places!) in poor weather and as far as I can recall it crashed on or near the airport when on its final approach. I think both pilots ejected safely but of course the two Navs and AEO had no cjhance to escape. I'm not sure if there was also a crew chief on board - there could well have been. I think the captain was the squadron CO but I don't know which squadron. The year was probably in the early 1960s.
[> [>
Re: vulcan accident -- Harry Shepherd, 19/03/04 22:48:25
The year was 1955 or 1956 but could have been January 1957. I saw the aircraft as it flew over China Bay en- route to Negombo.Air Marshall Sir Harry Broadhurst was C-in-C Bomber command and the Capt. was Sqn Ldr. Howard.
The aircraft crashed while making a GCA at Heathrow in
fog.The controller warned the pilot he was below the glide
path but the aircraft hit the approach lights and both pilots ejected.The rest of the crew were lost.I know the controller concerned and he was exonerated by the enquiry.
[>
Re: vulcan accident -- John Cooper, 7/03/04 22:51:24
Derek and all the others that have sent emails, the accident that Harry Broadhurst survived was in 1956, this accident at Heathrow, can be discounted. There were several other Vulcan accidents the one I am trying to narrow down occurred in Co Durham, it appears difficult to get much gen off the web re this prang.
[>
Re: vulcan accident -- Harry shepherd, 30/03/04 19:40:27
It is not unlikely that the recovered wreckage was from Heathrow.The accident investigators often keep wreckage for many years before they release it. They examine every scrap of metal minutely and learn all they can from it.As this was the first Vulcan to crash, they would be extremely thorough.One of the crew was a technical advisor from Woodford and he is buried in the "Avro" plot in the local churchyard.I have contacts at BAE systems,and I hope to gain further information.
If you search for North East Aircraft Museum, they have a comprehensive account of the accident you refer to which took place at Wingate in Durham. XM610 was the aircraft, I was at Waddo when it occurred. I believe the wreckage was recoverd to Leeming for investigation, although someone out there may know better. Hope this helps.
Anyone out there!
Can anyone serving at Wyton around 1959-61 recall the mid-air explosion of (I think) a Valiant from 543 Sqd. The incident occured shortly after take off at about 1000ft when it appears that the first compressor stage disintegrated on the tsarboard engine. There were no survivors. At the time of the incident, I was living off base in Huntingdon and was off duty, the event took place at around 1700 hrs roughly and appeared on TV. The next day there was a comprehensive report in the DailyMirror which headlined as follows, (...and Four men die, just like that")
There were several news reporters who witnesed the event which I understood was to show the public the state of preparedness of 543 Squadron. On base, there was a mighty clampdown and as I worked on the opposite side of the road to the base at the Photo Recce Unit, along with others of my ilk, we couldn't get anywhere near the Squadron's aircraft (and yes, I was a serving airman at the time), the only info we had available was from the TV and the Daily Mirror, I'd like to hear from anyone who heard/saw this disaster.Many thanks in advance. Terry 'O'
[> [> [>
Re: 'Valiant' mid air explosion, RAF Wyton, 1959/60? -- Roger Green, 18/04/06 13:31:32
I was stationed at Wyton during my National Service for the whole of the year 1959 and up to March 1960; a Valiant from 543 Sqn certainly didn't crash during that time. My (then) fiancee lived in Huntingdon during the whole of 1960 and confirms that there was no Valiant crash during that time.
[> [>
Re: vulcan accident -- John Cooper, 23/08/05 8:33:12
For those interested in the Vulcan crash at Heathrow in 1956 with Sir Harry Broadhurst aboard this is the website to visit http://john-dillon.co.uk/V-Force/xa897_london.html
It will be necessary to copy and paste the URL to put into your browser
Hi John, here is a little news on the Vulcan that went in at LAP.
The aircraft had visited New Zewaland and created a great stir as it flew into Wellington's primitive airport, (not, I believe for a proposed landing), I have somewhere, in my files, the Photographs taken by the 'Evening Post/Dominion Newspapers of the time, of the V bird raising the dust as her starboard wing raked the ground as she was about to do a roller/touch 'n'go. The plane recovered (thank God) but was to carry out the fateful landing at LAP some days later.
Perhaps someone had lacked T/O and Landing experience despite the rank. The crash did however, start a motion within parliament to consider the financing of 'escape' ejection considerations for the poor sods in the aircraft's rear, though as could be expected from the Brit government, nothing eventuated, (shades of the Defiant Crews in WW2.).
Cheers for now, Terry 'O'
[>
Re: vulcan accident -- Graham Wise, 30/10/05 17:30:25
The Vulcan crash with Harry Broadhurst on board was in late summer/autumn 1956. The wreckage was collected from the cabbage patch and taken to Farnborough (I was involved in the unloading - my first job at 71MU!)
[> [>
Re: vulcan accident -- Edward Vinales, 12/07/06 23:15:58
My dad was the nav plotter (Jim Vinales) the last to bale out of the Wingate crash. He landed in the Cheviot hills in Northumberland with the Nav radar and other bloke and was picked up by a Helo from Boulmer. Whoa.
At the time of the crash of Vulcan XM610 (January 1971) I was the Chief Technician in charge of the Ejection Seat Servicing and Installation Bay at RAF Waddington. Although we did not contribute to the escape of the 3 rear crew members,we did meet them the following day when the whole crew paid us a visit with a few beers and their thanks for successful ejections of the pilot and co pilot. We had a good feeling of being able to contribute when all else had failed and the aircraft was lost.
[>
Re: vulcan accident -- Pete Fox, 7/02/06 5:22:16
The aircraft involved in the LHR incident was XA897. It happened on the 1st Oct 1956. The information I have states three crew and one passenger were lost in the incident. My source is a book 'AVRO VULCAN' by Robert Jackson, IBSN 0-85059-630-0, 1984. The Wingate, County Durham, incident involved XM610 and occured on the 8th Jan 1971. All the crew got out of the aircraft, but two were injured on landing. The book mentioned above lists all Vulcans produced and how they were disposed of. It records the history of the development through Mk1 to its final role as a tanker.
I was serving on the personal Staff of Sir Harry Broadhurst at the time and helped type out evidence for the enquiry. Quite a an interesting job for a young chap of Eighteen !!
[>
Re: vulcan accident -- Keith Armitage, 1/09/07 14:25:25
I was stationed at RAF Changi, Singapore and remember the Vulcan landing on its way to Australia and its subsequent return. Then taking off for Uk, followed by the devastating news of the fatal crash at Heathrow. Late 1956 I am sure.
