Date Posted:28/07/05 11:48:15 Author: Les Bywaters Subject: Canberra crash, Akrotiri
15 Dec 1970 a 3 Sqn B(I)8 (XM267) crashed on approach to Akrotiri with fatalities. Seem to recall someone here saying they'd witnessed this crash. To help refresh any memories, a Safety Equip bloke was on a jolly in the kite and was killed with the rest of the crew.
Any further gen on the incident would be appreciated. John Cooper knows my e-mail addy.
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Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri -- John Cooper, 28/07/05 22:26:48
Les
I recall this story somewhere but can't find a post for it!
Is the date correct for Cat 5 as it shows on your own website as having pranged at Akrotiri 5 years earlier (1965)
John, that's why I'm asking mate, conflicting dates here. I reckon the 1965 date is wrong as it seems to have been stuck off charge in 1971 and wouldn't have lain around for 6 yrs. I'd left the squadron in the April before this incident so don't have 1st hand gen.
Hi Colin
Thank you for the information, for those not aware Colin has written several books on RAF post war accidents having spent much time in collating such information from the RAF Museum at Hendon and presumably AHB
More information on the books that have been published can be seen here http://66.102.9.104/search?q=cache:SP6q-0Vy9awJ:www.eastangliabooks.com/new_page_9.htm+colin+cummings+aviation+crashes+author&hl=en
Thanks Colin, your gen backs up mine. The third crewmember was a F/O Ellis, also killed in the accident. I believe he was the pilot.
Still looking for that elusive reference though.
John, I know you're a member of several forums, probably some that I'm not on. Any chance of you doing a "search" mate? In yer own time of course. E-mail me privately if you like.
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Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri -- stan hutchinson, 30/10/05 1:08:30
A canberra of 32 sqdn crashed about 61/62 while on an exercise. It was hit by a Javelin while flying at low levelcrashing onto the beach near Ladies Mile. All three crew were killed.
Yes, the Canberra was WD995 and the Javelin was XH906. Collison happened on 26 Oct 1961 during pratice interception.
That Canberra was a B.2, the subject of this thread is a B(I)8 from 3 Sqn. Pretty sure now about the details but would still be interested in anyone unearthing a post to any forum by an eyewitness.
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Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri -- dave marshall, 15/05/08 21:02:39
I remember that kite crashing at akrotiri as i carried Kits (the SE fitter) coffin when we buried him at a military graveyard in Germany. We were at Laarbruch I think, and it was around 1970.
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Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri -- eric Chamberlain, 4/08/08 14:00:07
I was serving on 3 Sqn at the time of the crash as a Survival Equipment Fitter my collegue SAC Kim Petty-Fitsmaurice being killed in the crash. Fg Off Ellis was the pilot and Fg Off MacMillan was the navigator. After the crash all jollys were stopped. The crash happened in December 1970
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Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri -- Dennis Thornbury, 10/10/09 6:46:00
Canberra B(I)8 - XM267 - 3 Sqn
Hi there, I have been in New Zealand since 1973 after i left the RAF.
In December 70 I was the Sgt i/c the Oxygen bay at RAF Akrotiri, Cyprus, which was directly across the road from the Safety Equipment Bay, and right alongside the cold drink stall.
When 3 Sqdn came to Cyprus on detachment SAC Colin Petty-Fitzmaurice would regularly come over to my bay with parachute O2 cyclinders to service prior to repacking in other parachutes. It was an airconditioned bay and he was happy to chat and see how things were done on other O2 equipment
I got to know him quite well, and we would meet at the drinkstall sometimes and just chat about how much he was enjoying Cyprus, especially away from the winter in Germany. Another time he showed me how the O2 cylinder was stowed and how a chute was packed.
I vividly remember how excited he was when he learnt he was going for a 'jolly' on a squadron Canberra. I teased him about making extra sure his chute was OK. He wasnt at all concerned and was glad he had the chance to fly, and I was saying how I'd love the chance to fly around Cyprus.
On the day I knew he was flying, I was at work inside my bay, I heard the explosion as the Canberra crashed. I did'nt know if it was the one he was flying in, but as there were no other Canberra's on base (except detachment aircraft) I was pretty sure it was his. I was soon to learn it was.
There was a horrible feeling all around camp, the accident occuring just at touchdown with no apparent warning, a great deal of sadness extended towards the crew, but I felt it even more knowing that Colin was on board.
Hearsay was saying that when the pilot attempted to overshoot, advancing the throttles, the engines stalled/surged, the pilot lifting the nose and stalling the aircraft before his speed had built up, causing the aircraft to initially climb, but then stalling, the left wing striking the ground and cartwheeling down the left side of the runway.
I must stress this is only heresay as I never did read the official Accident Report
I know this is years since the last 'post' on this topic, but I have only just read it whilst I was doing some searching of my RAF history on Goggle.
Hi Dennis. Thanks for adding some more information on this sad loss. It seems the aircraft was overshooting, as you mentioned, when it lost power and crashed.
BTW, we have an active forum with plenty of ex-RAF guys on another board. Lots of line shooting and banter. Why not join us there. Might help with your ongoing research. The link to the site is:
