Date Posted:13/08/07 1:29:42 Author:Vernon East Subject: Crash of Hastings WD 497
Ref. the crash of Hastings WD497.
I was on duty at Station Sick Quarters Seletar on the fateful day. When the crash alarm sounded the crash ambulance was dispatched with S.A.C. Peter Ford who was the duty medic that day. When it became obvious that more medical coverage would be needed I was ordered to accompany the Senior Medical Officer Wing Commander S.J. Krister to the crash site. As you can imagine there was considerable activity there when we arrived. If I remember correctly there were thirteen people on the aircraft including an Army Air Despatch team. Although it was not apparent at first there was only one survivor and he died in the ambulance on the way to R.A.F. Hospital Changi. We hadn't been on site very long when the S.M.O. was approached by the R.A.F. Regiment officer Flt Lt. David Bolton (later Gp. Capt.) who said that it was proving impossible to remove the body of the Air Signaller from the wreckage and he asked the S.M.O. to remove the leg that was trapped. Wg.Cdr. Krister ordered me to do this while he went to see if there was anything he could do for any of the other victims. This I did with all the dignity for the deceased that was possible under the circumstances. When all the other victims were removed from the wreckage I escorted the remains to the mortuary at the Military Hospital. It was a very sad day for all concerned. I still have the cutting from the Straits Times with a photo' of the crash site though it is not very good.
