Date Posted: 4/08/08 14:00:07 Author:eric Chamberlain Subject: Re: Canberra crash, Akrotiri In reply to:
Les Bywaters
's message, "Canberra crash, Akrotiri" on 28/07/05 11:48:15
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:
